Meet Jennings Hester | Founder & Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennings Hester and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennings, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The nonprofit is a direct reflection of my personal struggles with mental illness. Every component of our programming comes from my own life experience and wanting to help men avoid the decade plus of suffering I endured due to a lack of awareness and resources to address my challenges with Depression and Anxiety.

I’m the typical story of a man struggling with mental health in the US. On average, it takes men over a decade from experiencing symptoms to seek help. Like most men, I was basically dragged to get help by those closest to me when I hit rock bottom. That decade of severe symptoms and pain can be avoided, and that’s a big goal of the organization.

We run targeted digital campaigns to raise awareness and direct men to resources. We target outdoorsman and the men who would typically be resistant to the topic through fly fishing. Although mental health is becoming a more common topic, it is still extremely taboo and goes against everything men are taught their entire lives.

We’ve developed a host of community programs including weekend retreats, closed men’s groups, open men’s groups and tying nights. Once my football career ended, so did my sense of community. That had a significant impact on my symptoms worsening. There are very few ways for men to get involved in a positive, supportive community after college.

Our scholarship fund ensures all of our programs and access to professional counseling are available. I was in a situation where I had to choose between mental health services and accumulating debt. We don’t want any man to ever be in that terribly stressful scenario. For men who can’t afford our programs or therapy, we have applications for them to receive those services through our scholarship funds.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m extremely proud that we have been able to grow the organization and reach as many men as we have while working a full time job. I’m a Sales Director for the largest sports technology company in the world, Catapult Sports.

I played college football at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban, got my Master’s of Sport Management and have stayed in the field every since graduating back in 2011. My playing days ended due to injury and the services I sell help to reduce the risk of injury for players, so it’s a very meaningful service to me.

I sell to FBS Football programs, including my alma matter. I sell the GPS devices players wear during training, practice and games that tracks every metric one can imagine. I also sell coaching video software that coaches and players use to review film, run meetings, scout opponents and recruits and create game plans.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Hopefully it’d be a Summer trip, so I’ll go with that theme. I’d definitely make sure that the trip overlaps with a good Red Rocks show and comedian at Comedy Works. I’m a music junkie so I’d love to get them to a night at Mission Ballroom, The Ogden or Bluebird Theatre for another show.

Fly fishing and mountain biking would be on the agenda, so we’d head down to Cheesman Canyon to fish and over to Red Rocks to ride Dakota Ridge and through Red Rocks.

I’d definitely take them to my favorite breweries in town starting with Zuni Street Brewing, Ratio and Little Machine. We’d definitely spend an evening on Tennyson Street to stop by Local 46 and Call to Arms before grabbing some tacos or pizza at Mas Kaos. Barbeque at Post Oak for a lunch is a must have.

A night around LoHi and RiNo would be on the books to see some of the different neighborhoods. In LoHi, we’d go to Zuni Street Brewing, Forest Room 5 and grab dinner at Highland Tap or Duo. In RiNo, we’d go to Ratio, Odell’s or My Mutual Friend and grab dinner at Super Mega Bien or Dio Mio.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of my therapist, Thorwer Starr, or the guidance from Charlie Craven, the owner of Charlie’s Fly Box in Arvada.

Thrower worked with me in my darkest times when I still lived in Atlanta. He has been with me from the day I sent an extremely self loathing email asking for help to the start of the organization and throughout our growth over the past 2+ years. He helped me find self-worth, realize I wasn’t a burden to others and encourage my love of nature as a therapeutic outlet on my road to recovery.

Charlie is the best fly tier and designer in the world and owns one of the largest fly shops in the state. We originally started by raising funds through fly sales. I would tie thousands of flies and we’d donate those proceeds to organization in the community that were supporting men’s mental health. He was integral in our start as an online fly shop. Making referrals on our behalf to become a wholesaler for large fly fishing companies, providing auction items, allowing us to utilize his space for our men’s group and much more.

Website: www.fishingthegoodfight.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fishingthegoodfight/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064770040571

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVw6d0xsZVyBTwG9qezv7ig

Image Credits
All photos are by Bradey Hall.