Meet 3 Brevard Ladies Who Are Champions of Their Generation and Beyond

From left: Sandy Michelson, Betty Lou Steen-Clarke and Gigi Gordon. Photo by Jason Hook

For those of us who grew up in the 1980s, 1990s, or beyond, the notion that women had to fight for their rights may feel like ancient history. After all, we were of the generation that was told —  for better or worse — that we could have it all. But many of our opportunities came thanks to the hard work and strength of the women who came before us. 

Stay open-minded, never stop learning, and always be willing to build one another up — these were the through lines of my conversation with three of the Space Coast’s remarkable women, who spend their days pouring back into our community. Airline industry trailblazer Betty Lou Steen-Clarke, human rights champion Sandy Michelson, and promoter of the arts Gigi Gordon all shared a piece of their personal stories and a bit of advice for today’s women. 

“Stand up, be seen, and be heard.” 

— Betty Lou Steen-Clarke

Betty Lou Steen-Clarke has always been an advocate for women. She credits her grandmother, who raised her, with helping her believe she could achieve anything. In 1958, Steen-Clarke went to work for Mohawk Airlines, now American Airlines, at just 19 years old. Her career there spanned more than 30 years.

“In those days, women were seen and not heard,” said Steen-Clarke. “I tended to be more outspoken than the rest.” 

Her outspokenness served her well in her career, leading to promotions that helped her mentor other women. She spent much of her career as a training instructor, a role that put her in a front seat for the many changes over the years. 

After retiring, Steen-Clarke went on to mentor women both locally and worldwide. She serves on the board of advisors of WeVenture Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech, where she is always willing to meet other female leaders for coffee and conversation. She also sponsors a “sister” each year through Women for Women International. 

Over the years, she has maintained her love for learning new things and meeting new people.

“Keep an open mind and never stop learning,” Steen-Clarke said. “Never be afraid to ask questions, or if you don’t agree with what you are hearing, think about how you can change it.” 

“Just hold your nose and jump.” 

— Sandy Michelson

Sandy Michelson, president of Zonta Club of Melbourne, has been working to educate our community about domestic violence and human trafficking for over 30 years. 

“Zonta is my passion,” Michelson said. “We talk about what people don’t want to talk about. We just try to make noise.”

As a domestic violence survivor, Michelson knows firsthand how difficult it can be to escape the cycle of abuse. Her path to advocacy started when she joined Zonta back in 1991. 

“I try to be an example that you can escape and things can get better,” Michelson said. “You just have to keep on truckin’. I don’t think I am doing anything different than anyone else would do.”

Zonta works to raise awareness through programs aimed at hotel management, law enforcement, and local women’s groups. The club partners with other local organizations, including Serene Harbor and the Salvation Army Domestic Violence Program, to assist local women looking to escape a dangerous situation. Michelson says collaboration is key when getting women the knowledge and resources they need. 

“One person doesn’t have all the answers,” Michelson said. “I’ve been known to say between all of us, we make one great person, because one knows something the other doesn’t. We all have different experiences, accomplishments, and ways of looking at things.” 

“The world is open. Just dream and do it.” 

— Gigi Gordon

Despite being one of only a few female ferry pilots flying planes between Europe and the United States, Gigi Gordon didn’t see herself as much of a trailblazer. 

“I got my pilot’s license in 1972. There was no gender difference,” Gordon said. “There were some obnoxious people who thought they were better than a woman, but you just had to be strong enough to shrug it off.”

Gordon started off working for an American company selling airplanes in Europe. The planes had to go back to the U.S. for refurbishment and maintenance, so she started ferrying them. After doing that for a few years, she began participating in air shows in Europe and Asia. 

At the same time, Gordon became more involved in the jazz music scene. She has always loved jazz, and both her father and her husband were musicians. So while working as a ferry pilot, Gordon began managing and booking jazz musicians throughout Europe in her downtime between flights. 

In the mid 1980s, Gordon moved from Europe to New York and continued to organize and attend air shows worldwide. She also remained involved in the jazz scene alongside her second husband, a pianist. 

After her husband passed away, she made the decision to move south to Brevard County. When she arrived in 2016, she was shocked to find that the Space Coast was a jazz desert. The connections she made in New York came in handy when she became a member of the Space Coast Jazz Society, a group whose mission is to preserve and promote jazz music. She immediately got involved, bringing in high caliber musical acts to the area.

“Music opens your heart, your eyes, your ears,” Gordon said. “Be open to the arts and make your own life according to it.”