J. Hood

J. Hood is a strategic executive and organizational development leader specializing in cross-sector collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and mission-driven impact. With over two decades of experience spanning nonprofit leadership, public health initiatives, and business consulting, he brings a unique ability to bridge divides and build consensus among diverse stakeholders to advance complex social challenges.

As a Board Member of Walk the Talk America, J. provides strategic governance and executive oversight, leveraging his deep expertise in firearm safety and suicide prevention to strengthen the organization’s national impact. His tenure includes leading firearm industry partnerships as the Firearms Industry Partnership Coordinator at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, where he spearheaded national efforts to engage firearm retailers and ranges in secure storage initiatives serving military service members, Veterans, and their families. In this capacity, he cultivated trust-based relationships across firearm communities, military installations, and public health agencies, demonstrating exceptional skill in navigating culturally complex environments and facilitating solutions-focused dialogue on lethal means safety.

Previously, as Community Research Assistant at the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at UC Boulder, J. contributed to the evidence-based evaluation of the Colorado Gun Shop Project, a CDC-funded suicide prevention partnership. His work consistently demonstrates cultural humility, stakeholder-driven communication, and the ability to build collaborative frameworks that honor diverse perspectives while advancing public health outcomes.

J.’s executive portfolio extends across multiple sectors. As Regional Director at Manufacturers Edge, he led revenue generation and strategic account management for Colorado’s manufacturing sector, cultivating C-suite relationships and driving measurable operational and financial results. His earlier role as Business Consultant with PostNet International Headquarters, where he scaled operations from 35 to 112 franchise locations nationwide; demonstrated his proficiency in organizational growth, performance management, and inclusive leadership practices.

Throughout his career, J. has championed equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives, designing leadership development programs, workforce strategies, and organizational cultures that prioritize “People before Profit.” As Director of Business Development at Colorado Rural Health Center, he pioneered consensus development and anti-discrimination policies while leading critical access hospital partnerships. His commitment to underserved communities is rooted in years of frontline work as a community organizer and educator implementing evidence-based violence prevention programs for at-risk youth across the Midwest and West Coast.

J. holds a proven track record building cross-sector collaborative relationships with government agencies, community-based organizations, corporate partners, and stakeholder groups. He specializes in facilitation, strategic grantmaking, organizational development, and transition management, consistently delivering sustainable impact through empathetic leadership, data-informed strategy, and long-term stakeholder partnerships.