Chapter Board
President - Holly Farrell
As a child driving by with her parents, Holly was entranced by the big Boeing airplane factory and someday wanted to work there. Now in her 11th year with The Boeing Company, Holly's love of airplanes is even stronger as she's learned more about company operations, the aircraft themselves and how they're built. After initially supporting the 767 Leadership Team, she has worked with different company organizations and programs, gaining valuable experience about aircraft design, engineering, production and modification. As an unexpected bonus, Holly also found her fiancé in the 767 program! Marvin is a production manager currently working a special project in San Antonio, TX, and a great resource for all of her aviation questions.
Holly became wholly involved with Women in Aviation, International, after attending the Annual Conference about seven years ago, where she met many dynamic and inspiring women including WASP Bee Haydu. She has previously served as Volunteer, Chapter Treasurer and now President. She is a great dog lover with 2 Boxers Charlee Brown and Libbee, and supports the local dog rescues.
Vice President - Laina Reeves
Laina has been a member of Women in Aviation, Int’l since 1996, and is a founding member of the Washington State chapter of WAI. She is also a member of AWAM, the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance and the 99’s.
In 2019, Laina retired from Boeing as a Customer Maintenance Training Developer/Instructor, teaching maintenance subjects on both the 787 Dreamliner and the 737 Max airplanes. She earned her FAA Airframe & Powerplant certificate in 1983 and has worked in maintenance and quality control with Continental Airlines, Alaska Airlines, The Boeing Company, and in various positions with Goodrich Aviation Technical Services.
In 2002, she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She also received a minor in Aviation Safety.
Laina and her husband Tom own three aircraft; a Beech Bonanza, a Cessna Centurion, and a Cessna Skyhawk. She plans to complete her Private Pilot certificate this summer.
Treasurer - Ashley Limb
Ashley was born and raised in Merritt Island, Florida, the home of Kennedy Space Center. She grew up watching the Space Shuttle and various rocket launches which fostered a deep passion for the aerospace field.
She attended the University of Central Florida, majoring in mechanical engineering, and spent four semesters as a Space Shuttle orbiter structures co-op with United Space Alliance, the prime contractor for the Space Shuttle program.
Upon graduation, she accepted a position at Johnson Space Center’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston, Texas as an Extravehicular Mobility Unit engineer. She was assigned to support the astronauts on EXP-32, STS-128, and STS-134. Support included anthropometric measurements for glove and space suit sizing, fit checks, simulated zero-gravity training, and prep and post flight events.
As the space shuttle program ended, Ashley accepted a position with Boeing as a 787 Manufacturing engineer at the new final assembly building in Charleston, South Carolina. She was the Wing Body Join subject matter expert on the first three 787s in Charleston before accepting a position in Everett, Washington as a 767 Build Integration Manufacturing engineer supporting Forward Bodies. She eventually accepted a position on 777X Wing Body Join product development, and is now working in Supply Chain Engineering supporting a global network of Boeing Commercial Airplane suppliers.
Outside of work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband, family, and friends. They have a 2 year old and three stepkids that keep them very busy! She also enjoys good food, wine, and traveling.
Secretary - Katie Kennedy
Katie Kennedy is proud to serve on the board of the Washington State Women in Aviation Chapter She is currently a Mechanical Engineering Manager at Boeing for Commercial Airplanes and has had a passion for aviation her entire life stemming from her love for travel. Katie grew up in the Los Angeles area and loves spending quality time with her fiancé, family, and her pets, traveling (especially to Disney theme parks), snowboarding, and wine tasting. Katie joined the chapter after attending the 2019 WAI conference and becoming inspired by so many women across the aviation industry!
Outreach Chair - Stuti Dahal
I was born and raised in Nepal, a small country in South Asia. For my time in Nepal, I was unaware of the world of aviation. .
When I was 11, I moved to the United States. I discovered the Museum of Flight here and all the amazing academic resources that they provided. I was shocked at the fact that I could become a pilot, so I started dreaming of becoming one. I attended the Aeronautical Science Pathway program provided by the Museum of Flight. I received a scholarship there for my fixed wing rating. I also received a scholarship from Whirly Bird Aviation for a rotor craft rating. Currently, I am flying both planes and helicopters.
I will also be attending the University of Washington this fall where I will be studying Environmental Science
GIAD/Education Chair - Rebecca Burghy
Rebecca Burghy is a longtime Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor. Flying since her teens, she has flown pipeline, charter and corporate work, run a flight school, and worked on Boeing's 787 program and in Interiors production. She flies and teaches in a wide variety of aircraft from WWI and WWII to today’s advanced airplanes.
As a past president of the Washington State Chapter, she is passionate about helping young people explore aviation careers, and coordinates our chapter Girls in Aviation Day events. Additionally, Rebecca volunteers across the aviation industry as a speaker, mentor, writer and judge.
Scholarship Chair - Peggy Phillips
Peggy is the current Scholarship Committee Chairperson for the Washington State Chapter. Her aviation career began in 1979 when she joined the Air Force Reserves at McGuire AFB in NJ. After earning her wings in 1980, Peggy went on to serve for 30 years, retiring as a Colonel in April 2010. Flying the C141 and C17 during her career, she travel extensively around the world delivering personnel, cargo, humanitarian relief, aeromedical evacuation, etc. During her last 5 years in the service, she worked at Tanker Airlift Control Center providing supervision to the Air Operations Center. Currently, Peggy volunteers her time as a Docent at the Museum of Flight. She is an active member of WAI and Women Military Aviators. She enjoys the many opportunities to mentor young women and to gather with women who have the aviation spark!
Membership Chair - Nicole Cain
I grew up near Campbell Airstrip in Anchorage, Alaska, and always imagined flying in the airplanes I’d watch overhead. Like many, I moved to the Seattle area and finally found myself in an airplane at Galvin several years after earning a degree and working in unrelated fields. I earned my certificates at Galvin and once I earned my Instructor certificate, I was determined to become the Chief Flight Instructor. I enjoy teaching. My favorite part of teaching is sharing my love of flying with students and seeing them become better aviators. I joined Women in Aviation International after a couple hundred hours of instructing because I wanted to be part of a group of individuals passionate about aviation. I will always remember the first WAI conference I attended. The workshops were educational, and I was able to put into practice these skills I learned. I love how welcoming and fun WAI members are!