Meet Jessi
A nurse, a neighbor, and a familiar face around Yountville.
Originally from the suburbs of Boston, I hold dual Bachelors of Science degrees in Public Health and Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. During that time, I discovered that direct patient care was my true passion, and went on to earn my third Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of Miami. I then moved back to the Boston area and worked as a nurse on an intermediate cardiac care/cardiac surgery unit for two years before transitioning to travel nursing during the pandemic. As a travel nurse I traveled to 10 different cities around the country, working at over 15 hospitals in many different inpatient units. From high-need Covid units, to cardiac care, transplant, stroke, general medical/surgical and telemetry floors, I went where I was needed on any given day. During those years, I took several contracts in the Bay Area and fell in love with the Napa Valley.
I met my amazing husband Eric along the way and we are so happy to now call Yountville home. It has been a true pleasure getting to know neighbors, saying hello on evening walks through all of the quiet, beautiful neighborhoods, becoming a regular at our amazing local businesses, and showing up at the events that give Yountville its unique, small town feel.
We love living here and as we look to grow our family, we are deeply invested in seeing the town thrive for decades to come. I am running for Town Council to bring a fresh voice to the table and do my part to ensure the success of our beloved town. I will bring the same energy and consideration to the Council that I have brought to my nursing career: strong work ethic, thoughtful listening, respect, and the desire to serve my community.
My Nursing Life
Caring for people at their most vulnerable and what it taught me.
Nursing, especially travel nursing, demands a set of skills that translate into every part of life. I was thrown into new environments with new patients and coworkers on a monthly and even daily basis. It requires trust, a strong work ethic, teamwork, leadership, thoughtful listening, good judgment, critical thinking, adaptability, respect, empathy, and a genuine desire to help people.
Communication and collaboration are just as vital. In high stakes, high emotion environments, it is especially crucial to communicate clearly and respectfully to problem-solve and reach the best solution.
A big part of the job is learning a patient's history, assessing their current status, prioritizing treatment, and developing a care plan that critically weighs every variable at hand. It's not so different from how a town's general plan should be approached: with logic, reason, and careful consideration, evaluating multiple avenues from a risk, benefit, and alternatives mindset.
From the bedside to the Council chambers
15+ hospitals in 4.5 years
As a travel nurse during the pandemic, I worked at more than 15 hospitals across the country- inititally caring for high-need COVID patients, then transitioning back to cardiac surgery, transplant, stroke, medical/surgical, and telemetry units- wherever the need presented.
Whatever was needed
During my travel career, I moved every 2-6 months. I worked 36 to 72 hours a week including nights, days, evenings, overtime- whatever was needed. It was challenging mentally, physically, and emotionally, but also deeply rewarding. That same show-up-and-do-the-work commitment is exactly what I'll bring to the Council- putting in the hours to read the details, sit through the meetings, and do right by Yountville.
Skills that translate to Council
Trust, strong work ethic, calm under crisis, teamwork and leadership, thoughtful listening, strong advocacy, good judgment and critical thinking, adaptability, respect, empathy, service, and genuine desire to help people- all these attributes that make me a good nurse are the same skills that guide good public service leadership.
Off the Clock
The Fun Stuff!
A friendly intro to my interests and hobbies — the stuff that makes me a neighbor first and a candidate second.
- WellnessI value health and physical fitness and try to fit in some form of exercise each day. Some of my favorite go tos are strength training HIIT classes at The Society in Napa, reformer pilates, yoga, or just long walks around town.
- Napa food & wineWe are blessed to live in a world class wine and culinary destination. One of my favorite things to do is indulge in all of the amazing restaurants and wineries we have here in Yountville and across the Valley.
- Leisurely sportsIn the evenings I love to the driving range at Vintners. I'm very new to golf, but challenging myself in a beautiful setting? What's not to love?! I am also always interested in a friendly tennis and pickleball match.
- An amateur chefWhen I am not at our local restaurants, I truly enjoy making delicious meals at home. I have been a lifelong avid baker and amateur cook and it has been such a treat having access to all the best local produce and meats at our farmer's markets.
- A good book & a matchaWhile I love being active and exploring, sometimes sitting on my patio, relaxing with a good book and a matcha is the best. I highly recommend the iced matcha at The Honor Market or the ice strawberry cold foam matcha from Madeleine's!
- Creative sideOver the past year I have taken up glass blowing. It is a very challenging art form, but so much fun and very rewarding when a piece comes out well. It may take decades in the hot shop before I master the craft, but I am very proud to have made a number of cups, bowls, vases and even wine glasses for my recent wedding! The studio I work out of even did a several month showcase at the Jessup tasting room recently.
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