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Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

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We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all eight Local Councils, ensuring that the voices of both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants are heard and advocated for. Below, you’ll find brief bios that showcase their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our combined Flight Attendant group.

Seth Heiple, MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Chairperson

Seth Heiple started his Flight Attendant career in 1996 at Northwest Airlines and became an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant in 2008.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business and Economics and is currently the MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson for the pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants.

In this role, Seth is dedicated to maintaining and improving the safety, health, and security of both the pre-merger Hawaiian and pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants. He intends to achieve this by supporting the merged ASHSC as it works to ensure the safety of our work environments and advocates for the necessary policies, procedures, and tools that allow us to fulfill our roles effectively as aviation’s first responders.

Seth is based and lives in Portland, Oregon, with his roommate, grandma (98). In his free time, he enjoys walking Portland’s neighborhoods, listening to audiobooks, game nights with friends, and spending time with his extended family in Portland and San Francisco.

Kerri Ruiz, MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Vice Chairperson

Kerri started her Flight Attendant career with Alaska Airlines in 1998 and then joined Hawaiian Airlines in 1999. She was based in Los Angeles for over 10 years and was an active member of the Local Air Safety, Health, and Security (ASHS) Committee. When she transferred to the Honolulu base, she held various AFA positions, including LEC Secretary, MEC Membership and Benefits Committee Chairperson, and, most recently, MEC ASHS Committee Chairperson. However, her affinity and forte have always been working in safety.

Kerri has one daughter, several stepchildren, and several grandchildren. She enjoys traveling to new destinations with friends and family while nurturing her ties throughout the Hawaiian community.

Brad Young, MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Vice Chairperson

Brad has been a San Francisco–based Flight Attendant since 2010. He began his career with Virgin America during its early years, when the airline operated just a few aircraft and served a limited number of destinations.

His in-depth AFA involvement began when he was appointed the Local Safety Committee Chairperson for the AFA Alaska Council at the newly established SFO base following Alaska Airlines’ acquisition of Virgin America in 2017. Later that same year, he was elected to office, marking the start of his formal leadership within our Union.

After being re-elected as Council Representative in 2019 and again in 2022, Brad continues to advocate for his peers with dedication and experience. He is enthusiastic about representing over 10,000 Flight Attendants as the combined Alaska/Hawaiian merger approaches Single Operating Certificate (SOC) in October 2025.

Brad has also served as the MEC Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC) Vice Chairperson since 2018, where he holds primary responsibility for member representation in both the ASAP and Fatigue Review Board (FRB) programs. He is honored and humbled to have been elected to serve a third term as MEC ASHSC Vice Chairperson..

Deb Wallstrom, MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Air Quality Representative

Deb began her career as a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines in 1998. She is currently based in Anchorage, though she has previously been based in Los Angeles and San Diego. In 2013, she became involved in AFA work with the Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee and is now the Chairperson for Council 30 (ANC) of the ASHSC. Additionally, she serves on the Benefits Committee. As the Air Quality Representative, Deb is dedicated to ensuring that Members are well-informed and is passionate about helping support Flight Attendants following an air quality event.

Outside of work, Deb enjoys hiking, reading, and knitting. She frequently travels between Alaska, Seattle, and Southern California to visit family.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

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This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) LOSA Representative: David Lake
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) ASAP Primary Representative: Brad Young
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) ASAP Alternate Representative: Ronda Ruderman
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) FRB Primary Representative: Brad Young
MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson: Julie Thornton
MEC Scheduling Committee Chairperson: Jake Jones
MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – Pairing Construction: Karen Ferrell
MEC Scheduling Committee Vice Chairperson – PBS: Virginia Fritz
MEC Scheduling Committee PBS Subcommittee Members: Adam Clarey, Melodie Anderes, and Krystal Kehrli
MEC Scheduling Committee FRB Primary Representative: Bianca Dew
MEC Scheduling Committee FRB Alternate Representative: Russel Rivinius

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives will carry out their respective roles specific to our six pre-merger Alaska Local Councils as we continue to navigate the merger process. They’ll begin the transition into their roles over the next few months, with their official term beginning on January 1, 2026. They will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028.

