Fatherlessness impacts every area of a person's life. Kent Ballard, Jr., a seasoned educator with more than 17 years of experience in various sectors, especially the industry of education. He has been recognized for demonstrating a natural aptitude for promoting student achievement and growth.

He has a specific passion to see young men striving for their absolute best, especially young men who have been physically or emotionally abandoned by their fathers.

His professional focal points include student evaluation, professional development, marketing, curriculum development, program development, complex problem-solving, and project management.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Education with a Specialization in Urban and Diverse Learners. He currently is the Workforce Education Specialist for the Chamber Foundation, a 501c3 under the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce in Huntsville, Alabama. In this role, He will empower students, faculty, and staff members, and administrators to develop tomorrow's workforce through effective resources and informational insight. Huntsville is growing and he is proud to be a part of the Chamber of Commerce in this season of change.

Kent is a husband of 16 years and a father of three boys, Gabriel, Joseph, and Luke. As a father of boys, Kent takes paternal leadership seriously and is blessed to lead his children to healthy and vibrant futures. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx