Meet Melissa Lee | Boss Babe

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Alaska Floats and Skis @ AK8 is dedicated to making aviation a safer and more equitable industry. We do several scholarships each year aimed at women, whom only make up 5% of the pilot community and of that 5% only 1% have their seaplane rating. One is through Women in Aviation International and two are through the Seaplane Pilot Association: Women Making a Splash and the Tyler Orso/Chuck Kimes Memorial Scholarship. We also work with Alaska Excel, a program that helps rural Alaska High School students get their aviation credentials. We lost my cousin tragically in 2021 and we are doing a full private pilot scholarship for a local Talkeetna teen in his honor, called the Taegge Lee Memorial Aviation Scholarship. Giving back to our community and the larger aviation community is very important to the whole vision of Alaska Floats and Skis @ AK8 and provides us with much of our meaning and purpose.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Although I am a Colorado Resident and reside in Colorado for 7 months of the year, my business is in Alaska, where I was born. I had a 10 year teaching career in Colorado where I taught online, public school 7th grade social studies, and for PEBC teaching and mentoring teachers in southwest Colorado. I have a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and was very involved with state educational funding through a fellowship with Teach Plus. Teaching is, and always has been my calling. However, when the opportunity arised to purchase my dad’s flight school in Alaska, it was too grand of an adventure to pass up.

My off airport specialized flight school in Alaska is like no other. We fly ski planes up to glaciers, on lakes, and around mountains. We fly float planes around local lakes and rivers. We fly bush and mountain courses to rural strips and around North America’s Highest Peak: Denali. We have a lodge on Christiansen Lake in Talkeetna, AK and there is no experience like it. It is not just time in a logbook, but an experience. We have an amazing staff and experienced pilots that make this trip so special. I cannot count how many times I have been told “This is the best time I’ve ever had in an airplane.”

I’m very proud of our scholarship programs, our Flight Instructor Course (producing some great instructors), and our unique experiences that we offer pilots from around the globe.

It is not easy- nothing worth doing is. The inherent risk of aviation is a constant source of concern. The dynamic working with family, the management of employees, meeting all FAA requirements and aviation not being my background… there are many challenges each day. I was a teacher, not a business owner or pilot. Now, I’m a pilot and business owner- the learning curve is steep, but my ambition and grit will see it through. I overcome these challenges by getting support from my family, friends, and mentors.

I want the world to know that Alaska Floats and Skis @ AK8 is some of the most fun flying they will ever do!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Colorado, Pagosa Springs is an amazing little mountain town. The hot springs, Wolf Creek Ski area, ma and pa shops downtown, the cute little coffee shops… it is all very quaint and simple. I would go soak with them at the Springs Resort and Spa where we would do the Warrior Plunge in the river and soak in one of the 23 different hot pools that line the river. Then next day we would go skiing at the resort that gets the most snow in Colorado. We would enjoy delicious food, snowshoeing, and walks along the river.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In every person’s aviation journey there are so many contributors. I’m so lucky to have so many! My dad. I bought the flight school from him and he is a part of my first flying memories. He is a legend and an epic character.
Also, my mom, who is also a pilot and always has encouraged my dreams.
And, Carol Zerbe who is a dedicated mentor and amazing pilot (also a total boss babe) and examiner.
My boyfriend, Jayson Danziger, who has thousands of flight hours, but is humble as pie and never makes me feel less for still learning. He is also my biggest cheerleader and there for me through each challenge with unwavering love and support.
All my friends. Wow, do I have some great people in my corner.
I’m extraordinarily grateful each day for the people in my life that have supported me and loved me through some really tough times.

Website: www.alaskafloats.com

Instagram: alaskafloatsandskis

Linkedin: Melissa Lee

Facebook: Alaska Floats and Skis @ AK8

Yelp: Alaska Floats and Skis