Iva was born in Carson City, Nevada, but spent her formative years in Clovis, California. She is the youngest of seven siblings, with four older brothers who are all martial arts instructors, three half brothers, and two half sisters. Iva is a proud mother of one daughter.
At the age of 24, Iva was a dedicated EMT, working on ambulances and in emergency rooms in Los Angeles and Fresno, California. This was a pivotal moment in her life, as it laid the foundation for her future career in the entertainment industry.
With over 28 years of acting experience, Iva has had the privilege of being accepted into the prestigious Sal Dano Actor's Workshop, taught by the legendary Sal Dano. She has also trained with the Groundlings and has honed her craft through various techniques for over 14 years.
Throughout her illustrious career, Iva has appeared in over 25 independent feature films and has made guest appearances and recurred on several TV shows, including "Blood Relatives", NBC's "Las Vegas" alongside James Caan, FOX's Sci-Fi series "Space Above and Beyond", and "Tim and Eric's Awesome Show, Great Job".
As a writer, Iva has penned a one-hour dramatic television series titled "Under Surveillance", which was inspired by her eight-year battle with a stalker. Her stalking case was also featured on Discovery's show "Stalker", InTouch magazine, and several other media outlets.
In addition to her writing, Iva has collaborated with her writing partners, Matthew Singer and David Garin George, to create an action-adventure-comedy titled "All the Best Field Trips", which is expected to go into pre-production in 2016.
Iva is also working on a documentary about the Khmelnitsky massacre, a devastating event that occurred between 1648-1656 in the Ukraine, where tens of thousands of Jews were brutally massacred. This tragic event is considered one of the most traumatic events in Jewish history prior to the Holocaust.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Iva is deeply committed to animal rescue and several charitable organizations. In 2008, she was one of the top fundraisers for the City of Hope's Underwear Affair, a campaign aimed at finding a cure for all cancers below the waist.
Iva is also a dedicated advocate for victims' rights and has worked tirelessly to help change legislation and protect victims of violent crimes. She is a member of the Board of Directors for "Jodi's Voice", an anti-stalking organization, and has collaborated with several victims' rights advocates to restructure the victims' notification system and ensure the protection of victims and their families not only in California but also nationwide.
In addition to her advocacy work, Iva is also a member of the Board of Directors for the "Los Angeles Women's International Film Festival", overseeing all documentary films. Furthermore, she is the Co-Founder of "Squrrul Gurl Productions", a production company dedicated to creating impactful and thought-provoking content.
