Mary C. Hamm
Mary Hamm is a passionate advocate for service members and their families, dedicated to empowering, supporting, and educating military communities with compassionate and expert care. Based in Newport News, Virginia, she currently serves as a Virtual Work Family Life Consultant with Zeiders Enterprises, Inc., providing training, program management, and holistic support to help military families navigate deployment, career transitions, and personal development. She specializes in addiction and recovery counseling and is completing her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health, applying evidence-based strategies to foster resilience, well-being, and growth within the military community.
Mary’s professional focus includes stress management, personal growth, relationship health, and holistic family support. Trained as a master trainer with Join One Love, she emphasizes faith, perseverance, and building others up as core professional values. Her expertise spans analytics, advising, prevention strategies, and educational consulting, enabling her to develop programs and resources that strengthen service members’ and families’ overall health and resilience. With a career grounded in intentional action, meaningful guidance, and a people-centered approach, she empowers individuals to take proactive steps toward growth, stability, and long-term success.
With approximately six years of experience in education and administrative roles at the Fleet and Family Support Center, Mary brings a deep understanding of the military community’s unique challenges. Her professional dedication is informed by her own service as an active-duty Navy member in the early 1990s and 20 years as a Marine Corps spouse. Beyond her professional work, Mary enjoys reading, creating homemade gifts such as jellies, jams, and flavored vanilla, volunteering, and spending quality time with her family. She also contributes to her community through service on the Board of Advisors for Bridges of Change, supporting domestic violence prevention and intervention. Mary’s career and personal life reflect a steadfast commitment to advocacy, education, and meaningful support for those who serve and their families.
• Liberty University - BS, Psychology: Addiction and Recovery
• Member of the Board of Advisors, Bridges of Change
• Volunteer with Gloucester Mathews Humane Society
What do you attribute your success to?
Mary attributes her success to God, the example and perseverance of the women in her family, strong mentorship, and working for a company that prioritizes building people up.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
"Make sure that advice is from wise counsel."
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn continuously, connect with and ask questions of women you admire, actively pursue opportunities, and build a circle of supportive women.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A key challenge is allowing others to define who you are; Mary emphasizes that women must define their own paths. Balancing work, graduate study and caregiving responsibilities is also a present challenge.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, kindness, generosity, encouragement, perseverance and faith.