Question 1

Jenny Adamo, MSW, ACP, BCPA | Navigator

Accepted Answer

Jenny is a social worker with 25+ years of experience, with expertise in elder care and planning, end-of-life experiences, acute and chronic illness, mental health, trauma, substance abuse, adoption and foster care, early education and school navigation, and military life and transitions. She excels in guiding people through intense and challenging life situations, and recognizes the crucial role of community connections. Her passion is creating peaceful experiences and sustainable solutions for challenging circumstances.

Jenny holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Southern California with a concentration in Mental Health and a sub concentration in Geriatrics, and a Bachelor's in Health and Human Development from California State University, Northridge. She has further training and credentials as an Advanced Care Planner, Board Certified Patient Advocate, and in planning and facilitating end-of-life experiences.

Born and raised in Southern California, she spent 13 years traveling the United States with her husband and two daughters and feels deeply connected to many areas of the country. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, camping, and traveling with friends.

Question 2

Sara Blackmur, MSW, LICSW | Navigator

Accepted Answer

Sara is a psychotherapist who works with clients navigating a variety of life transitions. Her therapeutic approach comes from a strengths-based and social justice perspective. Her work with clients spans a variety of issues including grief and loss, attachment, depression, anxiety and family-of-origin conflict.

Sara holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington and a Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Texas where she graduated with Honors. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the State of Washington (LW60349609). In addition to her clinical work, Sara has experience working in medical settings and healthcare compliance. In her free time, Sara enjoys spending time with family, cooking, hiking and traveling anywhere there is sunshine.

Question 3

Abigail Arons, MPH | Guide I

Accepted Answer

Abigail is a public health researcher whose work focuses on health equity and access to care for marginalized communities. For more than 20 years, she has enjoyed working at the intersection of public health, social services, and community engagement – not only to generate strong evidence for policy change, but also to make a real difference in people’s lives. As a multiple cancer survivor and patient advocate, she has also learned how to navigate medical systems from the inside out.

Abigail has a Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History from Yale University. She loves to bake sourdough bread, sing Slavic folk music, and write poetry. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and cat.

Question 4

Ellie Chadwick, MBA, CPC | Director of Navigation Operations

Accepted Answer

Ellie Peck Chadwick is a seasoned marketing & operations manager with 15+ years of experience in creative advertising agencies, working with a range of global brands, startups, and non-profits, and across functional areas; from brand management, to business operations, strategy and product development. She is passionate about supporting and growing community, social justice, and people-driven organizations.

Ellie holds an MBA from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and a Bachelor's degree in Economics & Business from The Colorado College. She enjoys travel near and far, any kind of pickle, portmanteaus and Mario games. Ellie lives in Tacoma, WA, with her husband and young sons.

Question 5

Vanessa Laughlin, MBA | Principal & Founder

Accepted Answer

Through the founding of Banister Advisors, LLC, Vanessa's passion for client services has met the opportunity to ease the complex emotional and logistical burdens that individuals and families confront in the face of critical circumstances across their lifespan.
 
The concept for Banister Advisors was inspired in large part by the 2016 death of the founder's father-in-law, Jay Banister Laughlin, MSW, after an unexpected health crisis.  The memory of Jay’s sacrifice and dedication to serving his family and community as a social worker, mediator, and therapist, serves as the foundation for Banister’s mission.
​​
Vanessa’s nearly 20-year professional background spans strategy development, implementation planning, business process improvement, product marketing, technology implementations, organizational design, and change management. She holds an MBA with distinction from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington and a BA in Economics from Tufts University.  Vanessa is a proud member of the 2015 Class of Leadership Tomorrow Seattle and was honored in 2019 by The Puget Sound Business Journal as a 40 Under 40 Finalist. A native of Whidbey Island, WA, she now lives in Seattle with her husband, two young sons.