If you have any questions about the pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

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During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected:

MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairperson: Seth Heiple
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Vice Chairpersons: Brad Young and Kerri Ruiz
MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Air Quality Representative: Deb Wallstrom

These newly elected MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives will coordinate the activities of their respective merged committees across both airlines. They’ll support the Local Committee Chairpersons from all eight Local Councils—both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. Their official term will begin on November 1, 2025. They’ll serve for the remainder of the current MEC Officer election cycle (January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025), as well as for the upcoming cycle (January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028).

If you have any questions about the MEC Committee Chairperson elections, please reach out to your LEC President.

Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee Meeting Recap – 4th Quarter 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

On Thursday, October 2, our AFA Local Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC) Chairpersons met to discuss their ongoing work to represent our Flight Attendants and push for improvements in our workplace. Representing you at the meeting were Deb Wallstrom (ANC), David Lake (SEA), Kalin Lackey (PDX), Brad Young (SFO), Carin Merritt (LAX), and Eva Gatus (SAN). Also present were MEC Vice President Brice McGee, Hawaiian MEC ASHSC Chairperson Kerri Ruiz, and Alaska MEC ASHSC Chairperson Seth Heiple.

The Committee met with the Director Inflight Safety and Compliance Geri Jerritt, Director of Cabin Safety Angela Jones, Cabin Safety Manager Heidi Styley, Senior Inflight Experience Program Manager Matthew Coder, Manager of Inflight Safety Nicky Sagum, Maniging Director of Inflight Services Training Randy Katz, Manager of Inflight Policy and Procedure Kaliko Howell, and Director of Inflight Training & Standards Jesse Sexton

The next scheduled Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place in San Francisco on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Topics of Discussion

The Committee reviewed several items when meeting with management. Some items discussed include (items which are Security Sensitive Information are not included):

