Every November, Easterseals PORT Health welcomes the opportunity to celebrate Military Family Month by highlighting team members with unique military contributions, experiences and perspectives. This year, we are proud to introduce two of our team members, Ann and Jessica.
Ann (in the middle) with her military family
Meet Ann! She’s a Residential Office Manager for VA REACH (Virginia Regional Education Assessment Crisis Services Habilitation). In her role, she onboards new hires and manages service contracts for three of our residential group homes. Ann also maintains the team’s personnel records, tracks essential training sessions and maintains a positive and collaborate work environment. “I support our team members with joy and all of my heart!” she says.
Ann is also a former U.S. Air Force Nurse. She enlisted in 1986 as a computer programmer, later managing her base’s security programs. The Air Force sent her to college, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Ann served as an Air Force Nurse until her honorable discharge in 1997. Her husband Jim, served 32 years as an active-duty Air Force officer. Her experiences as both an active-duty service member and a military spouse taught her the importance of prioritizing the needs of others, while also instilling a strong sense of purpose and community Throughout her family’s travels in Europe and Asia, they developed a deep respect of diverse cultures and found strength in their community during frequent moves and deployments. Ann honors Military Family Awareness Month by volunteering and supporting local charities as part of her commitment to service. Ann and her family learned that “although we can’t control many aspects of life, we can control our responses with gratitude, kindness and compassion.”
Jessica (on right) and her husband
Meet Jessica! She is a dedicated Prevention Specialist at ESPH who actively engages in partnership meetings, coalition initiatives and community outreach events. She also implements substance use prevention programs in schools. A significant part of her role involves ensuring that businesses selling tobacco in her counties have the appropriate signage and documentation to maintain compliance.
Jessica grew up as a military child and her perspectives on military life expanded after marrying her spouse, a Marine Corps Officer. She explains that being part of a military family requires frequent moves, often uprooting friendships and community ties. “While redefining ‘home’ can be challenging, it also presents unique opportunities to travel and meet new people,” says Jessica. “The best way to navigate challenges is to maintain a positive perspective.” This mindset allows her to find beauty and gratitude in each moment, even during her spouse’s deployment. As she reflects, “My husband’s absence really highlights how easily we take everyday things for granted, like simply sharing a meal together or having your best friend close by.” She emphasizes the importance of staying connected with loved ones and leaning on her spouse for support. To honor Military Family Awareness Month, Jessica reaches out to fellow military families and participates in supportive events, such as crafting cards for service members who are deployed overseas.
Easterseals PORT Health is committed to IDEAL principles (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Authenticity and Learning). Ann believes her military experience has created a strong appreciation for each of them. “All the IDEAL principles resonate with me, which is why I applied to work with ESPH and continue to stay. My family and I believe in affirming, loving and respecting everyone with kindness and compassion.” Jessica aligns most with the principle of Diversity because it was essential to positively embracing the different experiences that come with military life. “Diversity is also vital for creating a positive work environment and a mindful world view.”
We are proud to have Ann and Jessica on our team! Thank you for your family’s service, sacrifice and dedication to our country.
ABOUT US
Easterseals PORT Health is a trustworthy, compassionate partner providing exceptional disability, behavioral health and addiction treatment services to help our neighbors live their best lives. Purpose, dedication and empathy drive our in-person and telehealth service delivery. Our diverse and inclusive 2,600 member team provides more than 10.2 million hours of meaningful support to 40,200 kids, adults and families in 11,000 home, facility and community locations across North Carolina and Virginia. Learn more at eastersealsPORT.com.
