Biography

Gloria was raised in Astoria, Queens, New York. She graduated New York’s Bronx High School of Science and later received a B.A, in French from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She took graduate courses in elementary education at Drake University in Iowa, and was then employed as a second and fifth grade teacher for several years. She also worked for some years at New York Life Insurance Company’s home office in Manhattan as an Actuarial Analyst, as well as in their personnel department.

Gloria relocated to Florida, where she briefly worked as a substitute teacher, but decided it was time to attempt something new and different. In 1979, in response to a newspaper ad, she applied in person to Air Canada at Tampa International Airport, and was hired as a temporary employee for the winter season. Thinking this was the perfect opportunity to allow her time to decide which new career she’d later pursue, she accepted the seasonal offering. When at the end of the winter, a permanent Airport Customer Service position became available, she decided that this must indeed have been the new and different career opportunity she’d been seeking after all!

Gloria remained at Tampa Airport for 15 years and then transferred to the Tampa Reservations office. After sever years there, she applied for and was selected to test out the company’s new experimental “Work At Home” program. She was the first “Work At Home” agent in Air Canada. The company expanded the program and they continue to utilize staff working from their own home offices.

Gloria currently resides in St. Petersburg. She retired in 2014,… only thirty four years after accepting that “temporary job”!