Kate Hanni Emeritus, Founder, and Executive Director from 2007-2012 Kate Hanni was a real estate broker for 17 years. She is also a professional musician in a Motown Band called the Toasted Heads. December 29, 2006 would be the turning point in Kate’s life and career, when thunderstorms diverted her Dallas-bound flight from San Francisco to Austin. Kate and her family were stuck on the tarmac for 9 hours without food, water, or information. Kate turned her anger into advocacy and began the Coalition for an Airline Passenger’s Bill of Rights.