Venessa Dixon, Board Member, Mill Valley
Venessa is a businesswoman with a deep understanding of what it means to overcome adversity. The successful Director of Business Development at Golden Years Medical immigrated at 13 with her family to the United States from South Africa. There, her family was part of the Indian community, and under apartheid, they were segregated and considered inferior to whites. Only when she was able to attend middle school in San Francisco, was she able to excel academically. Following graduation from UC Berkeley, Venessa used her can-do spirit and education to improve the systems in her family’s medical equipment business, and has been instrumental in their expansion to San Rafael. Like her parents, Ronnie and Viggie Naiker, she is very involved in the local community and is a champion for the elderly and disabled population. As a member of the Whistlestop Board, Venessa hopes to be able to provide the outreach and sense of community for many seniors that find themselves alone. “No one is ever going to tell me I can’t do something or put limitations on me again.”
Professional Affiliations
- Marin County Section on Aging, Leadership Committee
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Confirmation/Youth Leader
- BNI, Leadership Team
- San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, past Health & Wellness Resource Group
Background
- More than 15 years experience in operations management in the home medical equipment industry. Golden Years Medical provides equipment like wheelchairs, hospital beds, and bathroom safety products to clients with mobility limitations.
- Expertise in networking and marketing to the Aging Population.
- Leadership experience in several local organizations’ healthy aging committees