Thomas J Woodard
Candidate Bio
Thomas J Woodard
Education
BS, Business Administration (Management), San Diego State University, 1979
SAE (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) fraternity member; served as Social Chairman and President
Freshman and Varsity Crew Team Captain
Held full-time jobs during college
High School
Crescenta Valley High School° Defensive end on the CIF 3A Championship Football team 1973
Student Government Director of Community Relations
Worked 30 hours per week during Senior Year
Languages
English: Native
Spanish: Fluent
Experience
Co-Founder & CEO, Private Nature Preserve on the Sea of Cortez (Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico), 2006–2023
Handled legal permitting, technical issues, litigation resolutions, and staff management (up to 24 employees)
Established local, regional, and national relations in Mexico, receiving help from 2 former Presidents to resolve land title disputes.
Established a Sea Turtle Sanctuary, which has increased successful hatches by more than 12 times original rates
Founder, Floresta USA / Plant With Purpose, 1984*
Founded the organization focused on agroforestry, economic development and rural watershed protection
Raised private and institutional donations through public speaking, media appearances and foundations
International board recruitment, and international incorporation of sister agency
Founder, Los Arbolitos commercial tree nursery. Has produced over 105 million seedlings for reforestation projects in the Dominican Republic
Managed media, press and governmental relations
Surgical Equipment Specialist, Consultant, Allergan Surgical / Advanced Medical Optics, 1992–2005
Covered multiple territories across Midwest/Rocky Mountain, Southern California, and Northern Mexico; consistently exceeded sales quotas (175%+ in 4 of 6 years)
Received multiple awards including Inventors Award, President’s Club (6 times), Crystal Eagle (2 years), and Sales Specialist of the Year (5 times)
Served as bilingual sales trainer for Latin American and Canadian teams, wet lab instructor, national sales meeting speaker, and course organizer (e.g., AAO course in Tijuana)
Managed clinical trials for Sovereign Phacoemulsification System (Canada); quadrupled Canadian sales in one year and authored a phacoemulsification DVD training course
Regional Diagnostic Equipment Specialist, Allergan Humphrey, 1988–1990
Covered 11 states in Midwest/Rocky Mountain region. Placed 3rd of 32 nationally in second year, first in company to be certified in new Surgical Equipment technology.
Regional Sales Representative, Chesebrough-Ponds Hospital Products Division, 1982–1984 (San Diego/Orange Counties)
Regional Rookie of the Year (1982)
President’s Club (1983)
Sales Representative / Sales Manager, America Forklift Company (San Diego), 1979–1981
Sold material handling equipment in San Diego, Imperial Counties, and Mexico
Promoted to Sales Manager after one year; supervised four older sales representatives
Miscellaneous
Raised $67,000,000 in investment capital for clients in amusement rides, used motor oil refining, geothermal power, food processing, and internet services (strategic consultant, San Diego, 1997–2003)
Reorganized sales of $39,000,000 amusement ride company and arbitraged its sale to Dallas-based investment fund
Founder of a successful restaurant, El Chubasco, Park City, Utah
Co-Founder of Air Boingo, a recreational bungee jumping franchiser
Manager of The Freedom Inn, and outreach to heroin addicts in South Mission Beach, California, 1978
Live-in counselor at Survival Three, a group home for juvenile delinquents, Lemon Grove, 1979
Recognitions
State of California Commendation for Bravery
Founders Award, Plant With Purpose, 2024
Member: American MENSA
Personal
Father of four
Currently engaged
Good health
Writer, short stories, articles on current events, poetry
Tournament poker player
Competitive Scrabble player
Burning Man Festival, managed two camps, sponsored a band from Mexico
* www.plantwithpurpose.org