Vanessa began her professional career as a Financial Controller for a local agricultural co-operative in the central valley after graduating from San Jose State University with a B.A. in Accounting. In this role, she managed Finance and Accounting, Human Resources and Information Technology. For more than 10 years, she held the position of Controller and later Director of Finance and Administration. While working full-time and raising young children with her husband, she earned her MBA from University of Phoenix. Her career later took her to hold the positions of Chief Financial Administrator, Vice President of Human Resources and Director of Human Resources at local corporate businesses and a local non-profit.

Presently, Vanessa oversees all of the financial functions of the Foundation with a focus on defining and implementing the financial infrastructure needed to support growth and the efficient and productive operation of the organization.