About Us

The Unquiet Professional is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization committed to recognizing and honoring our nation’s Gold Star & Surviving Families, Veterans, and military families by providing rewarding and purposeful opportunities to heal from the wounds of war.

HISTORY

To his comrades in the 1st Special Forces Group, Staff Sergeant Michael H. Simpson was affectionately known as “the unquiet professional”. Instead of being low-key about his Green Beret status, as is the norm for most Green Berets, Simpson proudly announced his Special Forces title whenever he could. It was an honor for him to be considered among America’s best, and certainly an honor he earned.

While deployed in 2013 with C Company, 4th BN, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Simpson sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device just 20 days after arriving in Afghanistan. He died five days later on May 1, 2013, leaving behind a beloved wife, two young sons, and his large loving family.

Despite her sorrow, Krista, Simpson’s wife, was in complete awe of the support she received from the military community. Organizations like The Green Beret Foundation, Special Ops Warrior Foundation, USO, the Fisher House, and wear blue: run to remember stepped up immediately to be there for her family through the most difficult time of their lives - to include the USSOCOM Warrior Care Program, 1st Special Forces Group and U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Inspired to give back to other military families, Krista and her close friend Andrea Rinaldi decided to do something. Together, they founded The Unquiet Professional that May, the same month Krista laid her husband to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

Green Beret Foundation

USO

Fisher House

Special Ops Warrior Foundation

wear blue: run to remember

1st Special Forces Group

USSOCOM Care Coalition

U.S. Special Operations Command

ONGOING VISION

Today The Unquiet Professional strives to educate, advocate and empower. Our programs support active duty, guard/reserve, veterans, families and survivors. .

From family and financial readiness to casualty support (and so much more in between), The Unquiet Professional has created programs and cultivated a community that offers specialized care to prepare for the unexpected and alleviate any immediate needs. Relationships are important and we believe in collaboration.

“There is nothing more beautiful than a community coming together and choosing you.” - Nicole Reyes.

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OUR TEAM

As an all-volunteer organization, we have the ability to provide personal one-on-one interactions with our families. Meet our team here:

Co-Founder

Krista Simpson Anderson

Krista Simpson Anderson is the wife of active duty Green Beret MSG Gus Anderson and the Gold Star spouse of Green Beret SSG Michael H. Simpson...

Krista Simpson Anderson is the wife of active duty Green Beret MSG Gus Anderson and the Gold Star spouse of Green Beret SSG Michael H. Simpson who passed away
on 1 May 2013 from wounds sustained in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack in Eastern Afghanistan. She is the mother of two boys, Michael (born 2009) and Gabriel
(born 2011).
Krista co-founded The Unquiet Professional in 2013, providing healthy and empowering opportunities to Gold Star and Surviving families, Veterans and their
families. She is the Gold Star Liaison for the Green Beret Foundation, is a member of the speakers board for Folds of Honor, sits on the board for Gold Star Sailing
Foundation and Raise for Rowyn and is a member of the Army’s Survivor Advisory Working Group. Krista is currently the Military Spouse Ambassador for Army
Emergency Relief and is co-authoring a book, Her Ruck: The emotional backpack of military wives.
With Krista’s new organization, “Arm Yourselves and Be Brave - Educate and Empower to THRIVE not just Survive” her mission is to provide military families the tools to thrive
in their ever changing and challenging environments. In doing this we strengthen Family Readiness which, in turn, creates a stronger force. Krista believes that education
and awareness is the key to success. She strives to bridge the gap between our military and civilian communities while providing care and awareness around the blessings and struggles of military life.
Due to Krista’s dedication to the military and civilian community she was recognized as
the 2018 Armed Forces Insurance Army and overall Military Spouse of the Year. She
believes tragedy does not need to end our story but provides the opportunity to create
a new chapter with greater purpose.

Co-Founder

Andrea S. Rinaldi

Both Krista and I hail from Western Massachusetts, meeting many years ago through mutual friends. As she moved from the Northeast to the Southeast...

Both Krista and I hail from Western Massachusetts, meeting many years ago through mutual friends. As she moved from the Northeast to the Southeast to the Pacific Northwest engrossed in the Army life she very happily became a part of, I remained on the East Coast. The miles never felt more distant than a sunny April afternoon when I received a call from Krista explaining that Mike was injured by an IED in Afghanistan.

Over the next few days and weeks, as updates came in and Krista prepared for and traveled to Germany, Dover, Washington and ultimately Arlington National Cemetery she mentioned numerous organizations and people that were helping her get through the motions with as much ease as possible given the situation. Her unwavering gratitude to those organizations and people who helped her in the immediate aftermath of Mike’s injury was palpable. There was no question in my mind that Krista would feel compelled to recognize and give something back to those organizations and people. I, myself, had a profound appreciation for them helping Krista and others like her endure an unbearable situation.

It was at Arlington National Cemetery where the idea of a fundraiser for those organizations came to light; there couldnt' be a better way to acknowledge what they had done and meant to Krista and everyone so close to her than to raise money for them to continue to do so for the others who would find themselves in a similar situation. The fundraiser was ultimately the birth of The Unquiet Professional. As The Unquiet Professional continues to evolve, I am proud to be a part of an organization that supports and honors our Veterans and Gold Star Families and recognizes their sacrifices.

Director of Operations

Lauren Nakazono

I spent my early childhood years in Tulsa, OK but moved to Denver, CO when I was almost in middle school and my family has been there every since.

