Vermont Bankers Association Women in Leadership Presentation

Mar 5

Our visit to the Vermont Bankers Association Women in Leadership Presentation in Montpelier, VT, at the Capital Plaza Hotel was an unforgettable experience. Habitat for Aviation had the honor of presenting in front of over 144 women from the banking industry, sharing our mission to inspire the next generation of young women in aviation. Our team—Beth, Granny, Miranda, Zoë, and Franse—was thrilled to connect with such a dynamic group of professionals and communicate the importance of diversifying the aviation field. The day was filled with meaningful conversations, and by the end of the event, we had forged valuable friendships and shared crucial insights about the industry's evolving needs. It was an empowering opportunity to spread our message and build lasting relationships with those who are passionate about creating change.

As our new friends exited the conference room, we had the pleasure of gifting them a lovely bar of natural Modern Rosie soap as a token of appreciation. It was a small yet meaningful gesture, symbolizing our gratitude for their time and the connections we had made throughout the day. The soap, crafted with care and thoughtfulness, was a reminder of the importance of nurturing both personal and professional relationships — of not being afraid to get our hands dirty doing important work and to take time for self-care. It felt like the perfect way to leave a lasting impression and express our thanks for their support of our cause.

Beth White

Education Possibilitarian, Artist, Writer, Doula, Mentor, Aviatrix, Breast Cancer Survivor, Pilot-in-Command at Habitat for Aviation

In the spring of 2022, Beth White emerged from a 10-month battle with breast cancer with an idea: to create an apprenticeship program at Franklin County State Airport where youth work alongside adult mentors servicing conventional and electric aircraft. A pilot and airplane mechanic apprentice herself, and with family roots in the trades, Habitat for Aviation provides an taxilane for world learning opportunities for youth and adults who love to work with their hands to enter the FAA’s apprenticeship certification track. Each day she puts systems in place that make real John Dewey’s philosophy that we “learn best what we live” – a deep throughline from her time at Antioch University New England and as Regional Director for Big Picture Learning. Each learning experience is grounded in relationships, relevance, and practice. In October, 2023, Habitat for Aviation launched its Women Build Planes program, where an all-female team of Modern Day Rosies is building an airplane at Franklin County Airport, in northwestern Vermont, to show folks everywhere that despite the fact that only 2.6% of airplane mechanics are female, women BUILD, FLY, and FIX airplanes.

Vermont Bankers Association Women in Leadership Presentation

Pints, Planes, & Our Modern Rosies: A Sweet Adventure at Ben & Jerry’s

Everyone needs a Hangar Granny