  • Paper Clips Hard to Find and Use in a Decompression: Flight Attendants have difficulty quickly locating paper clips in the Flight Attendant Kits. Management is looking for solutions, including installing a Manual Release Tool (MRT) under each jumpseat.
  • Do Lap Children Get a COB? The Carry-On Bag (COB) allotment is for each “ticketed passenger.” However, our contract of carriage says a diaper bag for a lap child is exempt from the limit. This does not align with the FAM, which says it counts toward the parent’s carry-on limit. Management will align the FAM with the Contract of Carriage.
  • Unattended Passengers Waiting on Jet Bridge for Gate-Checked Baggage/Items: Passengers cannot be left unattended on the jet bridge while waiting for gate-checked items after deplaning. Unfortunately, Customer Service Agents have not always returned to the aircraft when Flight Attendants are ready to deplane. Management has been asked to audit to determine if Agents are able to comply with the requirement to return to the aircraft 10 minutes after the door opens.
  • Two-Way Voice Communication: Passengers are violating the rules against using apps like Zoom and Teams for two-way communication during flights. Management will review and determine if more explicit instruction in the FAM and/or an announcement to passengers is needed. Note that listening only to meetings, etc., is permitted.
  • Many Pet Carriers That Don’t Fit Under the Main Cabin Aisle Seats: Pet carriers weren’t fitting under the Main Cabin aisle seats (C and D), causing seating delays. Management updated the carrier size during the single operating certificate (COB) integration process. When this is followed and the requirement for carriers to be soft-sided is met, they should fit under aisle seats in the main cabin.
  • Inflatable Item Restrictions: Passengers think they can use these items on board the aircraft. Management will ensure reservations agents know about the restrictions and will work to get the public-facing website to provide information on these prohibited items.
  • Flight “Closed” with Passengers in Jet Bridge: Flights are being marked “closed” in Block2Block (B2B) while passengers are still lined up in the jet bridge. Inflight management will discuss this practice with Airport Operations & Customer Service (AOCS) to see if they can wait until the last passenger boards to close flights.
  • Passenger Seating Position for Takeoff and Landing: The FAM lacks clear verbiage about the required passenger seating position for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Management will look at clarifying the policy to specify that passengers need to be seated upright and cannot be lying down during these phases of flight.
  • Commingling Demo Kits with COBs in Overhead Bins: Forward demo kits on some aircraft are located in overhead bins without dividers, causing them to become buried behind passengers’ carry-on bags. Management will look at the possibility of adding dividers or moving the location of the demo kits to address this issue.
  • Boarding Without Pilots: An aircraft must have power and lights to board without pilots. However, this is not well defined in the FAM. Can we board using ground service power, which does not provide power to interphones, etc.? Management will seek to align on a definition with Airport Operations & Customer Service (AOCS) and update manuals to reflect the shared understanding.
  • Minimum Amount of Potable Water for Safety: There is no clear, standardized policy on the minimum amount of potable water required onboard for safety purposes. The Committee would like there to be a minimum required for dispatch.
  • Add Absorbent Material to UPK: The Universal Precaution Kit (UPK) needs an absorbent material (powder or similar) to handle liquid biohazards effectively. A small broom and dustpan would also be helpful. Management will investigate what other carriers, including Hawaiian Airlines, use as absorbent material.
  • Cleaners and Pilots’ Bags at the R1 Door: Bags left in front of the L1 door during deplaning can create a tripping hazard, interfere with the girt bar, and make it difficult to verify that the door is disarmed. Inflight management will coordinate with Flight Operations and Fleet Service to find alternative locations for trash bags and Pilots’ luggage.
  • Seatbelt Extension in Exit Row: There is no procedure to verify a passenger’s seat location when a seatbelt extension is requested to ensure they are not in an exit row. Inflight Policy and Procedure will look at adding this to the FAM.
  • CRS Booster VS. Medical Device: The FAM lacks clear guidance on the difference between Child Restraint System (CRS) booster seats and medical devices that function as boosters. Management will work to provide more explicit guidance about assistive devices (FAM Section 12.100, pgs. 107 & 108).
  • CSA’s Pushing to Close the L1 Door When the L2 Door Is Opened and Being Catered: Customer Service Agents (CSAs) are pressuring to close the L1 door while the L2 door is open for catering, disrupting Flight Attendant door arming and creating safety procedure errors. Management will look at adding language to the FAM clarifying that “ready to close” also means catering is complete and all aircraft doors, other than one boarding door, are closed.
  • Lack of Information in the FAM about Care Attendants: The “care attendant” section needs to be returned to the FAM. 
  • Megaphone Preflight Check: Megaphones are frequently found with dead batteries because a preflight check is not required. Inflight Safety and Compliance is working on adding testing of the megaphone by pressing the button and listening for an audible click.
  • MAX 8 Headrests: The policy states that headrests should be lowered, but we wouldn’t want them lowered as low as they will go on the new Recaro seats, as the exposed headrest track could cause injury if the headrest ended up lower than the passenger’s head. The Committee has requested that the FAM make it clear that the headrest only needs to be lowered to be flush with the top of the seatback.
  • Safety Announcement Updates (Crossbody Bags and Tablets with Keyboards): Safety announcements need to be updated to include specific instructions for stowing fanny packs and crossbody bags and clearer wording for tablets with detachable keyboards. Management is receptive to making these changes and will work to add language with the next announcement update.

Things The Committee Is Working On

  1. Working on integrating safety programs (ASAP, FRB, and LOSA) and Committee meetings and management.
  2. Reviewing and providing feedback on Recurrent Training (RT) content for 2026.
  3. Offering ongoing feedback on the MAX 10 galleys and various other cabin interior projects.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’ve encountered any safety-related issues at work, you can help the Committee advocate for improvement and change by submitting a report. You can use ReportIt! to submit Flight Attendant Irregularity Reports (FAIR), Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) reports, and fatigue reports. If you need clarification or assistance on what type of report to file, please get in touch with a member of your Local ASHSC.

Your Local ASHSC is always ready to represent your voice to management. Please don’t hesitate to let us know about any issues or concerns you want us to bring forward. We would also love to hear any other feedback you may have for the Committee. You can find our contact information on the ASHSC page of the AFA Alaska website.

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Interviews—October 2025

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

In accordance with Article VI.C of the AFA Alaska MEC Policy and Procedure Manual, the terms of office for the MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions align with those of the MEC Officers. Since the current term for the MEC Officers will conclude on December 31, 2025, the MEC will soon review all pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and other MEC-level positions.

