Meet Jennifer

I've always been drawn to service.

Long before my career in emergency management, I looked for ways to contribute through volunteering, three AmeriCorps terms, and community service. Helping people wasn't a career decision. It's simply how I've always been wired.

Throughout my career, I've been drawn to the people behind the work. I notice who's engaged and who's quietly checking out. Who understands the material and who's simply nodding along. Who has valuable ideas but hasn't found the opportunity to share them. Those moments have shaped how I lead, facilitate, and design learning experiences because I believe people do their best work when they feel seen, supported, and able to contribute.

Whether responding to disasters, facilitating workshops, or designing learning experiences, I found myself paying attention to the same things. Who's engaged. Who's quietly struggling. Who understands the material and who's simply nodding along. Who has valuable ideas but hasn't found the opportunity to share them.

Those moments matter because they're often where growth begins.

That's why I founded EM Wellness.

I wanted to help organizations create environments where people learn from one another, share knowledge freely, and leave stronger than when they arrived. Mentoring programs, networking experiences, and training are simply different ways of making that happen.

While earning my master's degree, I researched how life-changing experiences shape emergency managers. One finding stood out above everything else: sustained supportive relationships were the strongest driver of growth. That research didn't change my direction so much as confirm what I'd been observing throughout my career.

Today, I combine operational experience with adult learning principles to create experiences that are practical, engaging, and intentionally designed from beginning to end. I don't just think about what happens during a workshop or mentoring program. I think about the entire experience, from the first invitation someone receives to the conversations that continue long after the session ends.

If I can help an organization build stronger systems that support its people, the impact extends far beyond any single workshop or conversation. That's the kind of work I care most about.

My Approach

I believe people learn best when they feel understood, connected, and able to contribute.

Whether I'm designing a mentoring program, facilitating a workshop, or leading a networking session, my goal is the same: create an experience where people feel comfortable sharing ideas, asking questions, and learning from one another.

I'm intentional about every detail, from the first invitation someone receives to the conversations that continue after the event. Because meaningful learning isn't just about delivering information. It's about creating an environment where people can connect, apply what they've learned, and leave more capable than when they arrived.

Experience

I bring more than a decade of experience designing and facilitating learning experiences for government, nonprofit, higher education, and other mission-driven organizations.

My career has included leadership and learning roles with FEMA, New York City Emergency Management, and the American Red Cross, where I worked in both operational response and workforce development.

Highlights

• FEMA
• New York City Emergency Management
• American Red Cross
• AmeriCorps Alum
• President's Volunteer Service Award Recipient
• M.A. in Security Studies, Naval Postgraduate School
• Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
• Master Trainer, Association for Talent Development (ATD)