"Health, hunger and education are not just a matter of charity, but also an issue of justice."

Socio-economic justice has been the mission behind the life's work of Crystal Hadnott -- with both the personal and professional understanding of the economic pressures that exist in our society and systematic differences in the opportunities certain individuals have to achieve optimal health along with its ramifications on the access to healthy, nutritious and culturally appropriate food and the access to affordable resilient housing.

As a seasoned nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience, her ultimate goal is to raise awareness as well as funds to move forward towards social change and create a social impact in her community. She is a results driven leader with proven experience in developing integrated fundraising programs, multi-channel marketing, innovation and donor/volunteer engagement, strategic planning, fundraising and constituent care.

Passionate about fund development and always up to date on trends and new opportunities, Crystal has been recognized for developing cross-functional teams, establishing a sales culture within her teams and creating strategic partnerships to further the mission of the organizations she has worked with. Where a need is identified, she does not wait for someone else to satisfy it. She takes ownership of the situation, assembles the necessary partners, identifies the best solution and implements the necessary strategies. She has the demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, motivate and build cohesive, diverse teams that are results driven, including profitability in entrepreneurial ventures.

Crystal has worked with many nonprofit organizations of all sizes. She is known for chronicling her professional philosophy through her published scholarly articles as well as on advocating her ideology on public stages.

As the former founder of HCA in 2004, a full-service government relations consultancy firm, Crystal is not a stranger to advocacy. As a champion for social equality and equity, she has been a spokesperson for several non-profit organizations, such as the Arthritis Foundation, the American Heart Association, the Bread of Life, and many more. As a spokesperson, she yields her government relations and fund development experience to raise both awareness and dollars to support the mission of these organizations.

Her motto: "Health, hunger and education is not just a matter of charity but also an issue of justice."

She currently serves as a board member of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, where she plays an active role with the Development & Communications Committee. 

She is a member of the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations (NANOE) earning her Certified Development Executive (CDE) credentials as well as the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) obtaining her Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credentials.

Crystal is proud alumna of the University of Houston, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. She is also a graduate of Texas Southern University, where she received her Masters of Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Administration of Justice.

Crystal Hadnott became a student of nutrition after a medical crisis in her 20s and being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. After conducting many hours of research on the healing properties of food, she became passionate about studying nutrition, which lead to her receiving several certifications and publishing numerous scholarly articles. Crystal has comprehensively studied over 100 dietary theories, the science behind food as well as innovative methods in integrative wellness which have become the foundation her professional principles and practice.

She is an advocate of personal health and wellness. As an authority in the wellness industry, Crystal has written several e-books on various wellness topics. She will be releasing her highly anticipated book, Marathon Mindset: Nourishing Principles Beyond the Plate in the near future.