Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Lee.
Hi Brenda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story didn’t start with a business idea—it started with a decision.
I grew up in a small rural town called Las Bebelamas de Sataya, in Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico, where hard work was a way of life and opportunity was limited. From an early age, I understood that if I wanted a different future, I had to work for it.
At 12 years old, after finishing elementary school with good grades, I was told that continuing my education was not an option because there was no money. Instead, I was expected to start working to help support my family. I refused to accept that poverty would define my future. I believed education was the only way out.
When my mother told me I needed to work and bring food to the house, I told her I was not willing to stay where we were. I promised I would find a way to continue my education and eventually become someone in life. That conviction led me to approach my grandfather—Mi Tata—one of the only people I believed might help me. He didn’t believe in educating women and made it clear that if he supported me, it would not be easy. I had to earn it. I accepted every condition because the opportunity mattered more than comfort.
Under those conditions, I completed middle school and high school. I later enrolled in college in Culiacán, Sinaloa, while working full time and paying my own expenses. When my family moved to Tijuana, I moved as well, determined to continue my education.
Fifteen days after arriving in Tijuana, I met Scott. We didn’t speak the same language—he spoke English, I spoke Spanish—so we used a dictionary to communicate. We dated for three years, during which he learned Spanish, and after those three years he asked me to marry him. I said yes, while making one thing clear: my education—and my dream of continuing school—would go on, despite the added challenge of English becoming a new barrier.
When I moved to the U.S., I didn’t speak English. I enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and returned to college, earning my Associate Degree from Santa Fe College in Florida, followed by my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington. I became the first person in my entire/extended family to earn a college degree, setting a precedent for others who later followed that path.
That journey—education, perseverance, service, and earned trust—eventually led to the creation of Mitata Aviation, a business built on the same values that shaped my life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road, not even close.
The biggest struggles were systemic and personal: poverty, lack of access to education, cultural expectations placed on women, language barriers, and starting over multiple times in new cities and countries. I worked while studying, paid for my own education, learned English as an adult, and navigated systems I didn’t grow up understanding.
Even support came with conditions. My grandfather didn’t make it easy for me—but he gave me a chance, and in the end, he believed in my determination. That experience taught me early that handouts don’t build character, earning opportunity does.
Every stage required persistence: knocking on doors, asking for help, proving myself repeatedly, and refusing to give up when it would have been easier to stop. Those struggles didn’t break me, they shaped how I lead, how I serve, and how I build.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mitata Aviation is a mission-driven, mobile avionics business serving the general aviation community. We specialize in dependable, high-quality avionics solutions with a strong emphasis on safety, transparency, and education. Our work supports aircraft owners and pilots who value reliability and want to understand their aircraft—not just drop it off and hope for the best.
What we are known for is how we operate. My husband, Scott, is the technical backbone of Mitata Aviation. He served 10 years in the United States Marine Corps as an avionics technician working on Huey and Cobra helicopters and brings decades of hands-on experience, military precision, and deep technical knowledge to every aircraft he touches. As an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic, private pilot, and aircraft owner, he understands aviation from every angle—maintenance, systems, and the cockpit.
What sets us apart is that Mitata Aviation was built without shortcuts. We are owner-operated, relationship-based, and focused on earning trust one aircraft at a time. We meet pilots where they are—literally and figuratively—offering mobile services and clear communication so owners feel informed and confident in the work being done. Safety is never negotiable, and integrity guides every decision.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Mitata represents our values, not just our services. The name itself is a tribute to my grandfather, Mi Tata, and the lesson that opportunity must be earned and honored. That philosophy shows up in how we do business: honest assessments, quality workmanship, and accountability for every job we take on.
Today, Mitata Aviation is also becoming a family legacy. Our son, Oliver, is actively involved in the business and is currently attending US Aviation Academy in Denton, where he is pursuing his Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certification. Following the same values of discipline, service, and accountability, Oliver represents the next generation—learning the trade hands-on while building a future rooted in aviation.
What I want readers to know is that Mitata Aviation isn’t just about avionics—it’s about responsibility. When people trust us with their aircraft, they trust us with lives, and we take that seriously. Our goal is to deliver work we stand behind, build lasting relationships in the aviation community, and contribute to general aviation in a way that reflects respect, discipline, and service.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is creating opportunity through integrity.
Education changed my life—not just mine, but my family’s trajectory. Because of that, I believe deeply in earned opportunity, service, and lifting others as you move forward. Whether through business, community involvement, or mentoring, I want my work to reflect the belief that where you start does not determine where you finish.
Mitata Aviation exists because of that belief. It’s about honoring roots, doing the work with accountability, and building something meaningful that others can trust. At the end of the day, success isn’t about how far you go alone, it’s about how responsible you build and how many people you inspire along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mitataaviation.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitataAviation
