The Hamilton Hood Foundation is governed by an Advisory Board that fully embraces our mission and offers invaluable guidance and leadership to the organization.
Yamona Pierce
President and Founder
Yamona Pierce is an experienced nonprofit executive who is actively involved in charitable service organizations and their boards. She has a special interest in gathering, documenting, and safeguarding historical and cultural information and sites. Furthermore, she is a passionate advocate for promoting health awareness and genealogy studies in minority and underrepresented communities, with a specific focus on addressing health disparities.
Alisa Bailey
Treasurer
With a wealth of accounting experience spanning multiple industries including finance, mortgage, and non-profit organizations, Alisa Bailey brings a depth of knowledge to her role. However, it is her unwavering dedication to preserving forgotten historical sacred spaces that truly sets her apart. Alisa is deeply honored to support and serve in this noble endeavor. Furthermore, she possesses a genuine passion for helping others and making a positive impact in her community.
Hannah Pierce
Secretary
Hannah Pierce, a talented harpist, is currently pursuing her college education. She is dedicated to preserving sacred spaces and believes that by doing so, we can shed light on our shared history. Through her work, she aims to foster meaningful dialogue and become a cultural steward, ensuring a bright future for our heritage.
Lt. Col. Joseph Pierce, Retired
Advisory Board Member
Joseph Pierce’s professional career extends over 25 years of planning, leadership, and organizational development in the military and private sectors. Leveraging his experience in solving complex problems, analyzing systems and workflows, and leading change, Joseph founded Centurion Project Management, a management consulting firm. Prior to Centurion, Joseph served in a variety of leadership, management, and training positions. He led program portfolios from $10K to $1.5B for the United States Army’s Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning, Georgia, the United States Department of State, and for the Global Response Force at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Joseph is a Service-Disabled Veteran and after over 20 years of service in the US Army, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.
Melissa Smiley, Esq.
Advisory Board Member
Melissa Smiley serves as a Chief Assistant City Attorney for the City of Birmingham, Alabama where she leads the Transactions Division. Her professional experience in support of the redevelopment of Birmingham, including a collaboration with the National Park Service for the preservation of a national monument in the heart of the Civil Rights District, follows her lifelong interest in untold stories of people and places. She counts it a privilege to honor previously overlooked history, drawing connections from experiences.
Dr. Linette L. Leslie-Fondon
Advisory Board Member
With more than 20 years of experience in both public and private sectors, Dr. Linette L. Leslie-Fondon is a highly skilled counseling psychologist. Throughout her extensive career, she has had the privilege of working with clients of all ages, utilizing her expertise to help them find a better path forward. She is deeply passionate about the organization’s mission to educate and inspire others in the preservation of culturally significant spaces.
Mark T. Brown
Advisory Board Member
Mark T. Brown has established a prosperous career as a financial contractor at the US Patent and Trademark Office, demonstrating an outstanding record of accomplishments. Furthermore, he possesses invaluable expertise in real estate, labor union retirement, and management. His main concentration within the organization centers around community engagement and spearheading impactful transformations.
