Words by Linley Allred | Images by Al Blanton

Brian Hood often tells his children: “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” 

He lives by this mantra. 

Throughout his life, people have believed in him, mentored him, and led him to where he is today: the first non-family member to serve as President of the Birmingham jewelry company, Bromberg’s.

Brian grew up in the Redmill community in Jasper, Alabama, with two loving parents, Clyde and Joan Hood. His father worked as a coal miner for Drummond Company, and his mother served as the church secretary.

“I was raised in a loving Christian home, and my siblings and I were blessed with our parents. My sister, Dana, tried her best to help raise my brother, Sam, and me. We were a handful, but she survived and remains one of my closest and favorite people,” Brian laughs.

Sports filled much of Brian’s free time. “Growing up, I played baseball and basketball, and some of my favorite memories involve pickup games at Victory Christian Academy or wherever we could find,” Brian says. “I played basketball almost every day, and I am sure Billy Wade, Bryan Sims, and Donnie and Danny Woodard remember some epic games from back then.” 

Music was just as important. Another favorite memory was listening to his dad, mom, and sister sing, as well as traveling to different churches to hear the gospel quartet his dad sang with called The Gospel Inspirations. 

“I miss those days,” Brian reflects. 

After starting school in the Redmill community, Brian attended Victory Christian Academy and later graduated from Curry High School. He then had a brief stint at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham, but at 19 he wasn’t sure where his career path would lead.

The answer began in retail. “I began working for Foot Locker in the Jasper Mall in 1990. As my career advanced, I moved to Birmingham, where my jewelry career started in 1993 as a sales associate for Lorch’s Diamond Center,” he says. “I then worked for Friedman’s Jewelers managing locations in Cullman and Birmingham. When I decided to return to college, I worked as a sales associate for Whitehall Jewelers and eventually Bailey, Banks, and Biddle.”

That decision led Brian to UAB, where he graduated with a degree in Industrial Distribution. He then left retail for outside sales at a start-up business, but the work wasn’t a fit. “I did not enjoy the traveling and cold calling that was necessary there,” says Brian.

So, he changed course again and enrolled at the Birmingham School of Law. He graduated in 2005 and passed the Alabama State Bar in February 2006, all while working full-time. He says his legal training comes into play regularly in his role today.

“After passing the bar exam, I opened my own practice as an attorney. While building my legal practice, I began working for Bromberg’s 2–3 days a week after a good friend offered me a position. Taking that part-time role at Bromberg’s proved to be one of the best career decisions I ever made,” he says.

Brian started at Bromberg’s in May 2007, and in 2008 the company offered him the chance to manage one of its stores. As his career advanced, he took on watch and diamond buying. In 2014, he became Vice President, putting him in charge of day-to-day operations. The next—and most recent—step came under difficult circumstances. 

“Unfortunately, my transition into becoming the President followed the unexpected passing of my boss, colleague, friend, and mentor, Ricky Bromberg,” he explains. 

Bromberg’s is a seventh-generation family-owned business. Founded in 1836 in Mobile, Alabama, it is the oldest business of any kind in Alabama and the oldest family-owned jeweler in America. The store carries exceptional jewelry, watches, and gifts at every price point, and offers a welcoming environment for any shopper. 

Current plans for the store include a generational remodel of the Mountain Brook location, which, Brian says, will significantly enhance customer experience and support future growth. “We strive to improve every day through training and product selection. My team is friendly, dedicated, and hardworking; we hold ourselves to high standards and do everything possible to take care of our customers,” he says. 

Away from work, Brian spends his time with his wife, Jade, a surgical nurse at the VA hospital. 

“She is a wonderful wife, mother, and partner,” Brian says. “We have three boys: Maddox (17), Lawson (5), and Marlin (3). So, our house is busy!”

He loves playing golf (even though he says he is not very good at it) and the family are members at Musgrove Country Club in Jasper, where they often return when visiting their place on Smith Lake. 

Brian has a passion for watches and has collected a few over the years, along with coins. He credits his dad’s silver dollar collection from his childhood for sparking that interest.

Whether it’s the fine jewelry business or the simple days on the lake, Brian remains thankful to all who helped him along the way. Now, as president of Bromberg’s, he also understands the undertaking that is ahead of him. 

“Bromberg’s has been run well for generations, and it is now my responsibility to continue our legacy and lead us forward,” Brian says. 78