As we continue our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month and the amazing folk at Envoy who contribute to our success, let’s meet with Neshmaida Sanchez who is an Envoy Flight Attendant based in Miami (MIA). Here, she tells us about her passion for her Puerto Rican culture and who inspires her.

What is your Envoy story?

“I have been with Envoy for 25 years — I started back in 1999 as a Flight Attendant based in San Juan, Puerto Rico where I was fortunate to participate and help with Department of Defense audits, as well as assist the Safety department with FAA inspections.

Currently, I am based in MIA working in the Flight Service office assisting the Flight Service Managers.”

What is the significance of National Hispanic Heritage Month to you?

“Hispanic Heritage Month to me is the celebration of my roots and the contribution we as Latinos have brought to this nation.”

What is your cultural background and how do you like to celebrate it?

“As a Puerto Rican, we are a mix of Spaniard, Taino and African. This mix of cultures makes us unique in essence and gives us the opportunity to embrace all three and celebrate them all.

Maybe this is why we are recognized all over the world as very happy people.”

What Hispanic/Latino historical figure or person in your life gives you inspiration? 

“As a Latina woman, I’m inspired by another Latina named Olga Custodio. She was the first Latina, Puerto Rican women to complete the U.S. Air Force Military pilot training.

While still serving as a U.S. Air force reserve pilot, she was hired by American Airlines and became one of the first Latina pilots for a commercial airline where she retired as a Captain in 2008. To me, she is living proof that when you want something, and you focus and work hard, you can definitely achieve it.”

What’s one surprising fact others might not know about you?  

“Something that always surprises people that get to know me is that I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we both ended up working for the same company.”