ST. CROIX — Bohlke International Airways (B.I.A.) recognized “Take Your Daughters and Sons To Work Day” on Thursday at its hangar located at St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. The company invited its 55-person team to bring their children, grandchildren, and neighbors to see where they work and what they do.
Ashley Bouzianis, B.I.A.’s director of marketing, explained that the effort is hosted bi-annually and is inspired by the national event, which gives children a glimpse into the working world. She expressed that, as a child, she also participated in the event and accompanied her parents, both attorneys, to work. It gave her the opportunity to see first-hand what lawyers do. At the tender age of 8 or 9, the experience impressed her so much that she determined that when she had a family, her children would participate in the event as well. She introduced the idea to B.I.A., and the family-focused company readily embraced it.
“There are two primary missions for hosting the event, one is to foster bonds between our 55-person team (in conjunction with AeroMD and Tradewinds Flight Center) and their families, and to foster a love of aviation from a young age,” Mrs. Bouzianis said. “We need the next generation of pilots, fuelers, customer service representatives, human resources professionals and many other professions.”
Mrs. Bouzianis also shared that her son Matthew has developed a keen interest in airplanes and often watches YouTube documentaries about how to assemble planes, what makes planes fly and the physics of it.
Soledad Roman, who is originally from Ecuador, attended with her daughter, Abbie. Betsaida Santos-Torres did not allow the fact that she was an adult to stop her from getting into the bounce house set up in the hanger. She was a barrel of laughs as she bounced up and down having a good time. This is the second time that her two daughters, Solymar and Deliz-Marie Santos, are attending the event. They giggled as their mom quizzed them on the aviation alphabet. They did not miss a letter. Solymar, the 10-year-old, said that she teaches her friends the aviation alphabet, just like her mom teaches her, and Deliz-Marie, the 11-year-old, says that having fun is her favorite part of the event.
Laurie Bohlke’s activity, making slime, was a major hit. The children and adults alike crowded around her table combining ingredients that included – glue, borax, lotion, shaving cream, corn starch, foaming soap, food coloring, and water — from a simple slime recipe. Her daughter, Isabel, has an interest in airplanes, loves flying with her dad, and often helps him clean the plane. Her 9-year old son, Jack, was busy enjoying the bounce house with his friends.
Shamoi Fontenelle, a young attendee, was proud to be in a pilot’s uniform and did not shy away from the camera, but instead posed for photo after photo, like a true professional. His mother, Tasha Jones, said that Thursday’s event was her son’s second time attending, and when he comes to work with her, he spends his time in the hanger with the guys. She hopes that he will eventually make the choice to be in the aviation industry in some capacity.
Mrs. Bouzianis successfully met her goal of bringing the team and their families together; and of also encouraging their children to embrace the aviation industry and have fun spending time with their parents in their work environment. All in all, the moral-boosting event was a huge success for B.I.A., their employees and their daughters and sons alike.
Tags: bohlke international airways
Share On Facebook
Tweet It
