GOLD STAR SPOUSES OF AMERICA INC. |
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NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL:
Justin Brown
Ashley Bernardi
JUSTIN BROWN
Founder and CEO, The Nimitz Group
Prior to launching his own business, he was the Democratic Staff Director for the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. He has nearly a decade of veterans’ focused experience and advocacy, fighting on behalf of veterans and their families to increase educational and employment opportunities, to expand access to benefits and healthcare, and to eliminate homelessness.
Justin is a Navy veteran, University of Utah graduate, and U.S. Naval War College graduate. He has worked for: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman and former Admiral Joe Sestak, the VFW, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
As a veterans’ advocate, Justin pushed for passage of the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and raised the issue of veteran unemployment during the economic recession. He has testified before numerous Congressional Committees and has participated in round tables, press conferences, documentaries, and media interviews regarding veterans’ economic and benefits issues.
In 2015, he ran a passionate but unsuccessful race in the Democratic Primary for the Virginia House of Delegates. He currently serves as an appointee to Fairfax County’s Economic Advisory Commission.
ASHLEY BERNARDI
Founder and CEO, Nardi Media LLC
Ashley Bernardi is an award-winning podcaster and author, media relations expert and trainer, and Founder and CEO of Nardi Media LLC, a full-service media relations firm specializing in media placements and training for authors, thought leaders, entrepreneurs, companies, and more. A Gold Star Daughter, Ashley brings deep empathy and purpose to her work, using storytelling as a force for connection, healing, and impact.
Under her leadership, Nardi Media has been named a finalist for the 2025 Healthcare PR Campaign of the Year by the PR Daily Awards, and Ashley herself has been recognized as a 2025 finalist for PR Professional of the Year, honoring her exceptional contributions to the communications industry.
Prior to founding Nardi Media, Ashley served as a network television news producer for nearly a decade, with credits including CBS News, energy NOW! —a nationally syndicated energy and environmental show on Bloomberg TV—and Washington Post Live.
She has a passion for helping authors grow from zero exposure to household names on the New York Times Best Sellers List. Her clients have been featured in top-tier outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, TODAY, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, NPR, Fortune, Business Insider, USA TODAY, PEOPLE, TIME, CNBC, Bloomberg, Real Simple, and hundreds more.
Ashley is also a regularly featured media expert herself, appearing in Forbes, The Washington Times, Bloom TV, Tiny Beans, and on the Emmy Award-winning series “The Mother Side” airing on ABC in Washington, D.C. She is the author of the award-winning book Authentic Power: Give Yourself Permission to Feel.
TED SCALLET, ESQ.
EascoLaw, PLLC
Ted Scallet has been providing legal advice to clients for almost fifty years. His Washington, DC practice has included advocating for clients before Congress and the Executive branch. He has represented numerous tax-exempt organizations on governance and tax qualification issues. He is also an expert in the legal standards governing decision making by fiduciaries and Board members that are appointed or elected to represent the interests of others.
Ted worked for eight years at the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U. S. Department of Labor before going into private practice. He has been a member of the bar of the Supreme Court, nine United States Courts of Appeal, and many United States District Courts. Ted has been named as a top lawyer in Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers USA, Who’s Who Lawyers, and many other publications. In 2016, Ted resigned from his law firm and became a sole practitioner advising clients on a pro bono basis.
Ted is a graduate of Harvard College and Washington University School of Law. He is married to his college sweetheart and is the proud father of two sons and grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren.