David Kidd

About David Kidd

I build leaders, teams, and systems that actually hold up under pressure.Veteran. Founder. Operator. Builder of health-first leadership and human sustainability, not buzzwords, not theater.If leadership isn’t improving human outcomes, it’s broken. I fix broken systems.I’m a veteran, operator, and founder who got tired of watching bad leadership quietly damage good people, strong teams, and otherwise healthy organizations. I’ve seen what disciplined leadership can accomplish, and I’ve seen what happens when ego, control, and short-term thinking run the show.So, I stopped complaining and started building.That decision led to two veteran-led ventures:Curated Leadership Wisdom (CLW)A leadership development platform focused on health-first leadership, practical skill-building, and human sustainability. CLW exists to raise the standard for how leaders are selected, developed, and held accountable, not with buzzwords, but with real tools, behavioral change, and operational clarity.Outside Activities (OA)An outdoor wellness and leadership company designed to reconnect people with movement, nature, and purpose. OA uses immersive experiences and veteran-led facilitation to strengthen mental health, resilience, and long-term performance, because healthy humans build better organizations.The connective tissue across everything I build is simple:Raise the Bar & Burn the Bullshit.If leadership isn’t improving human outcomes, it’s just theater.Service matters to me, not as branding, but as practice. I show up in different ways: mentoring youth as a Scout leader, being a lunch buddy and advocate for kids who need one, and serving on a nonprofit board to help strengthen governance, sustainability, and mission impact at scale.My background spans enterprise technology leadership, operational transformation, governance, and team development across public, nonprofit, and private environments. I’m most energized working with people who value integrity, accountability, clear thinking, and long-term stewardship over shortcuts and optics.If you’re building something meaningful, healthier organizations, stronger leaders, resilient communities, or systems that actually scale, we’ll probably have a productive conversation.If you’re chasing titles, optics, or quick wins at the expense of people… we probably won’t.Either way, clarity saves everyone time.

Experience

1. Chief Expedition Officer

   Outside Activities

   May 2021 — Present · Snohomish, WA, US

   Founded and lead Outside Activities (OA), a veteran-owned, tech-enabled wellness benefits company reconnecting people with nature, and themselves. OA partners with forward-thinking employers to provide affordable, inclusive outdoor access and holistic wellness programs that strengthen physical, mental, and emotional well-being across entire households.Key Achievements & Impact- Developed and launched a digital membership platform delivering outdoor access, guided adventures, and wellness benefits through an integrated booking and tracking system- Built and scaled a national network of veteran guides, outdoor specialists, and certified wellness practitioners serving multiple states- Designed and lead themed wellness retreats, including Leadership & Resilience, Marriage Strengthening, and Cancer Survivor Recovery programs, each combining veteran leadership with certified health and mindfulness professionals- Created corporate wellness and neurodiversity programs that help employers improve culture, reduce burnout, and foster psychological safety- Directed platform architecture, vendor management, and IT operations, ensuring reliable service delivery and secure member data handling- Launched OA Conservation, a forthcoming nonprofit arm focused on campground restoration, veteran employment, and outdoor education.

Education

• Mt. Hood Community College

  Associate of Science (A.S.), Biology, General

  1994 — 1996

• Colorado Technical University

  Master's Degree, MS - IT Management/Project Mgmt

  2013 — 2015

• Colorado Technical University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Information Technology - Network Management

  2011 — 2013

• Portland State University

  Bachelor of Science (BS) - Incomplete, Pre-Medicine/Human Genetics

  1996 — 1999

• Central Washington University

  Vocational Teaching Cert, Education

  2001 — 2003

Skills

• Team Leadership
• Windows 7
• Powershell
• Requirements Analysis
• Cloud Computing
• Business Analysis
• Active Directory
• Windows Server
• Operations Management
• Vbscript
• Microsoft Exchange
• Dns
• Integration
• Data Center
• Sharepoint
• Training
• Networking
• Professional Services
• Iot
• Project Management
• Customer Service
• Management
• Microsoft Sql Server
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• U.s. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Hipaa)
• Windows
• Vendor Management
• Inventory Management
• IT Strategy
• Enterprise Software
• Healthcare Information Technology (Hit)
• Infrastructure
• Technical Training
• IT Operations Management
• Leadership
• Strategic Planning
• Network Security
• System Administration
• Analytical Skills
• Strategic Partnerships