I was born in the heart of agricultural California in early 1983 to my wonderful parents, Jim and Debbie Wood. My mother was just 17 and my father was 20 when I came into their lives. We started from very humble beginnings—living in a tent at a campground in San Luis Obispo, CA, while my parents worked tirelessly to save up for a house. We moved frequently in my early childhood as my mother pursued a career in the hotel business, taking us from Morro Bay to San Diego, Kauai, and finally to South Lake Tahoe.
Despite the challenges, my parents' dedication to family and hard work left a lasting impression on me. My mother remains a driven and hardworking woman, and my father, despite his struggles, was an incredible fabricator and mechanic. He had a unique talent for understanding and explaining the inner workings of mechanical systems.
At the age of 12, my parents divorced, and I made the decision to live with my grandparents in the quiet town of Tipton, CA—a community of just 1,300 people. My Grandpa Glenn worked as a farm products salesman, and my Grandma Gean drove a school bus. While we never had more than enough, as my grandma would say, their home was filled with love and the values they imparted left an indelible mark on me.
They taught me the essence of hard work, honesty, and the paramount importance of family and community. My grandfather, in particular, became my role model. I strive every day to embody the qualities of integrity and dedication that he exemplified throughout his life. His influence continues to shape who I am and how I approach both personal and professional challenges
At 18, I realized I wanted more out of life than just being complacent in a small town like many of my peers. After talking with my Grandpa Glenn, a Marine Corps veteran, and my mother, I decided to join the United States Navy in the summer of 2001. I arrived at boot camp on September 21, 2001, just days after the September 11th terrorist attacks, which profoundly shaped my experience.
In the Navy, I performed structural and hydraulic repairs on carrier-based aircraft. I served in the Persian Gulf aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, covering both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. When my contract was up, I chose to separate honorably to be with my Grandpa Glenn during his battle with cancer. He passed away in late 2005, and his memory continues to guide me in being a good man.
I worked various jobs in fabrication, welding, and sales before moving to Kansas with my mom to build street rods—a lifelong passion of mine. Later, I returned to California and continued working in street rod fabrication while building my own business. The 2008 housing market crash forced me to start over, leading me to Massachusetts briefly before returning to Kansas.
In Kansas, I quickly advanced to Commercial Parts Manager at Advance Auto Parts. A conversation with friends led me to explore living in Colorado, where I eventually moved and fell in love with the state. I met my now-wife, Mallery, in Fort Collins, and decided to move to Denver to advance my career.
In Denver, I worked with a window company before starting my own fabrication business, turning a $300 investment into a $200,000-a-year company by the third year. While I loved the work I was doing and the customers I served, I felt a strong calling towards plant based medicines so I transitioned to the industrial hemp industry, planting my first acre in 2018. I built our extraction system and grew the business to generate $1.4 million in revenue in our first year.
We expanded into California, forming a joint venture and building the largest hydrocarbon extraction facility in the state. Eventually, we sold our ownership and returned to Colorado, where we formed Integrated Consulting Partners. My wife, Mallery, handles sales and use tax consulting, while I manage one of the largest processing companies in the country.
Today, my family and I are settled back at our ranch in Colorado. We plan to expand into the cattle industry and promote sustainable agriculture while continuing to manage our successful business ventures. I am committed to leveraging my diverse experiences and deep understanding of hard work to serve our community as the representative for the 5th District on the Adams County Commission. Together, we can ensure our district gets the attention and support it deserves.
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