We’re excited to introduce our next group of newly elected merged MEC Committee Chairpersons and Representatives, who will begin their roles on January 1. These leaders are dedicated to representing the interests of our Flight Attendants as they coordinate activities across the merged Inflight Training Committee for both airlines. They’ll ensure 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.
Megan Brown, MEC Inflight Training Committee Chairperson
With nearly 35 years as a Flight Attendant and 21 years as an instructor, Megan Brown brings extensive experience to her roles. She has held several Union positions, including serving on the EAP/Professional Standards Committee for a decade, and being elected multiple times to serve as a Council Representative for Council 19 (Seattle). Since 2017, she has also led as MEC Chairperson of the Inflight Training Committee. Megan’s true passion lies in standing up for Flight Attendants and advocating for them with energy and dedication. Outside of work, Megan is a single mother to a 21-year-old son and enjoys traveling and spending time with friends.
Andrew Lum-Nelmida, MEC Inflight Training Committee Member
Andrew holds a Certificate of Completion in Culinary Arts from Leeward Community College. His diverse background includes experience as a line cook, cashier, and server at Sizzlers Hawaii, as well as working as a Barista and Shift Leader at Starbucks. Since 2003, Andrew has been a valued member of Hawaiian Airlines, starting as a Reservations Agent (2003-2005), then transitioning to an In-Flight Administrator (2005-2006), and ultimately becoming a Flight Attendant in 2006. For the past 14 years, he has also served as an In-Flight Instructor.
In his free time, Andrew enjoys cooking for his family and creating knit and crochet projects such as gloves, socks, beanies, and cardigans. In this new role, Andrew aims to leverage his extensive experience in In-Flight Training to help merge the best practices of both Hawaiian Airlines and the new group. He is committed to embodying the values of both organizations, fostering a positive and effective learning environment for both new and legacy Flight Attendants.
James Bozanich, MEC Inflight Training Committee Member
James began his aviation career in 2009 as a Flight Attendant with Virgin America, based in San Francisco. Over the years, he has held a wide range of leadership and instructional roles within Inflight, including Inflight Team Leader, Air Transportation Supervisor, and Inflight Instructor, a position he has proudly served in for more than 15 years. In addition to teaching both Initial and Recurrent Training, James has co-developed numerous Inflight Training programs at Virgin America and Alaska Airlines. One of his most memorable experiences was participating in the Virgin America/Virgin Australia Exchange Program, during which he spent a year flying as a Sydney-based Flight Attendant.
James became active with AFA shortly after the ratification of the 2018 JCBA, first serving as the Council 35 (SFO) Hotel Committee Chairperson before transferring to the San Diego base in 2021. In 2023, he was elected MEC Hotel Committee Chairperson and also joined the Inflight Training Committee. Guided by his belief that constructive action drives meaningful change, James applied for and was elected to join the 2022 Alaska Negotiating Committee. In that role, he contributed to the strategy and bargaining efforts that led to the 2025–2028 CBA, a contract that delivered significant economic gains and improved work rules for Alaska’s Flight Attendants. He will soon begin his second term as MEC Training Committee Member, this time supporting both Alaska and Hawaiian Flight Attendants and Instructors within the merged Inflight Training Committee.
Outside of his Union and inflight work, James holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from UC Davis. Prior to becoming a Flight Attendant, he worked as a Securities-Licensed Banker and as a Trip Leader for a high-end active travel company. In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, running, skiing, and exploring global cuisine while traveling.
Jody Sakaba, MEC Inflight Training Committee Member
Jody started at Hawaiian Airlines as a Flight Attendant in May of 2013. She holds a Master’s degree in Travel Industry Management from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Eastern Washington University. She has been an Inflight Instructor for ten years. Jody is excited to continue to serve the Flight Attendants through her participation on the Inflight Training committee. Her goals are to help ensure effective communication with regard to the upcoming transition training and to develop confidence in our Flight Attendants during this time of change. When she’s not at work, Jody enjoys spending time with family and friends and especially enjoys watching her son play basketball and volleyball.
Ryoko Suzuki, MEC Inflight Training Committee Member
Ryoko brings deep expertise from key roles across multiple international carriers. She served as First Class Flight Attendant for both Emirates Airlines (since 2002) and Qantas Airways, where she actively participated in significant cultural training initiatives.
Since 2012, she has been a Flight Attendant and, since 2013, a certified In-Flight Instructor for Hawaiian Airlines, contributing to and leading various specialized training programs. This comprehensive background allows her to create and implement highly effective, employee-centric educational material necessary for operational alignment post-merger.
A strong believer in the human element of corporate change, Ryoko holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Italian Language from the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time with her five-year-old Shih Tzu, Pepe, and playing claw machines in Japan.
Taylor Opitz, MEC Inflight Training Committee Member
Taylor began her aviation career in 2013 as a Passenger Service Agent for Horizon Air. She quickly transitioned to a Flight Attendant with Alaska Airlines in January of 2014, where she discovered a passion for supporting her colleagues. Her Union involvement started in 2017, as a reserve buddy, a role she embraced for over eight years. Taylor became an inflight instructor in 2019, and training quickly became a passion of hers. She loves reconnecting with peers in recurrent training and finds the energy and challenge of teaching initial classes especially rewarding. Since 2023, Taylor has proudly served on the Inflight Training Committee, where she has advocated for Flight Attendants, new hires, and fellow instructors. She looks forward to continuing her work with the Inflight Training Committee and navigating the changes this merger will bring.
Taylor lives in North Tacoma with her husband, Jason, and their cat, Lucy. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, golfing, and traveling to new destinations, especially areas with good wine.
Comment Guidelines: AFA Alaska Social Media Guidelines and the AFA-CWA Mutual Respect Policy apply to all website posts and comments. Please take a moment to review and understand both before posting.