I spent my early childhood years in Tulsa, OK but moved to Denver, CO when I was almost in middle school and my family has been there every since. My (now) husband and I were in college during 9-11 and he felt compelled to serve; though neither of us grew up in the military. He has gone on to a successful career in Special Forces while I have spent my time raising our three boys, working at various duty stations and volunteering for the units we have been attached to.
It was volunteering for our current unit that helped me find my true passion in working with military families to help create and refine family programs that support them when their spouse is away. Through these volunteer activities I was fortunate enough to meet Krista at a time when I was making a big career jump from early childhood education to project management and leadership. It began with a simple offer to help Krista get some of her projects organized and has blossomed into a wonderful partnership and lifelong friendship.
I have worked in several different roles over the years as a result of frequent moves but was most recently the Assistant Facility Director for the Porter Youth Center in Seaside, CA; part of the Army Child and Youth Services Program. It was a wonderful opportunity to test and grow my leadership skills and continue working on several different projects to continue to refine my skills in project management.
I currently serve as both the Executive Board Secretary and the Director of Operations and help to make sure that all our programs and organization are running efficiently and effectively. There is nothing better than hearing the testimonials from families that we have helped, whether through the Fresh Air Program, Gold Star Children’s events, or individual gifts. To make an impact at such an individual level is so rewarding.
In my free time I am hanging out with our three sons and can generally be found in the car while I shuttle everyone back and forth from soccer and football – though my happy place is being outside somewhere near the Sound!

Director of Development

Mollie Parsons

My passion for veterans and military families was born in my volunteer work for my husband’s unit. I’ve been inspired and humbled as I’ve watched the sacrifice of our service-members

My passion for veterans and military families was born in my volunteer work for my husband’s unit. I’ve been inspired and humbled as I’ve watched the sacrifice of our service-members along with their families in the face of staggering adversity. After 15 years with my incredible husband, resilient children, and an ever-expanding “military community family” spread all over the world, I am extremely grateful to my husband for his service and for all of the amazing things our military journey has brought into my life.
I am a currently a Program Manager at Amazon after creating the Military Spouse Technology Academy at Microsoft and spending nearly a decade as a business manager in the marketing industry and program manager for many nonprofits.
It was my passion for military families that brought me to Krista and The Unquiet Professional. I see the wounds of war every day of my life, but visible and invisible, and I am honored to have the opportunity to support this community - our community - through TUP and our programs.
Certified in professional fundraising, change management, project management and having many years of experience as treasurer to multiple nonprofits, I am proud of this organization and look forward to serving more veterans and their families in the years to come.
I currently live in the Seattle area with my husband, two daughters and three dogs. I enjoy woodworking and refinishing furniture in my spare time.

Director of Veterans Programs

Paul Joyce

Originally from Cincinnati, OH and the eldest of 4 children. I joined the U.S. Army on September 10th, 2001 and spent 14 years on active duty...

Originally from Cincinnati, OH and the eldest of 4 children. I joined the U.S. Army on September 10th, 2001 and spent 14 years on active duty and two years in the Army Reserve. I served in the 3rd U.S. Infantry, (The Old Guard), as an Army recruiter, and in the Intelligence Community. To all that I do, I bring my experience as a former Senior Noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Army with years of planning, outside the box thinking, and project management. Currently I wear multiple hats.
I am the CEO for Layer 8 Technologies where we help decision makers make informed decisions about protecting their intellectual property and identify insider threats. We use decades of experience and a staff fluent in several languages around the globe - most at a native language speaking level. I help to lead business development, company strategy, and client engagement with strategic partners.
I am also the Territory Manager at Kloeckner Metals - Temtco Steel Division in Tumwater, WA. At Kloeckner I help to find new customers, build relationships, and focus on finding solutions for my customers steel needs all over the west coast and Pacific Northwest.
At the Unquiet Professional I serve as the Director of Veterans Programs. I plan and lead outdoor adventures all over the U.S. with transitioning veterans and build programs that aid Gold Star Family Members. These trips and programs help to serve as an alternative to traditional therapy and help to provide the sense of community that military members have while serving in the military. For Gold Star Family members, we strive to provide opportunities that they may not have with the loss of a parent or other family member.
I spend most of my time in the outdoors with my Wife and three daughters or planning for my next adventure.

Executive Board Member

Frank DiGiovanni

Thirty-nine years of government service. Twenty-six years as an U.S. Air Force officer holding aviation ratings as a B-52H navigator and F-15A and A-37B pilot.

Retired from the Air Force at the rank of Colonel. Held several Command, Director, and staff positions across the Air Force related to training policy, advanced training technologies, and sustaining the military's access to land, sea, and air training resources. Three operational deployments with the last in the Pakistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). A member of the DoD and Navy Senior Executive Service, served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for eleven years as the Deputy Director and Director responsible for the programming and execution of the $900M the Department of Defense invests in worldwide joint training and training technologies. This position also provided oversight, training policy, and training and training technology shaping guidance across all branches of the Military and the Joint community. Created the DoD SkillBridge service member transition program as authorized by 10 U.S. Code Section 1143. Developed the first ever DoD policy and recruited private sector organizations to support the SkillBridge transition program. Recruited for one year to serve as the Deputy to the Chief of Navy personnel as the Navy sought to transform their governance, technical architecture, and people strategy for the $32B a year they spend on manpower, personnel, training, and education. Currently serves as the Deputy Director for Navy Expeditionary Warfare, which includes requirements and programming for Amphibious Assault Ships, Mine Warfare, Navy Special Warfare, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, and the Navy Seabees. Holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona, a Masters of Public Administration from Old Dominion University, a Master of Science in Education and Doctorates in Education from the University of Pennsylvania.