Shelly Snyder Simi

Shelly Simi is currently Communications Strategist, Business & General Aviation for Jeppesen, the world's leading aviation charting and training company. Simi is responsible for developing internal and external communication strategies, working with the marketing team and product managers in creating marketing/communications programs and assists in creating common presentations and messages for customers and the media. Prior to Jeppesen, Simi was head of media relations/PR counsel for Adam Aircraft, manufacturer of the all composite centerline twin piston A500 and A700 AdamJet (very light jet). Before joining Adam Aircraft, she ran her own company, Simi Communications & Event Planning located outside Annapolis, Maryland, which focused on media relations, communications and meeting planning activities.

For over 15 years Simi worked at the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) in Washington, DC. As Vice President of Communications, Simi was the industry spokesperson and educator at GAMA, working daily with both the news media and the aviation community in promoting general aviation and the manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics and related equipment. Prior to joining GAMA, Ms. Simi worked as the Flight Operations/Fuel Coordinator for Federal Express Corporation in Memphis, Tennessee.

Simi is a Founding Board Member of Women in Aviation, International. She has served as a contributing editor for Aviation for Women magazine and serves on the WAI Conference Planning Committee and Pioneer Hall of Fame Selection Committee. She has served as President of the Aero Club of Washington and is a past Board of Trustee member of the University Aviation Association. Ms. Simi is a founding member and past chairman of the National Coalition for Aviation Education and a founding member of the Aviation Communications Coalition of Washington.

Ms. Simi was presented the 1999 University Aviation Association Estridge Award in recognition of her dedicated service to aerospace education. In 1997, she was presented with the National Coalition for Aviation Education Mervin K. Strickler, Jr. Aviation Education Leadership Award for her commitment and outstanding contributions to aviation education.

She attended George Washington University's Public Relations Certificate Program in Washington, DC and has a bachelor's degree in Commercial Aviation from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.