Prior to joining Stonewall Columbus in January 2024, CJ (He/ Him/ His) worked in the human resources and social work field, supporting local non-profit organizational infrastructure and clinical-based interventions for the Columbus, Ohio area. CJ also served 6 years in the Ohio Army National Guard and received the Donald R. Hallman LGBTQ+ Recognition Award in 2023, from Stonewall Columbus. During his previous role as a Sr. Talent Acquisition Partner and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Co-Chair, he had the ability to partner with several departments and external stakeholders to implement new human resource and diversity, equity, and inclusive strategies. Additionally, CJ assisted in maintaining a minority-focused employee resource group platform, that gave employees a safe space to bring ideas, concerns, and solutions to the table.
CJ was born in Nashville, Tennessee but soon moved to Marion, Ohio, where he then transitioned to Columbus, Ohio in 2013, to pursue higher education at The Ohio State University. CJ has a passion for education and research which allowed him to complete his bachelor’s degree in Social Work with an emphasis on Youth and Families in 2018, Masters’s degree in Social Work in 2022, and is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Social Work with an emphasis in Impact Leadership in Social Work Administration, with a tentative graduation date in early 2025, through Walden University. CJ‘s drive for the LGBTQ+/ Queer community stems from his ongoing research to further societal understanding between the coming out process and social identity when creating safe spaces and affirming care for LGBTQ+/ Queer veterans.
CJ finds that his new opportunity as the Director of Business Development will allow for further growth and implementation of standard operating procedures, while also taking a trauma-informed approach toward employee satisfaction. He is also very excited to meet and connect with community members to support change and create intentional processes to bridge the gap and overcome barriers for the LGBTQ+ / Queer community. CJ loves to travel in and out of the country, but on a normal day outside of work, you can find him spending time with his partner and their two fur babies Murphy (Labradoodle) and Odin (Bernedoodle).
