Meet Trailblazer Brenda Orelus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Orelus.

Brenda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It is with great excitement and pride that I bring to you a social community aimed at improving the mental health and wellness of aviation professionals. When I started building Krew Konnect, I wanted to fill a huge void within aviation: connecting and supporting aviation professionals in practical & innovative ways.

I currently fly for a legacy carrier however my career began with a low-cost carrier in Ft. Lauderdale. My experience at both airlines made me realize that aviators are more alike than we are different. Our schedules, hurdles, desires, and concerns all mirror one another.

So, in 2015, I started Krew Konnect, a social club, travel group, resource hub, a support group and more. Basically, all the things I wanted to see within our global community. Through Krew Konnect, I am able to provide aviators with key resources like lifestyle education, social events, and most notably, aviator exclusive signature housing properties!

In 2018, after pitching at Black Tech Week here in Miami, I went on to pitch for Shark Tank producers. Auditions for Shark Tank were held at Vector90 in Los Angeles. Vector 90 is a co-working space and incubator in South Central LA, owned by Nipsey Hussle and David Gross. After pitching my idea for our signature housing properties to David Gross at a pitch competition he held at Vector 90, Krew Konnect became the first company incubated out of Vector 90. WHAT AN HONOR! David Gross made a personal investment in Krew Konnect as well.

With the guidance and financing provided by David Gross and Vector 90, I am now able to solve an on-going housing crisis within the aviation community.

Our “Klub Houses” will serve as “crashpad” and recreational/resource center exclusively for aviation pros! I hope to revolutionize how aviation professionals live day to day. I want to make it easier and more convenient.

It is for everyday aviators like myself that I created Krew Konnect; to be the bridge between aviators seeking to socialize, learn, and travel together in cool new ways.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This journey has been filled with ups and downs. I started Krew Konnect in December of 2015, born out of my depression, I wanted to create a safe place where aviation professionals could get their practical and wellness needs to be met. In this process I have “bankrupted” myself twice, had to learn from my mistakes all the while building a company my peers and I could be proud of. But I am blessed to say it takes a village and my tribe of siblings, parents, mentors and more have all carried me on their backs to see Krew Konnect come to fruition. Having such a strong support system encouraging me through the lows was often time the fuel I used to keep going.

For woman embarking upon the entrepreneurial path. I would always say, be patient with yourself. It’s a journey night a race. Take the time to learn the lessons when they are presented to you because building a business has a funny way of revealing the areas we most need to work on. Also, surround yourself with people who, encourage, support and hold you accountable; they will help keep you on track.

And above all else, trust yourself.

We’d love to hear more about Krew Konnect.
Krew Konnect is a signature line of housing properties and recreational centers exclusively for aviation professionals. In each of our Klub Houses, aviators will have access to, private capsule sleeping units, state of the art amenities and a number of social events.

We want aviators to consider our Klub Houses their home away from home. A place they can recharge for work, have some fun and stay abreast of what is happening within the industry.

I hope to revolutionize how aviation professionals live from day to day. I want to make it easier and more convenient.

So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
The aviation community is about 29% female overall and the flight attendant sector is over 79% female. One of the most impacted sectors of this industry who would most benefit from our Klub Houses are flight attendants.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.KrewKonnect.com
• Email: KrewKonnect@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/krewkonnect
• Facebook: Facebook.com/krewkonnect
• Twitter: Twitter.com/krewkonnect

 
Image Credit:

Jeffrey Agno, Allen Zow, Melvin Williams, Judi J., Brenda Orelus

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