Jenny Adamo, MSW, BCPA, ACP
NAVIGATOR

Explore Our Directory

Jenny Adamo, MSW, ACP, BCPA | Navigator

Sara Blackmur, MSW, LICSW | Navigator

Abigail Arons, MPH | Guide I

Ellie Chadwick, MBA, CPC | Director of Navigation Operations

Vanessa Laughlin, MBA | Principal & Founder

Banister's Core Team Members

Alisha Amland, MSW, LICSW | Palliative Care Consultant

Ali McManus, MA, M.Ed, BCBA | Behavioral Health Consultant

Amy Astle-Raaen, MSW | Caregiving Consultant

Anne Granderson | Parent Coach

Dr. Robin Ballard, PhD | Pediatric Psychology Consultant

Christi Stoll | Guide I

Cindi Gatton | BCPA

Kayleigh Martin, MA, NBC-HWC, E-RYT | Somatic Life Coach & Mindful Yoga Practitioner

Maureen Kures, Oncology & ICU Nurse (ret.) | Skilled Healthcare Companion

Megan Rigler, M.Ed, BCBA | Behavioral Health Consultant

Molly Tallon, BA, CBE | Perinatal Health & Early Childhood Specialist

Nicole Broadhurst | Healthcare Finance Specialist

Alison Behnke, MA in Teaching | Training Program Manager

Anna Gehriger, JD | General Counsel & IDI® Qualified Administrator

Colleen Robertson | Marketing & Business Development

Mariela Torres | Special Projects

Banister's Community Collaborators

Careers and Professional Partnerships

Banister Advisors, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal treatment of all applicants and employees without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability or other basis protected by law.

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©2018 - 2026 BANISTER ADVISORS, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Serving clients in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Banister Advisors is headquartered at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion.
1204 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98015

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Jenny Adamo, MSW, BCPA, ACP NAVIGATOR

Explore Our Directory

Jenny Adamo, MSW, ACP, BCPA | Navigator

Sara Blackmur, MSW, LICSW | Navigator

Abigail Arons, MPH | Guide I

Ellie Chadwick, MBA, CPC | Director of Navigation Operations

Vanessa Laughlin, MBA | Principal & Founder

Banister's Core Team Members

Alisha Amland, MSW, LICSW | Palliative Care Consultant

Ali McManus, MA, M.Ed, BCBA | Behavioral Health Consultant

Amy Astle-Raaen, MSW | Caregiving Consultant

Anne Granderson | Parent Coach

Dr. Robin Ballard, PhD | Pediatric Psychology Consultant

Christi Stoll | Guide I

Cindi Gatton | BCPA

Kayleigh Martin, MA, NBC-HWC, E-RYT | Somatic Life Coach & Mindful Yoga Practitioner

Maureen Kures, Oncology & ICU Nurse (ret.) | Skilled Healthcare Companion

Megan Rigler, M.Ed, BCBA | Behavioral Health Consultant

Molly Tallon, BA, CBE | Perinatal Health & Early Childhood Specialist

Nicole Broadhurst | Healthcare Finance Specialist

Alison Behnke, MA in Teaching | Training Program Manager

Anna Gehriger, JD | General Counsel & IDI® Qualified Administrator

Colleen Robertson | Marketing & Business Development

Mariela Torres | Special Projects

Banister's Community Collaborators

Careers and Professional Partnerships

Banister Advisors, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to equal treatment of all applicants and employees without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, physical or mental disability or other basis protected by law.

Menu

Let's stay in touch

For general inquiries

Email:

Call:

Join our mailing list

Find us online

©2018 - 2026 BANISTER ADVISORS, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Serving clients in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Banister Advisors is headquartered at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion. 1204 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98015

Privacy Notice Payment Terms Refund Policy

Fill out:

Jenny Adamo, MSW, BCPA, ACP
NAVIGATOR

©2018 - 2026 BANISTER ADVISORS, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Serving clients in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Banister Advisors is headquartered at the historic Stimson-Green Mansion.
1204 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA 98015

Privacy Notice
Payment Terms
Refund Policy