City Faces in Different Places
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on August 08, 2021 from City Faces
This week's Bridgeport City Face is Vanessa Auvil. Meet her and her family and learn why she loves Bridgeport.
How long have you lived in Bridgeport? If not a lifelong resident, tell me what brought you here.
I fell in love with Bridgeport nearly 28 years ago, when I first moved to the United States but have only lived in Bridgeport for the past 10 years.
Tell me about your family.
My husband Cory and I have been married for 10 years and will be celebrating our wedding anniversary next week. Together we are raising the two most amazing children.
Our daughter, Reena, just graduated from Bridgeport High School, and will be a freshman at West Virginia University this fall. She is pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Nursing, and will be supporting The Mountaineer Marching Band, also known as The Pride of West Virginia, as a member of the WVU Colorguard. Our son, Jedidiah, will be in the First Grade, attending Johnson Elementary School. He loves baseball, and has played both, T-Ball and C-Ball, in the Bridgeport Little League these past two years.
What about pets?
We don't have any pets at the moment. Saying goodbye to our fur babies, Laney, an English Mastiff, and Tessa, a Black Lab, a few years ago, was extremely hard, and we are not ready to experience such heartache again. But perhaps someday, when the time is right, we will have another dog.
Where do you work and what do you do there?
I just celebrated my 5-year work anniversary as a Clinic Manager at United Hospital Center, overseeing four of the Specialty Clinics, as well as their Satellite Offices in Elkins, Grafton and Weston.
Prior to that, being the Marketing & Real Estate Manager at Cambridge Place Office Park and White Oaks Business Park, as well as the Human Resources Manager at Mason Dixon Energy, were some of my favorite roles on my career journey.
What are your hobbies/favorite past times?
I love to travel!
The beach is my “Happy Place,” but I also love learning about various European cultures. I've been to several countries in Europe already, but there are still many more to explore.
Favorite Bridgeport spot?
Deegan & Hinkle Lakes Park holds a special place in my heart.
That is where my hubby proposed, and we have since been back for walks and picnics with the kids.
What do you like about Bridgeport … why is this a good place to live?
I love Bridgeport's small-town atmosphere.
“Light Up Night” and “National Night Out” are two of my favorite events that exhibit just how very family-oriented and close-knit this community is.
One – or more – of your favorite memories of something that took place in Bridgeport ...
Because I'm a mom, my favorite memories involve my kids; from watching my daughter perform on Wayne Jamison field as a member of the BHS Frontline, spinning a flag, rifle, or twirling baton, to watching my son play Little League Baseball at the Rec Complex.
What is your favorite spot outside of Bridgeport?
My hometown in Germany.
What are some of your favorite things?
Aside from making memories with my family and snuggles with my babies, I am obsessed with cold brew coffee (I make my own) and coffee chip ice cream (yep, there's a pattern…). I love early morning walks on the beach, quiet time with God, a good book, my egg chair on 
the back deck, and road trips.
the back deck, and road trips.
Food/restaurant?
There are so many!
But my favorites include steak hoagies from Hobo Junction, steak salad and breadsticks from Oliverio's, sushi from Fusion Steakhouse, and tiramisu parfaits from Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop.
Favorite color?
Black - that's basically what my wardrobe consists of.
Music genre/artist?
My car stereo is always tuned to K-Love, and I love Zach Williams' and Dolly Parton's “There Was Jesus” and Francesca Batistelli's “Free to be Me.”
Favorite holiday?
Although I don't like the cold, Christmas is my most favorite holiday.
I love celebrating the birth of Jesus, decorating (I’m obsessed with flocked Christmas trees), and seeing my babies' eyes light up on Christmas morning.
TV show/movie?
It's not really a TV show (or movie) but the Outlander series is my fave.
I fell in love with Claire and Jamie's journey in the 90's, when I began reading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander novels.
Interesting fact about you and/or something you would like to add…
I speak with an accent, as I was born and raised in Germany. I don't get to visit often enough and miss my family there dearly. I love being involved in the community, and currently serve on the Holly Ball Committee, as well as the Employee Giving Campaign Committee at United Hospital Center.
In the past, I volunteered for eight years at Celebrate Recovery as a Small Group Leader and Training Coach.
