APEX in Profile: Mary Rogozinski
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Mary Rogozinski
Manager, Content Partnerships
Gogo
Mary started at Gogo in 2009, not long after the launch of in-flight Wi-Fi on American Airlines. She worked as an airline account manager before taking on the management of Content Partnerships, working as a “CSP of one.” Prior to Gogo, Mary worked at United Airlines for almost 30 years. She has been a big supporter of APEX and its preceding organization WAEA and is currently an APEX Board member, serving as the co-chairperson of the APEX Education Committee. While at United, Mary served on the APEX Board (then WAEA) for seven years, including a two-year term as President of the association. She also co-chaired the WAEA Technology Committee for about four years.
Mary lives in Arlington Heights Illinois, with her husband of 35 years and their 18-year-old daughter, plus “several” cats. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with their four horses.
FAST FACTS
Favorite Hotel: Kimpton Hotels
Favorite Aircraft: Boeing 777 (I helped launch the first one)
Passport stamp you wish you had: Cuba or Antarctica
Location: (nearest airport code): ORD
Hero: Jimmy Carter
IFE Standby: Movies
Favorite Airport: DCA – love flying in over DC, plus the airport is so accessible
Brand of Suitcase: Eagle Creek
Paper or electronic boarding pass? Electronic
We keep asking where the airline industry is headed, but where do you see the entertainment industry headed?
I think the growth of over-the-top (OTT) content services will change the industry and I expect there to be many more advances in this area. With the continuing trend of watching entertainment this way, there will be demand for more OTT-type services. I think this trend will carry over to theatrical movie releases, likely impacting box office revenues as we know them. It will be interesting to see how in-flight entertainment suppliers will address this trend.
We’re seeing the rapid growth of streaming video to personal devices, and I anticipate the demand for more real-time content to grow. As we have seen so many times in the airline industry, people want to do on airplanes what they can do on the ground.
Something that never ceases to amaze you in your industry?
I still marvel at airplanes being able to fly, especially when I fly internationally.
I marvel at the fact that I can be in one place, and then after what seems like a brief flight, I can be on a different continent.
It just all seems too simple. After that, I love that the Internet is now accessible on so many airlines. Working for Gogo, I’m a little spoiled and now I expect a connection on all of my flights.
If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you love to be doing?
I love working outside and in the dirt, so I could see myself as a master gardener. I find it hard to pass a weed in a garden without wanting to pull it out. I’m also always critiquing gardens and plants in my head, wherever I go.
Last place traveled – for fun?
For pure fun (not tied into a business trip), the last placed I traveled to was Telluride, Colorado. My brother and sister-in-law own a small ranch outside of Telluride and they have extended an open invitation to my family and me to visit whenever we can. The house faces the San Juan mountain range and we see fabulous vistas from almost every window. In the evening, the stars are spectacular and it is fun to go to bed hearing the elk baying. The town of Telluride is quaint and historic and has wonderful ski hills. It is probably one of the prettiest towns in Colorado.
Favorite APEX conference of all time?
It’s a toss-up between Durban, South Africa and Brisbane, Australia. Both conferences took me to cities I may not have otherwise traveled. Durban was my first international conference. We had a limited team with us and meetings were very good. The social events were also great. And, I won my first election for the WAEA Board in Durban. Overall, it was just a great conference.
Did you choose the airline industry or did it choose you?
The airline industry chose me. When I was still dating my husband, his father worked for United. In my second year in college, he needed summer temp help and I started at United in accounting. Even as a temp, I was given reduced fare tickets for travel and I was bitten by the bug. Once I graduate from university, I only applied at United for full-time employment. It was there almost 30 years.
Favorite airport/airline lounge?
My memory of some lounges is a little dated, as I managed lounge facilities for United in 2008. That job gave me the opportunity to visit many great lounges. My absolutely favorite was the United Global First Lounge in San Francisco. The design team used wonderful architectural features to decorate the club and it was just very classy. The staff, the food and all of the appointments were wonderful.
The Virgin Atlantic Club House in LHR was also great, particularly because of its great design and all of its innovations. I currently use AA and OneWorld lounges. Many have been great to visit, but I love my “home” lounge the best. You know where everything is and what to expect.
Three things about where you live that make you want to live there.
Three things about where you live that make you want to live there.
I am proud of both my hometown and my proximity to Chicago. My hometown, Arlington Heights in Illinois, is about 30 miles outside of Chicago. Arlington Heights has great neighborhoods; great services such as schools, parks and libraries; and is home to Arlington International Racecourse. Arlington is one of the most beautiful thoroughbred horse tracks in the world.
I also love Chicago. Chicago is a big city with all that a big city has to offer, but in many ways, it feels like a small city. People are exceptionally friendly; the city is easy to get around; and we have great restaurants, museums, parks and architecture. Plus it’s famous for its great music and great comedy venues. It’s also on Lake Michigan, which provides cool breezes in the summer and a beautiful vista from many places in the city. There is no other city like it.
Favorite wine varietal?
I’m currently a fan of Sauvignon Blanc. It is refreshing in the summer and it has become my wine of preference.
Musical instrument you wish you could play?
Piano. I admire anyone who can play the piano and it seems like such a social instrument.
What are your ritual travel habits?
I always check-in electronically before my flight. I have a very bad habit of packing the morning of my trip, even when I have an early morning departure. For domestic trips I always leave for the airport 75 minutes before departure (my home and office are both relatively close to my home airport, Chicago O’Hare.) I’ve become accustomed to accessing priority security lines and now TSA pre-check. Once through security, I always stop in at the airline lounge of which I’m a member, check e-mails and have a snack and a beverage. I always try to get to the gate just as boarding starts so that I can board with my boarding group and ensure that I get overhead space for my carry-on bag. My seat preference is an aisle seat as close to the front as possible without being the bulkhead. I keep my laptop close to catch up on work and, of course, to connect to Gogo. Time permitting, I try to watch the IFE and catch up on any movies I may not have seen.