Vanessa serves as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at WSIA.  She directs WSIA’s evolving diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy to develop a culture of inclusion and belonging in the wholesale, specialty, and surplus lines insurance segment.  As a Certified Diversity Executive, Vanessa influences systems to ensure DE&I is embedded into WSIA’s service and approach.

Vanessa is a graduate of Central Missouri State University and Webster University. She has served as an advisor or in a Director capacity for several community impact organizations including Operation Breakthrough, and KC Mothers in Charge, and is the past Board Chair at Jackson County CASA and the Loose Foundation. She has participated in various civic roles including KC Rising, Project Equality, and the KC Chamber’s Diversity Committee.  Vanessa is a recipient of the Chamber’s ACE Award, the Lift Her Up Movement, and other numerous recognitions.   She currently serves as Vice Chair for the newly formed Gamma Iota Sigma Foundation and is a GIS Advisory Council member.

Vanessa and her husband, Rev. James Sims reside in Kansas City, Missouri, and get joy in spending time RV’ing with their children and grandchildren.

She believes and lives by Ephesians 6:7 which says “Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, not people.”