Lana Johnson
Lana S. Johnson considers herself the Olivia Pope of the VA world. She is the founder and head gladiator in charge at VA Gladiators. Lana created VA Gladiators to work with C-Suite executives, Nonprofits, and small businesses; to handle marketing, administrative, and organizational tasks that overwhelm them so they can increase productivity and can focus on what matters most.
Before VA Gladiators, Lana was giving away all her time for free to FOUR different organizations, and then she met her mentor who helped her change all that and she never looked back!
Lana believes most service providers' biggest challenge, in addition to growing their client base, is keeping the first thing first, so her team will help you overcome the feeling of being overwhelmed and give you peace of mind.
Lana studied Psychology at Texas Woman’s University and has over 20 years of extensive customer service, office administration, email marketing, and CRM training! She is also an EOS™ Ready EA, Keap Certified Partner, A CustomerHub Ninja, and a Honeybook Educator working on a Project Management certification.
When Lana is not calming chaos, she enjoys reading, servant leadership, and spending time with her family.
Christy Lemcool
Christy Lemcool is the Business Manager at VA Gladiators. She works with businesses of all sizes to ensure their customer service response is timely and effective. From staffing and training your existing service department to personally answering inquiries, her 20+ years of experience enable her to meet your business at any level.
Christy believes in “going the extra inch” in every aspect—giving that little extra measure of service on the front end to ensure customers feel heard, respected, and satisfied with every interaction. She specializes in fielding customer questions and complaints in a prompt and empathetic manner, de-escalating any flames of frustration before they grow into fires.
Christy has excelled in multiple customer service and people management roles in a variety of industries, including food service, auto insurance, marketing, and procurement. She earned her Bachelors of Art in Graphic Design from Nicholls State University in 2008, and has earned Professional Development certificates from Louisiana State University in Negotiation Strategies, Contract Writing and Implementation, Strategic Communication, and Essentials of Project Management as part of her continuing education. Christy considers herself a life-long learner and enjoys using her unique combination of skill, education, and experience to tackle new projects with ease.
When she isn’t working hard for her clients, Christy enjoys baking and experimenting in the kitchen to relax, or camping with her partner and two young girls.
Current clients, feel free to request a call with Christy at any time by using the booking link below. Your satisfaction is her top priority!
Jennis Watson
Jennis Watson is the Performance and Operations Manager at VA Gladiators. She enables incisive responsiveness from our Account and Project Managers, maintains attentive operational oversight, and ensures unparalleled service delivery for our clients year after year.
She is also our resident nonprofit industry expert with more than 15 years of experience alleviating the burdens of overextended staff and board members while also accelerating their achievements. As a nonprofit administrator, Jennis has grown adept at leading people, raising millions in funding from a variety of sources, and solving problems from fresh perspectives.
Jennis is diligent, enterprising, and versatile. She delivers consistent results regardless of the simplicity or complexity of the job. Her expertise encompasses a spectrum of domains, including strategic planning, management, finance, operations, programming, human resources, and nonprofit advancement.
She holds undergraduate degrees in Business Administration (Truett McConnell University) and English (University of Georgia), and she went on to expand her expertise through graduate study in Nonprofit Management (Northeastern University). In support of the work she has done with both nonprofit and for-profit businesses alike, she further earned a bookkeeping certificate (Stony Brook University). Her interests and thirst for learning also led her to pursue a graduate degree in Biblical Literature (Alliance Theological Seminary).
When Jennis is not keeping an eye on internal operations at VA Gladiators, you can find her setting out on jaunts and escapades with her two children or embracing the entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of a nonprofit consulting firm that specializes in empowering start-ups and small organizations.
Amanda Clark
Amanda Clark is a Marketing Strategist who works to offer solutions for small businesses and nonprofits to tell their story, streamline their processes, and grow their business through support from their community.
Amanda believes that many business leaders feel the pressure to be everywhere with their message, but being strategic with where to invest marketing resources can both relieve the pressure and lead to more effective communications with their audience.
