Meet the Team

Founder Tracy Steele is a connector, strategist, and longtime Marine Corps spouse who builds community with intention and action. She began her career as a registered nurse and, after nine military moves, experienced firsthand how quickly a spouse’s professional identity can be disrupted. Rather than stepping back, she leaned into leadership through high-impact volunteer roles, building skills, confidence, and a deep belief in the power of connection, contribution, and community.

That experience led Tracy into workforce development, where she has helped hundreds of military spouses secure meaningful employment and reconnect with their professional purpose. A Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), she has led career readiness programs, employer partnerships, and community initiatives that open doors not only to jobs, but to stability and belonging.

The ability to access meaningful work and feel rooted in a community ultimately shaped her family’s decision to retire in San Diego, a place that finally felt like home. That journey is the foundation of Community Cultivator. Tracy’s mission is to help other military spouses build the same sense of confidence, connection, and opportunity so staying is not just possible, but sustainable. A proud Padres season ticket holder, she brings that same hometown pride and community spirit into everything she builds..