Niceville Good Neighbor of the Month: Dr. Kristi Cabiao

In Brief:

• Kristi Cabiao has been recognized for her role in launching the NWF EDEN Expo, which connects exceptional needs families to essential resources.

• The expo serves military and civilian families, addressing the needs of the 2,000 active-duty exceptional needs families in the region.

• Plans are already in motion for the 2026 event, aiming to expand support for the exceptional needs community in Northwest Florida.

The Ryan Cabaniss State Farm Agency is proud to announce Dr. Kristi Cabiao as its Niceville Good Neighbor of the Month!

As the co-founder of Mission Alpha Advocacy (MAA), The Ryan Cabaniss State Farm Agency named her this month’s winner for her efforts in organizing the Northwest Florida (NWF) Expo for Disabilities and Exceptional Needs (EDEN).

Cabiao, a former family medicine doctor, launched the event to connect the disability and exceptional needs community with local nonprofits, small businesses, and national companies offering services and innovative products.

Cabiao and her family moved to Niceville in July 2023 following her husband’s retirement from the Air Force. They have three children, and her oldest son’s autism diagnosis drove her decision to leave clinical practice in 2018.

Drawing from her medical experience, she co-founded MAA in 2021 to advocate for quality healthcare services for military families with children who have exceptional needs.

The inaugural NWF EDEN Expo was launched to support the estimated 2,000 active-duty families with exceptional needs stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Duke Field, and NAS Whiting Field. The region also has a significant retired military population, along with one of the highest military-affiliated student populations in Florida within the Okaloosa County School District.

Cabiao and her team are already preparing for the 2026 NWF EDEN Expo, with plans to expand the event and bring additional resources to families in the area.

The recognition of her work highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen connections between the military exceptional needs community and their civilian counterparts.

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