Southeast Section Leadership

Born in Michigan, Marilyn’s father was a carrier pilot, inspiring her to become a pilot. Life takes its turns and earning her pilot’s certificate didn’t happen until age 50. She is not current as she has decided that her funds would go to traveling the world and to her love of aviation through the 99s and NIFA (National Collegiate Flying Association).

Marilyn joined the Florida Suncoast Chapter at the Christmas dinner in 2004 and became the Vice Chair in January 2005! This led to a Chairman position for two terms, where she moved the meetings around the area to accommodate and grow the membership. This continues today. Serving as Section Secretary, Director, and Vice Governor and attending Section meetings and International Conferences have given Marilyn sisters and friends the world over.

Becoming a judge for NIFA was a dream! Having the camaraderie of fellow pilots and judges and getting a flying boost from the excitement of the collegiate competitors got her hooked. Starting with NIFA Region 9, she attended Regionals and increased her judging experience. Having one-on-one time with the women competitors at Region 9 allows her to introduce them to The 99s and all they have to offer in camaraderie, scholarships, PPLI mentoring, and more! Marilyn wants to continue to spread the word about NIFA to The 99s by asking for more judging volunteers, especially at Regionals because we all fly “for the fun of it.” 

Terri always wanted to fly, but as a child, she was led to believe girls could not be pilots, so she pursued a career in a different direction. At age 49, Terri took an introductory flight and was hooked. Ten months later, she not only owned her own aircraft but had also acquired her private pilot certificate. She has discovered the US from above by flying from coast to coast. She had the privilege of landing and departing at high-altitude airports and is currently pursuing an instrument rating. Her passion is to educate girls and women about the aviation industry and the amazing opportunities that exist. Terri has introduced many young women to flying, and some have pursued their dreams of flight.

She aims to support the goals of the International Ninety-Nines in advancing aviation through education, scholarships, and mutual support. Her background as a business owner and professional has honed her skills in leadership, communication, strategic planning, delegation, budget allocation, and problem-solving. These are the skills she brings to the Southeast Section. Terri looks forward to supporting the elected Section Governor, Marilyn Shafer, by completing delegated responsibilities, overseeing the scholarship committee, initiating scholarship fundraising, and being available to each section chapter.

Katrina currently serves as a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard, based at Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. As an HC-144B Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner, she trains Coast Guard aviators in search and rescue missions. With over 2,000 flight hours and an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, her path to the cockpit was unconventional.

After earning a degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, she spent three years as a supervisor in the commercial chicken production industry. Seeking a change, she became an engineering technician for an offshore oil rig company while pursuing a mechanical engineering degree. Through all of this, she had been fascinated by aviation but never considered it due to the high cost of training. That all changed after a chance encounter with a military pilot, who provided the necessary guidance to getting accepted by a military Officer Candidate School. She isn’t sure where she would be today if it wasn’t for the amazing mentors that she had met along the way, but it most likely wouldn’t involve being a military pilot and saving lives. Her background is a prime example as to why the missions of mentorship and networking that the Ninety-Nines provides are so crucial to getting more women in the skies.

Beyond her military roles, Katrina is the Southeast Section Secretary, Treasurer for her local Ninety-Nines chapter, and Vice-President of her local Women in Aviation chapter. Additionally, she competed in the 2025 Air Race Classic and flew a Piper Arrow from Alabama to Washington (and back!) and plans to compete again in 2026.

Meagan serves as the Director of Guest Services for Gulf Air Center at Gulf Shores International Airport. Among her many responsibilities, she oversees customer service operations of the FBO within the terminal and on the ramp. She fulfills her passion for aviation by flying as a private pilot, attending aviation conferences, training seminars, and volunteering at local events. She plans to further her endorsements and ratings as a pilot. She is currently working on her instrument and ground instructor rating.

Being a private pilot, Meagan has shared the love of flight with her friends and family, who may not have had a chance to enjoy it otherwise. To her, the true joy of learning to fly is not just being able to say she’s a pilot. The joy comes from the excitement of others who want to learn to fly themselves and being able to help them on their journey of becoming an aviator.

After being introduced to general aviation in 2020 through a sightseeing flight piloted by a neighbor, Emily explored the opportunity to take lessons through Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jacket Flying Club as part of her post-undergraduate personal growth. After quickly becoming enamored by the challenge of flight training, Emily successfully balanced the pursuit of flight ratings with a full-time role in asset management consulting, instructing part-time until pivoting her career towards a full-time position as a flight instructor in early 2023.

Along the way, Emily received the Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Scholarship to support her endeavors towards her MEI certificate, which proved instrumental in building the experience she needed for the next step in her career. She is a graduate of the Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative. She serves as a Mentoring Coordinator within the program, aiming to support women in advanced stages of their aviation journey and bolster their leadership skills.

Emily is a pilot on the Citation Latitude at NetJets and holds her ATP, CFI, CFII, and MEI certificates. She is the current Chapter Chair and former Secretary of The Ninety-Nines Georgia Flying Belles Chapter, while also contributing to WAI and the PDK Lady Pilots. Emily has received impactful support and guidance from those in her local Ninety-Nines chapter, and is eager to continue growing the community of women within our industry.

A member of the Nashville Chapter, Ivy Adams is an alumna of Middle Tennessee State University, having earned degrees in Aeronautical Science. Advocating for women pilots to pursue leadership positions within the industry, Ivy is a graduate of the Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative. Her long-term career goal is to fly for a major air carrier.

Janice’s childhood memories include Ninety-Nine meetings around her mom’s kitchen table. At first, she opted out of aviation as a career because the medical waiver she needed with her uncorrected 20/400 vision severely limited her employment options. Janice earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota and established herself as a journalist. She founded her own international business communications firm, Smith-Orr and Associates. She started flying for fun in 1976 and rapidly added aviation to her career goals despite the waiver requirements.

Janice holds ATP and Gold Seal Flight Instructor Certificates. Her aviation experience includes 141 flight school chief instructor, 135 fixed-wing air ambulance, corporate, Designated Pilot Examiner, 142 Training Center Program Manager at Northwest Airlines (NATCO), and Mississippi FSDO Manager. Her work at NATCO included flying all seven NWA types. She is typed in the DC-9 and BE-300 and worked as an FAA resource, giving check rides throughout the country.

She is retired and flies her BE36 for fun. She volunteers with Pilots and Paws and participates in therapy dog work. Janice is a licensed therapy dog tester/observer and Reading Education Assistance Dog Instructor.