Jess is a women/family advocate & speaker. She has survived parental divorce/alcoholism, emotional, physical & sexual abuse. Her testimony includes dark times of physical/sexual violence, teenage pregnancy, years of on/off homelessness, abortion, same sex attraction & 2 attempts at suicide. In 1997 she met the man her future husband who would help her create an environment of authentic love that enabled her healing journey, her relationship with Jesus Christ & her eventual forgiveness & love for her attackers. She converted to Catholicism in 2008.Her husband Charlie is a Permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. They have 2 teenage boys at home, 2 adults out in the world, 1 lovely soul in Heaven & 2 English Bulldogs. Jess is founder and Exec Dir of SOFESA, a 501c(3) non-profit that serves homeless/low-income children & families since 1999. Deacon Charlie & Jess appeared on The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi which aired internationally in Feb 2021.Jess has previously appeared on multiple episode's of EWTN's The Catholic View for Women, radio interviews w/ Spirit Radio's Morning Show, Son Rise Morning Show & Incorrupto Radio. She spoke at the walk for life in Los Angeles, OneLifeLA, and is the inaugural recipient of the OneLifeLA Service award (2020)! She has been featured in numerous podcasts and participated in the After the Abortion Photography Series by Angela Forker.​Inspired by the good things God has wrought in her life, she has completed her first book "Dazzled” detailing her life experiences in a way that lifts up & enlightens others who are searching for ways to heal. She is a strong & effective speaker who has been able to, with the help of God's grace, turn those past experiences, & all the healing that she has received along the way, into real, loving help for others.

SOFESA (formerly known as Sore Feet Saviors) was founded in 1999 by Jess. Through the years SOFESA has grown from a one woman operation, to a formal 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization comprised of a large number of passionate people interested in changing the lives of the needy. Our principal goal is to help eliminate survival mode among homeless families by creating opportunities for them to stop and ‘stare into the fire.’ History proves that when we are provided this opportunity we invent and create leading us inevitably to positive growth and healing.

Certified Facilitator of Protecting God's Children for Adults (2017) and Teaching Touching Safety Training for children (since 2009).

Taught the PreK-Kindergarten class on Sundays. Implemented the "Little Church" program.

Taught the Kindergarten class on Sundays. Implemented the "Little Church" program and created the curriculum for ages 3-5 years.