Howie P. Close
Colorado Springs,CO
Summary
Versatile and innovative leader bringing 14 years of experience as accomplished Director, Author, Chaplain, and State and Federal Justice Reform Advocate. With another 20+ years of experience with the Criminal Justice System in Colorado. Strategic problem-solver, change manager and visionary executive with success implementing plans to meet current and future needs. Key expertise in Prison Reform, and Criminal Justice Reform.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
President
Prison Seminaries Foundation Colorado
08.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: We are a 501c3 established to support and maintain the Prison Seminary Program in CO
- We currently have a cohort in their third year of studies with the intention to add a second and third cohort next year
- This requires building relationships with foundations, organizations and individuals for the purposes of ongoing financial support of our program
- We are a 501c3 established to support and maintain the Prison Seminary Program in CO
Published Author
Leading from the Bottom Up (LFTBU)
03.2024 - Current
- Is a culmination of 7+ years of work to develop, empower, and support the Lead Team at AVCF
- Based on this innovative and unique work, we have created two more teams in other prisons here in CO, and we have started to work with two new teams in Florida prisons
Contract Volunteer
Federal Bureau of Prisons
08.2019 - Current
- I have access to every FBOP prison in CO, including the ADX Florence to implement and teach personal growth classes (7 Habits of Highly Effective People), and also to create and implement mentoring curriculum for young individuals who will be released soon
Partner
Global Prison Seminaries Foundation
03.2019 - Current
- We worked diligently to create DOC policy for this program, find a school with an accredited degree program, and funding for the program
Ark Valley Campus Pastor
Woodmen Valley Chapel
06.2018 - Current
- Company Overview: Woodmen created a Church Campus inside the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility
- We have built a team of Resident Leaders that we call our AV Lead Team
- This was an innovative idea at the onset, but quickly became a powerful force for systemic and programmatic change inside the facility
- My team not only runs every facet of our religious programming, but they almost solely oversee all secular programming as well
- My team is responsible for the oversight of the 7 Habits classes, Gang Disengagement program, Lifers Program, Veterans Program, Restoring Promise program, Mental Health Peer Assistants program, Addiction Recovery programs, and much more
- Woodmen created a Church Campus inside the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility
State-Wide Chaplain
CDOC
11.2016 - Current
- In 2011 I was the first offender in CO history to go into prisons as a volunteer while still on parole
- Now, many ex-offenders go into prisons to create positive change
- In 2016 I was asked to be the first CDOC Chaplain, and today am still the only ex-offender in CO history to carry keys to the prisons I grew up incarcerated in
- I currently have access to every state and federal prison in CO, and I carry keys in three state prisons
Committee Member
CDOC
06.2019 - 01.2023
- Worked with Executive Director of the CDOC, Dean Williams, on his Normalization Committee
- During this time our committee was responsible for collecting and analyzing data from incarcerated individuals and line staff within our 22 facilities related to normalization practices and strategies
- We worked for Mr
- Williams’ tenure to implement safe and progressive practices that positively impacted correctional cultures
Pastor/Director of Prison Ministries
Woodmen Valley Chapel
05.2013 - 06.2018
- Continued the work I started with GNG and added in-prison programming
- Built a volunteer team that is now tracked at over 140 people, plus two full time staff
- Woodmen currently has the most unique and influential prison and aftercare program in the state of CO
Contracted Trainer
CDOC
06.2017 - 05.2018
- To train new staff at the Academy Training Center, and visit every prison in the state (22) to train existing staff on the just and fair implementation of DOC policy within the correctional environment
Team Member
CDOC and CO Dept. of Adult Supervision
06.2016 - 08.2016
- Worked with CDOC and CO Dept
- Of Adult Supervision on a multi-discipline strategy team to create and implement new CO policy for using Community Parole Officers inside CO prisons to better facilitate transitioning individuals who will be on parole
Aftercare/Reentry Coordinator
Good News Global
05.2011 - 05.2013
- Worked with Good News Global to create and maintain a state-wide Colorado Aftercare/Reentry program
- Using innovative new approaches, we developed a state-wide network of orgs and agencies to effectively care for justice-involved individuals returning to their communities
- We maintained a 5% recidivism rate with our clients throughout this period
Various positions
Limon or Territorial Correctional Facilities
03.2002 - 03.2011
- Including electronics education and practicum, administrative and program management roles, education assistant as well as consistently aiding with the prison chaplaincy
Electrician/H.V.A.C. Technician
Limon Correctional Facility
02.2001 - 02.2002
- Duties included preventive maintenance and repair of industrial H.V.A.C
- Systems; general electrical duties (ordering parts, bending pipe, wiring, repair of existing systems, repairing high mast lighting, etc.)
Chaplain’s Assistant
Limon Correctional Facility
02.1999 - 02.2001
- Duties included maintaining a small library (checking out books, ordering new books, repairing damaged books), secretarial work for the general functioning of the office, setting up for church services, and volunteer coordination
Electrician/Appliance Repairman
Limon Correctional Facility
05.1992 - 01.1999
- Duties included maintenance and repair of electronic appliances, part research and ordering, billing, sales, and customer service
Electrician Apprentice
Orlando, FL
01.1987 - 01.1990
- Apprenticed under father, James Close Sr., a master electrician
- Duties included industrial and commercial work, pipe bending, wiring, finish work, and large panel work
Education
Associate of Arts - Electronics
Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan, CO06.1994
Associate of Arts - Theological Studies
Christian Bible College And Seminary
Independence, MO10.2004
Master of Arts - Master of Divinity (not Completed Yet)
Reformed International Theological Seminary
Fellsmere, FLSkills
- Leadership Team Building
- Organizational Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Integrity and ethics
- Crisis Management
- Operations Management
- Staff Training
- Strategic Visioning
- Process Improvement
- Innovation and Creativity
- Analytical and Critical Thinker
- Effective Communicator and Public Speaker
Timeline
President
Prison Seminaries Foundation Colorado
08.2024 - Current
Published Author
Leading from the Bottom Up (LFTBU)
03.2024 - Current
Contract Volunteer
Federal Bureau of Prisons
08.2019 - Current
Committee Member
CDOC
06.2019 - 01.2023
Partner
Global Prison Seminaries Foundation
03.2019 - Current
Ark Valley Campus Pastor
Woodmen Valley Chapel
06.2018 - Current
Contracted Trainer
CDOC
06.2017 - 05.2018
State-Wide Chaplain
CDOC
11.2016 - Current
Team Member
CDOC and CO Dept. of Adult Supervision
06.2016 - 08.2016
Pastor/Director of Prison Ministries
Woodmen Valley Chapel
05.2013 - 06.2018
Aftercare/Reentry Coordinator
Good News Global
05.2011 - 05.2013
Various positions
Limon or Territorial Correctional Facilities
03.2002 - 03.2011
Electrician/H.V.A.C. Technician
Limon Correctional Facility
02.2001 - 02.2002
Chaplain’s Assistant
Limon Correctional Facility
02.1999 - 02.2001
Electrician/Appliance Repairman
Limon Correctional Facility
05.1992 - 01.1999
Electrician Apprentice
Orlando, FL
01.1987 - 01.1990
Associate of Arts - Electronics
Morgan Community College
Associate of Arts - Theological Studies
Christian Bible College And Seminary
Master of Arts - Master of Divinity (not Completed Yet)
Reformed International Theological Seminary
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