Missy Garzona, CNA

Missy Garzona’s journey into healthcare is a powerful testament to resilience, purpose, and the transformative impact of community partnerships. For nearly a decade, she dedicated herself to caring for her mother, stepping away from the workforce to provide full-time support. After her mother’s passing, Missy faced both profound grief and uncertainty about her future. Determined to move forward, she enrolled in Certified Nursing Assistant training through CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia and Dwyer Workforce Development, where she received critical support as a Dwyer Scholar, including tuition assistance, transportation, and wraparound services that made her transition back into the workforce possible.

Today, Missy serves as a Certified Nursing Assistant at John Knox Village of Central Florida, where her role is as dynamic as it is impactful. Known as a “Universal” CNA, she provides care across multiple settings, including Alzheimer’s and dementia units, assisted living facilities, private residences, and rehabilitation environments. Her work changes daily, allowing her to meet residents where they are and support them through a wide range of needs. Drawing from her deeply personal caregiving experience, Missy brings empathy, adaptability, and dedication to every interaction, helping residents regain independence, dignity, and confidence.

In just one year, Missy has already made a remarkable impact, including helping a resident progress from wheelchair use to walking independently with a cane in under three months. With an academic background that includes an associate degree in billing and coding and a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, she has found her true calling in hands-on patient care. Inspired by the lessons she learned through hospice care while supporting her mother, Missy is driven by a commitment to excellence and compassion. Her story highlights the untapped potential of family caregivers and demonstrates how, with the right support systems, life experience can evolve into a meaningful and rewarding career.

• CNA Certification from Bethune
• Everest University-South Orlando - Bachelor of Science (BS), Health/Health Care Administration/Management
• Everest University-South Orlando - Associate of Science (AS), Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder

• CNA (won scholarship from Career Source)

• Free CNA scholarship from Career Source

I wrote an article that went pretty much worldwide about my whole story of taking care of my mom and becoming a CNA. It was published March 2nd, 2026 in Florida Today newspaper. It's on CareerSource's website and on LinkedIn. The article talks about how hospice taught me everything when I was taking care of my mom, and it talks about the first man that I got from the wheelchair to a walker to a cane, and he got his car back in under 3 months. My story is short and sweet to the point.