01-01-2013
07:02 PM
265 Loves
As a student at Aviation High School in Queens, New York, Wayne Wright always knew what he wanted to be when he grew up—a line mechanic for an airline. And even after 17 years doing the job at Southwest Airlines, he still enjoys every minute he spends helping to keep our aircraft fit and ready to fly. All around Southwest, Wayne is affectionately known as “Goat Head.” “In a roundabout way, I came up with my own nickname simply by using the two-way radios in Maintenance,” Wayne says. “When I said ‘Go ahead,’ my thick New York accent came out the other receiver and sounded like ‘goat head.’ My Lead Manager brought it to everyone’s attention, and it stuck. I’ve been ‘Goat Head’ ever since.” And Wayne has stuck with Southwest Airlines all these years because he loves the Company and the Peoplewith whom he works. “One of my favorite things about Southwest is that all of the work groups in Oakland get along. We give each other the Freedom to be ourselves and to take care of our individual responsibilities, which makes for a stronger Team." Everyone who works with Wayne knows that he’s a hard worker who loves the challenge of troubleshooting problems. In fact, Wayne loves that no two situations in Line Maintenance are ever the same. Wayne’s knack for problem solving even makes its way into his free time, as he works on old cars as a hobby. When he’s not fixing things, Wayne loves to travel to the East Coast to visit family in his home state of New York. He and his wife, Tara, have three kids: Wayne III, 12; Joshua, 15; and Olivia, 18. Wayne loves Southwest Airlines because he has a flexible schedule, which allows him to spend time traveling with his family, all while providing for their needs. The way Wayne sees it, Southwest gave him the job of his dreams, and it’s his mission every day to repay that gift. But really, Wayne is a gift to Southwest Airlines. The Company Culture thrives thanks to Employees like him.Keep up the good work, Goat Head!
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If you’re like me, you make a resolution on the first of January each year and then completely forget what you’ve set out to do by the time February hits. Now, I know I’m not alone in this; there’s a strange dichotomy that exists with New Year’s resolutions. Almost everyone makes a resolution with the best of intentions to succeed, yet, the majority of people do not. So this year, let’s make a pact to be different. This year, I’m going to be Greener—want to join me? Being Green is something Southwest focuses on every Tuesday, so I think it will be a convenient reminder to keep my New Year’s resolution! It’s also simple. Being “Green” doesn’t mean you have to change your whole lifestyle. It just means tweaking a few everyday tasks to do your part in making our planet a better place to live. Just imagine how much good will come if we all do just a little more, everyday, to be Green. If you read something that seems overwhelming, ignore it until it seems doable. Just do what you can, even if your day’s biggest Green effort is recycling a receipt rather than throwing it away. Here are my “Top 10 Ideas to be Green in 2013”: Walk/bike to work. If you have the ability to skip the car every once in a while, do it for those of us who are jealous we can’t. Meatless Monday’s. Did you know, over 18% of America’s meat is wasted? If everyone cut out meat for just one day per week, think of all that we would save rather than waste. Reusable water bottles. Bring in your own reusable water bottle to work (BPA free, of course). It will save the Company money, and will keep plastic bottles out of landfills. Plant a garden. Using fresh produce from a backyard garden will minimize your intake of harmful chemicals from store-bought produce. Herbs grow like weeds in most climates! Buy local foods. Buying local foods and produce supports local businesses, which is always a good way to say thank you to your independent, hard-working neighbors. And don’t forget your reusable tote for your groceries! Simplify your life. What do you really need? This may be a hard question to answer, but it’s worth the extra thought. Decide and then consider donating unnecessary or unused items to a local charity. Use fluorescent light bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs use less electricity than the standard type and they last longer! This means less waste. Consider using them one-by-one, to replace old light bulbs when they burn out. Buy fair trade. Buying fair trade ensures that workers are paid appropriately for their labor, and that you get the quality you deserve and pay for. Use safe cleaners. Eliminate harmful cleaners in your life—from how you clean your glasses, to how you clean your floors. Rediscover the library. Instead of buying paperbacks every time you want to read a new book, consider checking it out from the library or on your e-reader. What are your ideas to be Green in 2013? Let us know by commenting below or by e-mailing green@wnco.com. DING! You are now free to be Green!
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The Southwest Porch at Bryant Park Fall Movie Trivia Series kicked off on October 1, with anything but clueless fans of the 1995 teenage hit, Clueless. Movie-themed trivia nights will be held on Monday nights throughout the fall, featuring all-time-favorite blockbuster titles (see schedule below). The Porch is geared up for Mean Girls Trivia taking place tonight, which will be totally fetch. It won’t be a Wednesday, but we still think you should wear pink!
Trivia goers enjoy food and drink catered by ‘wichcraft, as they enjoy the beautiful scenery of Bryant Park, located in the heart of New York City. And of course we have to give a shout out to Trivia AD, who literally puts the “Trivia” in Trivia Night.
Keep your eye out for these upcoming Trivia Nights—we hope to see you there!
Mean Girls: October 8, 6:30 p.m. Princess Bride: October 15, 6:30 p.m. Rocky Horror Picture Show: October 22, 8:00 p.m. Back to the Future: November 5, 6:30 p.m. When Harry Met Sally: November 19, 6:30 p.m.
To reserve your spot for the next trivia night, and to check out the full calendar of events at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park, click here.
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