Episode S1:01: Hon. Vanessa G. Oliver
Hon. Vanessa G. Oliver, Commissioner, Punta Gorda Airport Authority
“Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.”
Vanessa Oliver is honored for the opportunity to serve the residents of Charlotte County for the Punta Gorda Airport Authority, District 1. Vanessa grew up in Charlotte County, and graduated from Charlotte High School. Thereafter, Vanessa attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a minor in Government. Following graduation, she moved to Washington, DC, where she interned for a member of Congress and worked as a legal assistant at the office of Ken Feinberg, who was at that time administering the September 11th Victim’s Compensation Fund.
While Vanessa enjoyed her time in Virginia and DC, she missed both the sunshine and her family. She decided to continue her studies at the University of Florida College of Law, where she graduated Cum Laude with her Juris Doctor. During law school, Vanessa was selected as UF Law’s representative to extern for Florida Supreme Court Justice Peggy Quince. Vanessa also won a coveted position on the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court team, where she and her partner won the Thomas Tang Southeast Regional Competition. Vanessa began her legal career in Central Florida, where she represented clients in a variety of contexts, including civil, commercial, and real property litigation, as well as local government and municipal law.
In 2012, she returned to Charlotte County to work as General Counsel for Ambitrans Ambulance, where she currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve on the Florida Board of Funeral, Cemetery and Consumer Services. During her term, she was instrumental in getting justice for consumers against a funeral home that had stolen from its consumer trust fund. In 2019, Vanessa became one of fewer than 130 attorneys in the State of Florida to become Board Certified in Health Law. Vanessa is devoted to her family and community.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Charlotte County, is a member and past-Chair of the Charlotte Harbor Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Committee, is a member and past-president of the Peace River Federated Republican Women’s Forum, served as secretary of the Economic Development Partnership, is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Charlotte, a former Board Member for Habitat for Humanity, and is a member of San Antonio Catholic Church.