2015 40 Under 40: Elizabeth Flores

Elizabeth Flores: Aviation Found Her

Elizabeth Flores

Executive Director

Community Development and Marketing

Sixel Consulting Group

Age: 34

Years in Aviation: 12

Memberships: AAAE, ACI-NA

Did you know?

Flores is married to a JetBlue pilot and has a son, coincidently, named Miles.

Elizabeth Flores says aviation found her. On a whim, and in pursuit of a childhood dream, she transferred to an aviation-focused university her sophomore year of college. She had planned to become a teacher but something drew her into aviation instead. Today, Flores is the executive director of Community Development and Marketing for Sixel Consulting Group, where she assists airports in achieving their air service and marketing goals. Flores joined Sixel in December 2012 as the firm’s first manager of Marketing and Community Development. In this role she was responsible for overseeing and developing the marketing efforts of a number of client airports including strategic campaign development, community outreach and airport branding. In 2014, Flores was promoted to executive director of Community Development and Marketing and due to the continued growth of the marketing and community development division of the company; she now has a dual role and also serves as the company’s division director of Community Development and Marketing. Through this dual role, she continues to work directly with airport clients while also coordinating the firm’s growing marketing team as they work with clients to establish program goals and budgets and manage project portfolios. With more than a decade of airport experience, Flores brings an extensive airport marketing and social media background to the firm. Prior to joining Sixel, she served as the head of Airport Engagement for SimpliFlying, an international firm specializing in airport and airline brand strategy. Flores began her airport career at the Akron-Canton Airport where she served as marketing manager and an integral part of the airport’s industry-leading marketing team. Following her six years there, Flores served as director of marketing and community development at the South Bend Airport. Flores helps plan industry conferences and most recently served as the marketing and public relations track host for the 2014 AAAE Annual Meeting and on the executive planning committee for the 2015 AAAE Digital Media Summit. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in aviation business administration from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.