Kathy Roberts creates opportunities
and manages work/life balance
Kathy Roberts is the vice president of training and quality assurance for Worldwide Flight Services, Inc., North America.
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
HOMETOWN: Salisbury Mills, NY
HOBBY: Skiing and hiking
TRAVEL GOAL: Italy
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: It does not
happen unless you make it happen
2021 Airport Voice
Woman of Achievement
Airport Voice
Kathleen Noel has fulfilling career as office manager
for worldwide flight services
Kathleen Noel is the import office manager for building 151 worldwide flight services at John F. Kennedy airport.
2021 AIRPORT V 16 OICE WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT
In her current role, she oversees the development
of job function safety and training programs
for their cargo and ground handling
operations. She works directly with the company’s
executive staff on policy initiatives in order
to meet industry standards and she is also
the program administrator for their internal
quality assurance audit program.
Roberts began her career in aviation when
she took a role as operations manager for
American Airlines at Stewart-Newburgh International
airport when the airport first introduced
commercial airline service to the public.
“I was a frequent traveler growing up and always
had an interest in the travel industry for
as long as I can remember,” said Roberts.
She has always been motivated to do her
best to make a difference throughout her career
and she has been able to find solid support
through mentors and colleagues along the way.
Roberts feels most proud of achieving a work/
life balance. Being able to see her daughters
grow up and have the chance to make it to their
important events has been something she is
very proud of.
“I never missed a milestone event or an important
day in their life and I hope in some way
to serve as an example when they are mothers,”
said Roberts. “I take pride that my daughters
are strong, successful professional women.”
Even though she has faced her share of
ups and downs, Roberts emphasizes staying
the path and bettering oneself through trials.
“One of my mentors always used to tell me that
“opportunities don’t happen, you create them,”
said Roberts.
As a successful woman in aviation who has
earned many accomplishments along the trajectory
of her career, her advice to anyone looking
to get into the industry involves taking destiny
into your own hands.
“Change does not happen unless you make
it happen,” said Roberts. “You have to have an
edge to know how to make a difference and be
effective. I always take a realistic approach to
new challenges and try to keep things simple.”
Worldwide flight services is a ground
handling business that specializes in cargo,
passenger, and ramp handling for over 170
airports throughout the world. Noel is responsible
for overseeing the daily function
of import office liaison between airlines and
worldwide flight services.
Noel first got into the aviation through a
family friend who was a big help for her in
getting her start in the aviation industry and
certainly got the ball rolling to where she is
today as an office manager.
Throughout her life and career, she had
the opportunity to be mentored by a former
general manager of WFS and the support of
her colleagues has helped to similarly inspire
her to look out for others. It is often one
of her proudest moments in her career when
she is able to see fellow staff members that
she trained when they first joined the company
get promoted to higher positions and
achieve their own route to success within the
aviation industry.
While she has enjoyed many career accomplishments,
some of the biggest hurdles
certainly involve the pandemic and the way
it affected the aviation industry. Fear surrounding
COVID has been a challenge for
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
HOMETOWN: St. Albans, Queens / Trinidad
HOBBY: Playing games on my computer
FAVORITE MOVIE: Bourne Identity movies
TRAVEL GOAL: Paris
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: Smile you
Don’t own all the problems
2021 Airport Voice
Woman of Achievement
Airport Voice
her to deal with, but her constant dedication,
commitment, and unwavering resiliency has
always helped her to be successful in both her
personal and professional life.
Ultimately, she hopes to retire soon and
indulge in her passion for gardening, but
for young women, her advice is simple and
concise; “be true to yourself and don’t back
down.”