Committees that have already merged or will merge before the beginning of next year go through a separate process for interviews and elections and will not be included in this review. Information about interviews for these positions will be communicated separately.

This review will take place over several months to allow extra transition time for committees that may benefit from it. This approach differs from previous election cycles, where all interviews were conducted simultaneously near the end of the term. Although the interviews will occur well before the current MEC term concludes, those elected to these positions will not assume their roles until January 1, 2026.

The next committees to undergo the review process will be the Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee (ASHSC), Scheduling Committee, and Reserve. During the upcoming October Regular MEC Meeting, interviews will be conducted for the following positions:

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include: 

  • Current Alaska Airlines AFA Member in good standing.
  • Currently qualified Flight Attendant or, if on an approved leave of absence, last qualification must have been within 36 months prior to start of term.
  • Previous experience as a Committee Member or Chairperson is preferred.
  • Previous committee-specific training preferred.
  • Strong ability to lead and coordinate a diverse team in a collaborative environment.
  • Ability to attend meetings as required, both via videoconference and in person.
  • Strong computer skills, including a good working knowledge of Google Workspace (email, calendar, Drive, and other applications) and Microsoft 365.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write membership communications, respond professionally to internal and external emails, prepare reports, plan meetings (including scheduling, logistics, and agenda preparation), and take minutes.
  • Ability to meet deadlines, delegate responsibilities, and follow up on assigned tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Details about each committee’s duties and responsibilities are available on the respective committee pages of afaalaska.org. Additional information regarding MEC Committee Chairperson duties and responsibilities is available in this document.

Time Commitment and Flight Pay Loss Reimbursement

The time commitment for each position varies and may change based on current workload levels. Specific information about time commitment expectations and Flight Pay Loss for each position will be provided during the interviews. All positions operate in line with AFA’s spirit of volunteerism.

Term of Service

Candidates who are successfully elected will serve for the upcoming MEC Officer election cycle which begins on January 1, 2026, and concludes on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the October Regular MEC Meeting from Tuesday, October 14, through Thursday, October 16. If you are interested in interviewing, please plan to bid around these dates or adjust your schedule accordingly.

Eligible candidates can choose to interview in person in SeaTac, WA, or virtually via Google Meet videoconferencing. 

To express your interest, please submit an expression of interest and your resume using the online form (link below). The submission deadline is 5 PM Pacific Time on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. After the submission deadline, an MEC representative will contact eligible candidates to arrange specific interview times.

Click here to submit an expression of interest form >

Please note that a Google account is required to submit the expression of interest form. If you don’t have a Google account, you can create one for free at https://accounts.google.com/signup.

Questions?

Any questions about MEC Committee Chairperson position duties and responsibilities can be directed to MEC Vice President Brice McGee at mecvp@afaalaska.org.

Meet Our Merged MEC Committee Chairpersons & Representatives

We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons, who will begin their roles on November 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged committees of both airlines. They’ll work closely with the Local Committee Chairpersons from all […]

Hotel Committee Meeting Recap – October 2025

On Monday, October 13, our AFA Local Hotel Committee Chairpersons met in person in Seattle to receive an update about current layover hotels and transportation providers and discuss concerns with management. Representing you at the meeting were Dori Marron (ANC), Jarod McNeill (SEA), Kelly Hepworth (PDX), Hilary Streem (SFO), Chris Cardenas (LAX), and Kanani Vallot […]

Pre-Merger Alaska MEC Committee Election Results

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee positions to be elected for the upcoming MEC Officer term. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful […]

Merged MEC Committee Chairperson Election Results

During this week’s MEC Meeting, our MEC held interviews for the next group of merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives. We want to thank everyone who expressed interest in the available positions and their willingness to serve. After careful consideration and deliberation, the following candidates have been elected: MEC Air Safety, Health, & Security Committee […]

U.S. Customs & Border Protection Gender Code Requirement

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced changes to the rules surrounding how airlines report information about passengers and crew before flights. This system is called the Advance Passenger Information System, or APIS. These changes are in response to a Presidential Executive Order. What is APIS? APIS is a system that airlines are legally […]

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