Meet some of our legendary employees

October 2, 2023
Care
Alaska Airlines
4 min read

Photos by Joe Nicholson, Alaska Airlines

Our people set us apart. This Customer Service Appreciation Week, we want to thank all of our remarkable employees for everything they do and for the tremendous care they show our guests, communities and each other every single day. Whether you’re planning, landing, taking off or touching down, we are grateful for you — every mile of the way.

Alaska Airlines Legends

At Alaska Airlines, we reserve our top honor – the Legend Award – for those who always look up, push higher, put others first and have been doing so for more than a decade. They are the models of excellence and ones we can all aspire to be more like. And, in honor of the example they set, we’re spotlighting a few of them to celebrate Customer Service Appreciate Week.

Legend Flight Attendant Gary Webb in Anchorage.

Kim Gonzalez- Customer Service Agent

John Evenden – Customer Service Agent

Legend Rony Linaris, airport lounge specialist in Los Angeles.

Rony Linares – Airport Lounge Specialist

Legend Lisa Lucek, call center agent in Arizona.

Lisa Lucek – Reservation Sales Agent

Susanna Poier – Lead Customer Service Agent

Mary Jane Rzegocki – Lead Cargo Call Center Agent

The Customer Service Legend Award is the highest honor at Alaska Airlines. This year, 18 employees were named Customer Service Legends. Together, this group has a combined 483years of experience with our airline. To date, 368 employees have been inducted into this hall of fame since it began in 1991.

Legend Nestor Fernandez, Line Avionics Tech. in Seattle.

Horizon Pathfinders

At Horizon Air, Alaska’s regional airline partner, we have a similar recognition program called the Pathfinder Award. The Pathfinder Award celebrates employees who are highly respected among their peers and leadership for building an outstanding career of commitment and contributions to our airline’s success. 

These employees show unparalleled dedication to carrying out Horizon’s mission of connecting small communities to the rest of the world, and ensuring our guests’ journeys are safe and efficient and their experiences are enjoyable and memorable. They are the models of excellence and ones we can all aspire to be more like. And, in honor of the example they set, we’re spotlighting a few of them to celebrate Customer Service Appreciate Week.

Pathfinder Joe D’Ambrosio, passenger service agent at Boise International Airport

Joe D’Ambrosio – Passenger Service Agent, BOI

Pathfinder Rachel Jordan, communications agent, at Spokane International Airport

Rachel Jordan – Communications Agent, GEG

Pathfinder Kris Vanderpool, passenger service agent at Portland International Airport

Kris Vanderpool – Passenger Service Agent Trainer, PDX

These spotlights represent just a portion of our 2023 Horizon Pathfinders — we’re celebrating the newest class of Pathfinders on Oct. 19, 2023. This year, nine remarkable individuals were recognized for their dedication to carrying out Horizon’s mission of connecting small communities to the rest of the world, and ensuring guests’ journeys are safe, efficient and enjoyable.  Since the award was created in 2007, 147 employees have been recognized with this honor.