Cristina Bernal

I started working here to support the new owner, who had acquired the company from its original founders. Although he was adept at creating and building the craft, he lacked experience in business management. Upon my arrival, I found that no office duties had been carried out, with some vendors remaining unpaid for nearly a year. I was able to managed to bring the company back from the brink of financial distress, as well as mend the relationship between us and the vendors and many clients. I was also the person in charge of managing employees

I was employed at First American Home Warranty in the escalated claims department. My role involved taking charge of claims that were longstanding, unresolved, or fraught with various levels of chaos and frustration, and steering them to resolution. This experience provided me with comprehensive insight into all aspects of claim management.

I was brought on board to help the sole founder, a former firefighter, establish an academy dedicated to teaching wildfire combat techniques. Neither of us had any prior knowledge or experience in this endeavor. This was a time before the internet and smartphones.

We built every system from the ground up. We organized an academy that welcomed instructors and firefighters from across the U.S. Together, we developed the materials and curriculum. Subsequently, we hosted a two-month-long course attended by over 300 participants.

I started my career with the company as the sole outreach navigator for the homeless veteran community. I was their point of contact from the moment I encountered them on the streets until they found housing. As my program expanded, I secured a supervisory position and began overseeing a team of navigators.