The people who support our warfighters are the most dedicated and passionate people you will ever meet. They are driven to serve – both as healthcare professionals and as members of the military community. As someone with a skill set more geared towards business and data analytics, the opportunity to work with people called to a vocation showed me the importance of that passion. And it helped me see how using my skills and abilities to channel that passion can be just as rewarding.
Since then, I’ve grown to the leadership position I’m currently in, but I haven’t forgotten that my duty remains with those passionate people on the ground who are trying to do the right thing in an increasingly resource-constrained, philosophically complex environment.
Tria’s leadership gives us opportunities – and I don’t just mean promotions. They encourage us to take on new things, learn new things and try new things professionally. Sometimes that means success; other times we don’t succeed. But leaving our comfort zones to take on new and uncomfortable challenges is how we grow.
Transparency, authenticity, empathy, and accountability. Also humor because there are times when life makes absolutely no sense and being able to laugh at the absurdity of it is almost as good as therapy!
I am an adventure seeker who loves to try new things, from hiking and camping to “wild caving,” which is spelunking in untouched caves with no paths or lighting. I also enjoy board games, puzzles, escape rooms, and anything that challenges me to think creatively and quickly. I’ve even helped to create several escape rooms and scavenger hunts for conventions and other large-scale events.
While rappelling down a cliff in Cuba, I decided to pause for a selfie about 150 feet in the air. I went to steady myself against the cliff face and inadvertently stuck my hand into a wasp’s nest. The wasps did not appreciate this, and I was soon amid an angry swarm. I was in a major hurry to escape but my shirt got caught in the belay device and I was stuck, with wasps actively and enthusiastically stinging me. I pulled out my pocketknife and frantically cut the fabric, then dropped as fast as I could to the ground. Yes, I got the selfie, and it was (mostly) worth it. But to this day, my climbing buddies tease me about bringing a knife to a wasp fight.
As a consultant at Tria Federal, Phalyssia (pronounced “Felicia”) Vinson helps the Department of Veterans Affairs improve its processes and systems to better serve veterans. She has been praised for her leadership skills and ability to pivot on a moment's notice.
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In her role supporting the Department of Veteran Affairs, Yodit Yemane thrives on tackling complex challenges with the goal of improving healthcare for veterans. In her personal life, she’s in her “toddler era” as a busy mom to two young boys.
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