SVMA Member, Flight Light Recruits Newest Employees
February 2023
On 2/7/2023, I had the opportunity to interview the two newest employees of Flight Light, Ms. Arelly Benavidez and Ms. Mizan Johnson. Both ladies went to high school in Stockton and moved to Sacramento in 2020 after finishing high school. After a series of part-time jobs both ladies were introduced to the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps (SRCC).
The SRCC focuses on supporting young people, ages 18 – 26, with life skills training, high school diploma support, and training in fields such as forklift driving, OSHA and Hazwopper training, and home solar installation training. In addition, SRCC provides recycling consumables pickup, sorting and disposal for businesses and events.
Flight Light is a manufacturer of runway lighting systems for airports, heliports, and the U.S. military globally. In October 2023 SVMA introduced Flight Light’s President, Isabel Martin, to Sandy Waterhouse, Recruiter for the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps. As it turns out, Isabel was in search of personnel, while Arelly and Mizan were ready for their next adventure in life. Both ladies started working at Flight Light in November 2022.
Mizan Johnson Arelly Benavidez
Arelly is an office assistant where she provides customer support to Flight Light’s vendors, customers, and the Flight Light team. After working part time jobs the past two years, Arelly said she really appreciates the steady work schedule, but is especially fond of working with the people at Flight Light. Ironically both ladies said their favorite employee is Antonio, the warehouse manager.
Arelly noted that she would like to go back to school to earn a degree in accounting/business and improve her Spanish so she can be more valuable at work. Her personal goal is to purchase a home, become more fluent in financial literacy and understand the power of money so she can invest, creating passive wealth. Ultimately, she would like to bring her siblings to the U.S. and reunite her family.
While in high school, Mizan was on her path to becoming a college volleyball player at Cosumnes River College, when Covid 19 interrupted her plans. Like Arelly, Mizan worked at a series of fast food restaurants before landing at SRCC and Flight Light. Mizan is an electrical technician, responsible for soldering & assembling lighting fixtures while also serving as a product tester.
Mizan stated that she would like to learn about all facets of the work at Flight LIght, but has an interest in becoming an electrical engineer to enhance her value at Flight Light. And while she is not bilingual, yet, she is determined to learn Spanish so she can communicate with the entire Flight Light team and their clients globally.
Both ladies said that their personal goal is to purchase a home within one year, providing personal stability for them, and their families. Mizan is also the guardian of her brother, whom she cares for.
Last, both ladies expressed their admiration and thanks to Flight Light’s president, Isabel Martin, whom they described as an inspirational female leader. Arelly noted that Isabel has given her the opportunity to dream, think and plan her future. As manufacturers, you have the ability to change someone’s life, one employee at a time…..