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Merged MEC Committee Interviews—December 2025

This message is for both pre-merger Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants

The integration of our Master Executive Councils (MECs) is progressing steadily. Several committees have successfully merged over the past few months, and we are now planning for another committee to merge on January 1.

As part of the committee merger process, our MEC will elect a Chairperson and Committee Members for each newly merged committee from the combined groups of Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants. The newly elected Chairperson will coordinate activities across both airlines, and they, along with the Committee Members, will support all eight Local Councils—both pre-merger Alaska and pre-merger Hawaiian. The MEC will conduct interviews during the December MEC Meeting for the following roles:

Other committees will merge later in the process. As we approach those dates, we’ll keep you informed about the integration timeline for each committee, including interview schedules.

General Qualifications

Qualifications for all MEC-level Chairperson positions include: 

  • Current Alaska or Hawaiian 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.

Qualifications for Inflight Training Committee positions include:

  • Current Flight Attendant Initial and/or Recurrent Training Instructor.

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. Their official term will begin on January 1, 2026, and conclude on December 31, 2028.

Expressing Interest and Interview Scheduling

The MEC will interview eligible candidates during the December Regular MEC Meeting on Monday, December 1, and Tuesday, December 2. 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 Monday, November 24, 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 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 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

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.

Refreshed Inflight Mobile Device (IMD) Distribution

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

Management has recently informed our Master Executive Council (MEC) that they are distributing new Inflight Mobile Devices (IMDs) to Flight Attendants with devices nearing the end of their lifecycle. The specific schedule for this distribution will be communicated by management separately. Flight Attendants with the oldest devices will be prioritized for replacement and contacted directly by management.

Distribution of Inflight Mobile Device Replacements Letter of Agreement (LOA)

In anticipation of the rollout of updated IMDs, our MEC and management have reached a letter of agreement (LOA) that clarifies the distribution process. AFA LOA 2025-08-13 (Distribution of Inflight iPhone Mobile Device Replacements to AS Flight Attendants) offers several benefits and protections for Flight Attendants, including:

  • Compensation of 0.5 TFP for picking up the device and completing the required setup tasks (this will be automatically paid the following month on the 20th of the month paycheck).
  • Flexible pickup options if you are not scheduled to work during the designated distribution period—coordinate with your Inflight Supervisor to make arrangements for pickup.
  • Limitations on the tasks that Flight Attendants must perform to set up the device.

For complete details, please click here to view the full LOA. The LOA is also available on your IMD in GoodReader or Comply365 in the ASFA Supplemental > Collective Bargaining Agreement folder.

LAX Co-Terminal Pickup

Flight Attendants based at LAX who fly primarily out of co-terminals can pick up their IMD at LAX or any other domicile during the scheduled distribution period. They can also arrange with their Inflight Supervisor to receive their IMD at a mutually agreed-upon time and place. If possible and upon request, they may opt to have their IMD shipped to their chosen address at no cost. For more information, please refer to paragraph 6 of the LOA.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the IMD Replacement Distribution LOA, please reach out to your LEC Officers.

Meet Our Pre-Merger Alaska Committee Chairperson & Representatives

This message is for pre-merger Alaska Flight Attendants

We’re excited to introduce the first group of pre-merger Alaska MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives for the upcoming MEC Officer term. They’ll begin transitioning into their roles over the next few months and officially start their terms on January 1, 2026. Below, you’ll find brief biographies that highlight their backgrounds and experiences as they prepare to support our Flight Attendant group.

Stephanie Adams, MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson

Stephanie has been a Flight Attendant for 28 years and is a licensed attorney in Washington. She graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2003. Stephanie began her career with Alaska Airlines 30 years ago, starting as a Reservation Sales Agent for one year, followed by a year as a Customer Service Agent before becoming a Flight Attendant. For the past nine years, she has served as the MEC Grievance Committee Chairperson. Stephanie became involved with the AFA to help fellow Flight Attendants and looks forward to continuing her support through the grievance process and navigating the collective bargaining agreement.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her two young adult children and traveling with them. She also has a golden retriever named Murphy and two cats, Milo and Teddy, who receive a lot of her attention. Last year, she ran the New York City Marathon, and New York City is her favorite layover destination.

Bianca Dew, MEC Grievance Committee Assistant

Bianca started her career in 2015 at Virgin America as an SFO-based flight attendant. She holds Associate of Arts in Behavioral Science and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from California Baptist University. After some time flying, she became an Inflight Team Lead and then an Air Transportation Supervisor, where she conducted IOEs and check rides. 

