Vanessa is a Work and Family Life Consultant with more than a decade of experience supporting military families and the special needs community. As a proud military spouse of over 22 years—married to her high school sweetheart who has served more than 25 years in the California Army National Guard and U.S. Army—her commitment to serving others is both deeply personal and professional. Her early years as a military spouse were shaped by deployments, activations, and the challenges of navigating complex systems with little support. Those experiences now fuel her passion for ensuring other families don’t feel alone on the journey.
She has provided early intervention and behavioral consultation to families of children with developmental delays and disabilities, led prevention and education programs, and championed inclusive, trauma-informed services. She has also volunteered extensively with Soldier and Family Readiness Programs and other military organizations, contributing over five years of leadership and advocacy at the community level. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Behavior, a Graduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology, along with specialized training in trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, and mental health support.
Her work is grounded in faith, family, and a deep belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered. Whether it’s guiding a family through a stressful transition, sitting beside the ocean in quiet reflection, or laughing with her kids and dancing in the kitchen, she finds purpose in moments of connection. She and her husband make a point to carve out time each weekend to share coffee and reflect on how far they’ve come. As a mom to three and a soon-to-be mother of the bride, she understands the speed at which life moves—and the importance of building resilience along the way. She’s also a proud fur-grandma of three.
Above all, Vanessa believes that life’s challenges are best faced in community. She is passionate about helping military families build their village, access critical resources, and strengthen the bonds that hold them together—because while military life can be tough, no one should have to navigate it alone.
