Our Leaders

Jon D. Ponder is the founder and CEO of HOPE for Prisoners, Incorporated. As CEO, Mr. Ponder is responsible for all aspects of the programs and services, provided by HOPE for Prisoners, including overseeing a comprehensive array of programs designed to assist individuals within the judicial system to successfully reintegrate into mainstream society. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategic planning for the organization, and he is extremely passionate about the value of mentoring for persons coming out of correctional settings. He routinely collaborates with board members, other community organizations, churches, and federal and state governmental agencies, with a focus on collaborative and synergistic approaches. Mr. Ponder is himself, an ex-offender with more than ten years experience in providing training for offender populations in correctional settings. His personal life experiences uniquely equip him to provide the guidance, direction and motivation for individuals attempting to reintegrate into society following incarceration.