Janet Conner

by Terri Wiebold

For a small-town girl from Colby, Kansas, Janet Conner has lived a life she never dreamed she would have.

It all started when Conner took a job out of college with Wichita-based Cessna Aircraft Company writing its internal newsletter. “My degree was in journalism, so I knew what I was doing, but I knew nothing about airplanes or the world of aviation,” said Conner. That would all soon change.

In the early 1960s, the Learjet Corporation began assembly of its first civilian business jet in Wichita, and Conner was hired as assistant to the senior vice president and general manager. Conner had earned her private pilot’s license while with Cessna, and at Learjet she had the opportunity to ride right seat on many pre-delivery flights – truly bitten by the aviation bug.

Working full-time and raising a family, Conner made the move to Colorado. In 1982, she was hired by Englewood-based Jeppesen, the leading provider of aviation maps. Conner spent the next 20 years in marketing, corporate communications, and public relations for Jeppesen. “Unless you were a pilot, you did not know who ‘Jepp’ was,” said Conner, “and it was my job to get his name out there.”

While at Jeppesen, Conner started “The Northern Lights,” an aerobatic team of former Canadian Snow Birds (the equivalent of the Blue Angels in America.) She also provided the public relations for many aviation-related events throughout her tenure, including publicity for Captain Jeppesen during the construction of Denver International Airport, for whom the terminal is named. “I spent half my life at the airport while it was being built,” said Conner, “with my own hard hat, steel-toed boots, the works!”

Conner has participated on many aviation boards and activities, including Women in Aviation International, Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, and the Centennial Airport Business Association. She was also a member of the General Aviation Manufacturing Association’s Public Affairs Committee in Washington D.C., lobbying Congress for aviation-related issues.

February 1, 2007, a book about the life of Elrey B. Jeppesen was released; a book to which Conner contributed many hours during the past eight years. Conner plans to go on some of the book tours, participating in the “authors corner.”

Now officially retired, Conner says she is busier than ever. She is currently on the board of directors for the Castle Pines North Master Association, the community manager and a former board member for the BristleCone Patio HOA, the Master Association Safety Committee chairperson, the team leader for the Voting Coordination Team for the upcoming incorporation election, and the Master Association’s Emergency Preparedness Task Force liaison with Douglas County.

“Over the past five years Janet has been one of the few citizens I have observed who regularly attends fire district board meetings,” said Andy Lyon, director of public affairs for South Metro Fire Rescue. “I think any neighborhood would be glad to have someone like Janet, who takes the time to care and to speak up for the concerns of her fellow citizens.”

Whether putting out fire safety signs, getting crosswalks approved, or just making her voice be heard at public meetings, Janet Conner is a true advocate for the Castle Pines North community.

“My husband Keith says I am crazy,” said Conner, “but I love all that I do.”