Her dedication to the well-being of her peers led her to become actively involved with AFA. She served as the Legacy Virgin America Scheduling Committee Chairperson and currently as MEC Grievance Committee Assistant, where she continues to represent our Flight Attendants. Bianca has remained a steadfast advocate for the needs of Flight Attendants, leveraging her experience to help address the unique challenges of our profession.

Bianca is currently SEA-based, but when she’s not working, Bianca can be found pursuing her love for the outdoors. An avid traveler, she enjoys hiking, reading, gardening, and snowboarding.

Julie Thornton, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative

Julie Thornton is a proud Seattle native, who earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communication and Spanish from the University of Washington. Her college years were filled with vibrant experiences, including active involvement in Kappa Delta sorority, where she attended social gatherings and devoted time to philanthropic events—moments that helped shape her love for community and leadership. (Go Huskies!)

Julie’s professional story began on the shores of South Lake Union, where she spent just over two years at a boutique Public Relations firm. While she thrived in the fast-paced PR environment, Julie soon realized her heart was set on a career that combined her love of travel, helping others, and making a tangible difference. In 2013, Julie took a leap and joined Alaska Airlines as a Flight Attendant, initially based in Los Angeles. 

Julie’s commitment to service quickly found an outlet, in 2014 she began volunteering on the Seattle Reserve Committee as a Reserve Buddy. In this mentorship role, Julie welcomed and supported new reserve Flight Attendants, sharing her insights and easing their transitions. In 2018, she was selected as the Seattle Reserve Committee Chairperson—a role in which she fostered a supportive environment for her SEA peers. Julie’s AFA journey continued to blossom in 2020, Julie was appointed to serve her first term as the MEC Reserve Committee Chairperson. Her impact grew further; in 2020 she joined the Seattle Grievance Committee as a Grievance Committee Member. In her new role as Grievance Committee Payroll Representative, she hopes to create enhanced training workshops and peer support resources, making the often-challenging pay system more accessible for all.

When Julie isn’t soaring at 35,000 feet, she’s spending time with her family and friends. She and her husband love introducing their young son, Brooks, to the wonders of the world—along with their two mischievous chocolate Labradors, Herman and Hazel. Julie’s circle of friends and family is her anchor, and she cherishes every moment spent at home or abroad. 

Orna Samuelly, MEC Grievance Committee Payroll Representative

Orna Samuelly is joining the Grievance Committee as a Payroll Representative. A transplanted New Yorker, Orna now calls Seattle home. She holds a BA from Williams College and an MA from Brown University.   Orna’s passion for the airline industry started years back at American Airlines and Northwest Airlines in Revenue Management. After years in consulting and financial management, she found her way back to the industry she loves.   

Orna volunteered to join the Grievance Committee as a Payroll Representative to apply her analytical skills to support fellow Flight Attendants. She also volunteers as the Treasurer on the Board of Purrfect Pals, a Washington cat shelter, and at the Seattle Aquarium, where she loves teaching people about the Giant Pacific Octopus and inspiring them to protect our amazing oceans.   

Orna is excited to support fellow Flight Attendants with their payroll issues, whether to right wrongs or to understand the contract clauses that have impacted their payroll.   Orna has been a Flight Attendant for the last 3 years. She is having fun with it, most of the time, treating it as an adventure, both in the air and on layovers. Discovering Alaska has been a treat, from fabulous hikes in Sitka and Juneau to encountering the big brown bears of Katmai.   

David Jelinek, MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson

David was born and raised on a ranch in a small town in southern Colorado. He attended the University of Northern Colorado and obtained a degree in Costume Design for Theater. He began his career as a flight attendant in 2005 with Frontier Airlines, which is based in Denver. During that time, he served on the Uniform Committee for five years. In 2007, he moved to Portland for love, which, after twenty years, is still going strong. 

In 2013, he began flying for Alaska Airlines. After a bit of coaxing, he joined the Uniform Committee, and in 2017, he took over the position of the Local Uniform Committee Chairperson for Council 39 and the PDX base. David also serves on the Air Safety, Health, and Security Committee (ASHSC), where he has addressed safety concerns in our work environment and performed evacuation drills and proving flights for the FAA on the Airbus and new Boeing MAX aircraft. 

When not flying, David creates gowns and costumes for stage and drag performers. Halloween is a frenzy when he enters his stress-out period to create his costume to top the year before. When not spending time in the air or his sewing room, he enjoys RV camping with his husband, projects on their house, and walks around the neighborhood with their Schnauzer, Baxter. 

After 20 years of flying and five uniforms, David is excited to take on the position of MEC Uniform Committee Chairperson. He is committed to working hard to address Flight Attendant concerns and advocate for a professional, safe, and comfortable uniform for all.  

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