Focusing on the Big Picture

While Keeping the Details in Mind

Expert Consulting

FFT provides a myriad of tailored, expert consulting options for organizations and communities, specializing in the areas of suicide prevention and mental health and wellness.

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Tools & Resources

‍FFT Consulting offers a variety of tools and resources to help achieve your goals including a blend of standardized and customizable workshops for coalition development, organizational change, strategic planning and suicide prevention skills development for a given workforce or communities.

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Strategic Planning

The key to success for most initiatives includes having an agreed upon plan to help guide the way to achieving your goals. Whether it be coalition development or other services available through FFT Consulting it is crucial to have a strategic plan or other structured roadmap to guide the work.

Whatever the services may be, the consulting always begins with establishing a solid working relationship by listening to you the customer. At FFT we want to learn about your community or organization’s history and the people involved before we begin to map out a path to help you achieve your specific goals. Trust and the establishment of a safe and respectful environment are crucial to helping you realize success.

FT Consulting relies on proven strategies and best practices to help you meet your goals.

Not sure exactly what you are hoping to achieve or are you wrestling with too many competing objectives?

FFT specializes in helping our customers maintain a ‘big picture’ focus while maintaining a focus on the important details that help to achieve quality outcomes for your community and the people you serve. 

FFT consulting will work with you to home in on a focus while maintaining that big picture perspective.

About Forest From the Trees Consulting

FFT Consulting was formed by Garra Lloyd-Lester. Mr. Lloyd-Lester offers 40 years of project management experience, program leadership and relationship building.

Past performance and expertise include

  • Experience supporting public agencies, health and human service organizations, Tribal partners, and community coalitions in developing coordinated, measurable, and sustainable suicide prevention initiatives.

  • Provide Subject Matter Expertise (SME) to SAMHSA/VA's Service Member, Veteran and Family projects for Lethal Means and Firearm Safety AND Suicide Postvention initiatives.

  • Strategic planning, coalition building, suicide prevention, postvention and traumatic grief and loss

FFT Consulting is grounded in the importance of establishing relationships as the cornerstone of their work. It is those relationships anchored by creating a safe and mutually respectful environment that allow you the customer to work toward accomplishing your vision and goals. FFT Consulting brings a passion and compassion for working with people, organizations and systems.

Beside managing FFT Consulting, Mr. Lloyd-Lester relishes spending time with his partner, two adult children and fur babies. He is a firm believer in the importance of engaging in activities that help to replenish and rejuvenate the soul and when he is not working enjoys spending time listening to an eclectic mix of music, kayaking, hiking and other outdoor activities. He is also known to be a frequenter of haberdasheries and collector of whimsical and silly socks.

  • “I’ve known Garra for more than 15 years, and he’s my go-to person for this kind of work. He understands how to build suicide prevention coalitions from the ground up, from shaping mission statements and vision to creating strong, realistic strategic plans. His approach is grounded in best and evidence-based practices, but he also stays open to new ideas and emerging trends. What really sets him apart is how well he sees and builds on community strengths and helps groups find the right partners to move their work forward. On top of all that, he’s an excellent mentor, trainer, and facilitator who makes people feel supported and capable. I recommend him without hesitation.”

    —Victoria Eckert, MSSA, LMSW 

  • "Garra did a great job explaining the concepts, asking questions and engaging the group. I appreciated his willingness to share his personal experience related to suicide. Highly recommend!" "Very engaging. Vocabulary was phenomenal. I felt important during this conversation and training"

    ASIST workshop participant

  • 2025 California Environmental Health Association Evaluation remarks from keynote presentation

    “Garra provided a valuable perspective on trauma and resilience, as well as tools to develop and protect mental health. I would recommend this speaker again. It would be wonderful for him to write the book ‘Learned Resilience”

  • Jill McMahon, LPC LOSS Team National Trainer Grief and Trauma Specialization

    Garra has been a pivotal force in advancing suicide postvention across New York. Over the years, I’ve seen his dedication, insight, and operational expertise in action. His strategic guidance and meticulous approach to program development have not only strengthened program initiatives but have allowed me to focus fully on my role, confident that every detail is handled with precision. Garra’s work doesn’t just support programs—it drives meaningful, lasting impact."

  • "Very engaging. Vocabulary was phenomenal. I felt important during this conversation and training"

    safeTALK participant

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