WAI Hosts Connect Event in Dayton, Ohio - Sept 29-30, 2017

May 16, 2017
The two-day, Friday and Saturday gathering will be held at the Marriott Hotel at the University of Dayton and begins with a tour of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites

Women in Aviation International has announced this year’s Connect event in Dayton, Ohio, on September 29-30, 2017. The two-day, Friday and Saturday gathering will be held at the Marriott Hotel at the University of Dayton and begins with a tour of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park sites, including Hawthorn Hill, the Wright family mansion; Carillon Historical Park; Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center and the Wright Cycle Company; and the Huffman-Prairie Flying Field, the location of Wright Brothers’ test flights. 

The tour of the Dayton aviation sites will be followed by a tour of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Dayton Connect activities begin with a reception and book signing to meet authors Timothy Gaffney (The Dayton Flight Factory); Nancy Roe Pimm (The Jerrie Mock Story); and Sarah Rickman who has written two books about the WASP.

Speakers for Saturday, September 30 include Dawn Dewey, head of special collections & archives at Wright State University; General Ellen Pawlikowski (invited), commander, Air Force Materiel Command, WPAFB, Ohio;Sharon Rossmark, founder of Women and Drones; Margaret Soda, vice president of human resources, PSA Airlines; and Patty Wagner, air show performer. Girls’ robotic teams from area schools will also put on a demonstration.

“Dayton offers attendees an opportunity to take a deep dive into Wright Brothers history and learn about future technologies in aviation,” said Women in Aviation International President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “We have a full agenda planned to make this a fun and educational two days.”

Attendees can purchase an entire conference packet or select individual events and meals. WAI Dayton Connect is open to WAI members and non-members alike, this event does not feature an exhibit hall or Fast Pass meetings. To register and book your hotel room, please visit https://www.wai.org/wai-connect-dayton.

Women in Aviation International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information about WAI, please contact WAI at (937) 839-4647 or online at wai.org.