Born and raised in California, Joanie graduated from Embry Riddle Prescott in 1998. She worked as a flight instructor there until 2000 when she was hired by SkyWest Airlines. During her 22-year career at SkyWest, Joanie was married and had two children.

She went on to become a First Officer at Alaska Airlines in 2022. Today, Joanie lives in Livermore, CA with her husband and their two teenagers.