Amanda has worked with a variety of organizations to help them build their dream; from hyper-local arts nonprofits engaging their communities onstage, behind-the-scenes, and in the audience to specialty stores selling everything from tasty treats to high-end art pieces.
Amanda is a certified Nonprofit Communications Director and “jane-of-all-trades” who has experience in developing marketing strategy, building websites, creating project management systems, and writing content.
When Amanda is not supporting clients, she can often be found helping run a local community theatre, tasting wine in the Willamette Valley, or venturing on a hike in Oregon’s beautiful forests. Amanda holds Bachelor of Science degrees, with honors, in both Advertising and Acting from Ball State University.
Tina McDowell
Tina McDowell is a Virtual Advocate, Digital Creator, Brand Stylist, Website Designer, Photographer & Canva Expert.
Tina specializes in creating exquisite brand identities & branding content for savvy modern-day entrepreneurs. Her services are structured to help you achieve your desired personal/business goals.
Anastasia Nela
Anastasia Nela is a Service Expert who works with ambitious entrepreneurs to help them manage their growing businesses by taking care of specific tasks so they can focus on the big picture.
Anastasia believes that working together with an expert like herself is the most efficient way to get work done. She enjoys seeing her clients realize they have extra time to do more of what they love for their business.
Anastasia has many years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a great deal of emphasis on youth work and volunteer management.
Anastasia is a trained professional with extensive experience in customer service and multiple customer service software such as SalesForce.
When Anastasia is not supporting clients she loves spending time with her baby and other family members and loves braiding hair. Anastasia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Shmara Punch
Shmara Punch has strong organizational and communication skills that have been a key component of her success as a project management professional for fifteen years. She believes if there is a gap, she has the tools and skills needed to fill it.
Shmara has a passion to see small businesses, start-ups, and nonprofit organizations be successful in their day-to-day operations. She uses her skills to connect the dots and relieve the pressure, so that the client can focus on the mission and vision given to them.
Shmara has worked at a broad spectrum of business and organizations; from small non-profits to a Fortune 500 company, where she led several major projects that were completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
When Shmara is not assisting clients, she is teaching dance to local youth, teaching Zumba classes, and enjoying her time discovering new adventures with her family.
Shmara holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the Abilene Christian University.
LaToya Munoz
LaToya is the Executive Assistant to the CEO and a Project Manager who seamlessly works with senior-level executives to make their workload less hectic and more productive.
LaToya believes that there is nothing that cannot be accomplished with tenacity, flexibility, and a willingness to serve.
LaToya has supported a wide array of senior executives at various organizations and has earned a stellar reputation for her impeccable work ethic, specifically in serving as a gatekeeper to C-suite executives, providing complex calendar management, possessing superb people skills, and unmatched multitasking capabilities.
LaToya is a seasoned professional with 16 years of executive administrative experience. She has extensive experience in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom, Salesforce/Nimble, Slack, and much more. She also created, implemented, and facilitated an informal onboarding program entitled Building Connections to help acclimate new employees to the office.
When LaToya is not wowing clients, she loves building her own nail business, all things music, and traveling with family and friends.
Chrystal Whitley
As an Account Manager/Virtual Assistant with VA Gladiators, Crystal excels in creating consistency from chaos. From basic administrative tasks, Think Tanks, and goal setting, to creating SOP’s for your business, Crystal uses her previous experience as a business manager and small business owner, to increase efficiency and overcome objectives. Through direct communication and strategic efforts, she will work hard to find operational functionality and create a manageable structure for any client endeavor.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism-Broadcast News and has been awarded an IRE award for Investigative Journalism. Crystal now uses her journalism experience as a contributor to several non-profit organizations focused on Judicial Reform and Reentry Programs for inmates of the Texas penal system.
When Crystal is not managing chaos for others, she spends her time exploring the road less traveled in her Jeep with her husband, 2-year-old daughter, and their 2 lovable pups. She enjoys giving back to the community through emergency relief efforts as well as resource matching.