Leadership

Natalie is a Case Manager. She is responsible for meeting with each client, assessing their need and helping them to find a path to self-sufficiency. She provides financial assistance and referrals as needed. Her drive to help each client is birthed out of her personal pain and struggles, so she turned her pain into her passion and decided she would do her best every day to ensure no female Veteran would have to go through what she did.

Natalie served in US Navy honorably for 11 years. She began as undesignated seaman and ended her career as an Operations Specialist. She traveled around the world with the Navy and served on board four fine Naval Vessels; USS Emory S. Land AS-39, USS Eisenhower CVN-69, USS Chancellorsville CG-62, she was the first junior enlisted female on board the USS O’Brien DD-975, and four shore commands; Navy Legal Service Office, Commander Seven Fleet Administration, Submarine Group Seven, Commander Seven Fleet Brigg.

Natalie went back to school after her time in the service and obtained her Associates in Health Administration and went on to get certification in Professional Coding and Billing. Natalie is a Mentor with TAPS, Volunteer Child Advocate with the Guardian ad Litem Program, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Presidential Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and is currently pursuing her BS in Human services.

Natalie is married to her wife, Tebony. Together they have 4 children.

Natalie believes that it is a disservice to not honor those who served and that their discharge status doesn’t always tell their actual story!

Amy Collins is a Case Manager. She is responsible for meeting with each client, assessing their needs and guiding them on the path to stability. She provides financial assistance and referrals as needed. Her passion to help each client stems from her personal experiences of hardship and difficulties. She believes that no woman veteran should navigate through life’s difficulties alone.

Amy is a veteran of the US Navy and US Navy Reserves. She was part of the first implementation of women onboard USS O’Bannon DD-987 where she served 5 years as an Electronics Warfare Technician. After fulfilling her obligated Active-Duty time, Amy transferred to the US Navy Reserves reporting to MIUW and Harbor Ops out of NAS Jax.

Amy is married to Derek, a US Marine Corp veteran. They have been happily married for over 22 years and they have homeschooled 4 sons. Amy and her husband are active in the veteran community and the entire Collins family are heavily involved in various ministries at their church. Amy believes that veterans are geared for service, and that doesn’t end when we get our DD-214.

RADM Patricia Wolfe retired from the US Navy in 2013 following a 32-year career as a Supply Corps Officer specializing in expeditionary logistics. She was born and raised in northern New Jersey and is a 1981 graduate of Villanova University. She received her commission in the United States Navy through the Villanova Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps Program. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Brenau University.

RADM Wolfe’s accomplishments included a number of first assignments that help break the gender barrier for women in the Navy, including duty at sea in 1982 aboard the USS Piedmont (AD 17) and command assignment as the first female Commanding Officer of a Navy Cargo Handling Battalion in 1994. She was promoted to Rear Admiral in 2007 and served in flag officer positions in the US Pacific Fleet, as Commander of the Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group and in multiple Executive capacities at the Defense Logistics Agency.

Patty currently serves as the Chair of the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Board of Directors, as a Trustee for Brenau University and is on the Board of Directors for the and the Navy Supply Corps Foundation. Her post-Navy retirement activities include small business consulting, non-profit work and travel.

Charles Fields is a Bank Manager for Woodforest National Bank in Jacksonville, Florida; a community bank built upon the needs of the customers they serve. Charles, originally from Chicago, Illinois served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps. His assignments included tours in the Persian Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm), as a Marine Embassy Guard for the United States Department of State and various other foreign assignments in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Since leaving the military, Charles has served in a Leadership/Management capacity in the automotive sales, finance, banking, and mortgage industries. His current role continues to afford him the opportunity to work directly with the community here in Northeast Florida as both a Community Banker as well as volunteer. Charles currently serves as Board Member and Treasurer for Family Foundations of Northeast Florida since 2014. Charles has volunteered as a business mentor for small-medium sized women business owners for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Center and also volunteers his time to conduct financial education classes with Junior Achievement of North Florida.

Charles is a graduate of Central Texas College (2000). Charles is married to his wife of 24 years, Laurette and they have two daughters, Madison 13 years old, and Morgan 9 years old.

Penelope L. “Penny” Justice is well-known and accomplished Military Employment Advocate/Coach in the Florida Region. With a strong background in creating successful recruiting and placement platforms throughout the eastern United States, the Florida National Army & Air Guard asked her to create an employment platform for them in 2011. This program was so successful that she was awarded the Governor’s Florida Commendation Medal for decreasing the unemployment level from 17.1% to 3.3% in 4 years! She continues work with this program and is the Northeast Florida Employment Coach for the Florida Guard Employment Support Program.

As the Employer Outreach Coordinator for the Department of Defense Agency, The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for the past 17 years in northeast Florida, Penny has helped many military members obtain meaningful employment with proven Patriotic Employers who have been awarded for their commitment to our military community.

In 2015 Penny became a committee member with the Northeast Florida Women Veterans Association and is very honored to serve on the Board of Directors. “Our women who have served deserve our very best effort to help them transition successfully to their new career and life path!”

Teresa Dickerson is s Jcksonville native with over 35 years working for the Internal Revenue Service. She retired with her last position being Associate Director, EEO and Diversity. Teresa has spent years as a United Way volunteer tax preparer, serving as the site coordinator. She is passionate about making sure people are knowledgeable about tax issues and taking advantage of their benefits. As a board member, Teresa brings her experience in tax law compliance as well as Diversity and inclusion.

Abbey Martin, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, embarked on a remarkable journey in the world of banking that has spanned nine transformative years. Her unwavering dedication to her community, commitment to financial education, and outstanding career progression within Woodforest National Bank have made her a trusted resource for financial empowerment in the Sunshine State.

Through her unwavering commitment to both Woodforest National Bank and her community, Abbey’s career has soared. She has risen to the position of Market Manager for Florida, where she oversees operations, strategy, and community engagement across the state. In this pivotal role, she continues to foster financial growth not only for her customers but for her market as well.

Throughout her time in the financial industry, Abbey has had the opportunity to use her knowledge to help people in the community through both consumer and small business financial education events.

Abbey is married to her husband, Chris, and they enjoy spending their free time outdoors at local parks, kayaking, and spending time with their fur babies.

Onitay E Ford, a Washington D.C. native, served in the U.S. Army (1998-2006) as a Logistics Specialist. Her nine years in the Army provided many unique experiences that she says have shaped her into who she is today. She also served one year in the Army National Guard.

Soon after her military service, Onitay began her civilian career at Medtronic ENT as the Administrative Assistant III, for the Research and Development Department. She continues this career path today.

Onitay had developed many volunteer hours in her community, including serving on the NE Florida Women Veterans planning committed for Women Veteran Recognition Week and volunteering at food distribution events. She is committed to helping women who served.

She and her husband have three daughters. She recently earned her BS in Business Administration.

Onity says, “I have a passion for giving back and want to put my talents to work as part of the ERFWV board.”