Kenneth L. Hardin
Founder / Executive Board Chairman
U.S. Air Force Veteran
Residence:
Salisbury, North Carolina
Contact Information:
Kenneth is the Founder and serves as the Executive Board Chairman of The High Road, Inc. He was born and raised in Salisbury, N.C. He served in the U.S. Air Force, where he was awarded numerous awards and letters of commendation for performance excellence, including the U.S. Air Force Good Conduct Medal/Ribbon, the U.S. Air Force Longevity Ribbon, the U.S. Air Force Marksmanship Ribbon, was a Distinguished Graduate of the Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory School-Top 3% of class.
As a Veteran, he was selected for induction into the 2020 Class of the N.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame based on his meritorious Service to his hometown and the State of N.C. After being honorably discharged, Kenneth attended and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Communication Studies/Journalism from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C.
Professionally, Kenneth served as a Law Enforcement specialist during his six years in the Military, working in all facets of the field. After returning to North Carolina, he worked for seven years with the N.C. Department of Corrections as a Disciplinary Investigation Officer responsible for investigating inmate rules infractions, staff use of force and completing all related paperwork. He transitioned into and worked for over 20 years in Healthcare at large academic medical centers and small community based hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Florida, Kentucky, and Maryland. He was responsible for Quality and Patient Experience/Satisfaction initiatives.
Kenneth is a much requested motivational speaker and has lectured at local Colleges, HBCU’s, Prisons, Churches and other venues/groups per request. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, and has been a published editorial writer for over 20 years with articles appearing in the Charlotte Post, the Salisbury Post and Black owned newspapers in Florida and Georgia.
He has three decades of public and community service extending from working on neighborhood development projects, community/social activism, fighting against drugs and gangs in communities, to working with at-risk youth. In 2013, he co-founded a free after school Literacy program aimed at low income 3rd-5th graders that operated for six years. The nonprofit organization, the Tsunami Development Literacy Program, was designed to assist students with improving reading comprehension skills. The Program was such a success, it was recognized and supported by local philanthropists, the County Commission and received a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award.
In 2015, Kenneth ran successfully for his first term in political office by securing a seat on his hometown’s City Council. In 2017, he was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award presented by the W.G. “Bill” Hefner Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salisbury for meritorious Community Service. Kenneth also received the Correctional Achiever’s Program Award given by the N.C. Division of Prisons for his Meritorious Community Service.
Kenneth is a proud father to three sons and grandfather to an energetic grandson.
Hozell Odom III
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Board Vice-Chairman
U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Contact Information:
Residence:
Centerville, Georgia
Education:
-Received an Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Liberty University
-Received an M. Ed in Education and Instructional Technology from Troy University
-Received a BS in Occupational Ed; Corporate Training and
Board Vice-Chairman
U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
Contact Information:
Residence:
Centerville, Georgia
Education:
-Received an Ed.S in Educational Leadership from Liberty University
-Received an M. Ed in Education and Instructional Technology from Troy University
-Received a BS in Occupational Ed; Corporate Training and Development from Wayland Baptist University
-Received an AA in Education and Instructional Technology from the Community College of the Air Force
Professional Background:
-U.S. Air Force Retired Senior Master Sergeant with 27 years in various law enforcement and educational leadership roles.
-Retired Civil Service employee with 11 year's experience as an Instructional Systems Specialist within HQ Air University, Thomas N. Barnes Center, Air Force Career Development Academy.
-Creator, Owner and Director of Literacy Unlimited Group LLC, a college prep service.
-Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc.
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Contact Information:
Residence:
Cary, North Carolina
Education:
-Received a BS in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University in Winston Salem, NC
-Received a M.S. in Nursing from the Chamberlain College of Nursing in Chicago, IL
-Received a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of North Caro
Contact Information:
Residence:
Cary, North Carolina
Education:
-Received a BS in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University in Winston Salem, NC
-Received a M.S. in Nursing from the Chamberlain College of Nursing in Chicago, IL
-Received a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
Professional Background:
-Extensive background and experience working as a Registered Nurse in cardiovascular,
pulmonary, and neurological specialties.
-Served patients with dual diagnoses, bipolar, ADHD, depression, schizoaffective disorders, and
panic disorders as well as taught mental wellness classes to help patients to balance their lives
while coping with and managing their mental health.
- Serves in a leadership role with a major at home care provider company
-Provides leadership to dedicated healthcare team of three supervisors, fifteen nurse care managers, and ten healthcare ambassadors.
-Oversees the daily operations and staff roles, which include chart audits on cases to check for quality of care, member’s goals and metrics, and assists with transition of care needs following discharge from an inpatient facility.
Dr. Gwyndolan Swain
Dr. Deanna A. Stewart
Dr. Gwyndolan Swain
Military Veteran Spouse
Contact Information:
Residence:
Concord, North Carolina
Education:
-Received a Doctor of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina
-Received a Master of Business Administration/Master of Health Administration joint degree from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, N
Military Veteran Spouse
Contact Information:
Residence:
Concord, North Carolina
Education:
-Received a Doctor of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina
-Received a Master of Business Administration/Master of Health Administration joint degree from Pfeiffer University in Charlotte, NC
-Received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Dillard University in New Orleans
Professional Background:
-Currently serves as Founding Director and Tenured Professor of Health Administration at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont North Carolina.
-Responsible for developing and implementing the inaugural Master’s level program at the College
-Previously served in a similar role and as an adjunct instructor at Pfeiffer University where she taught undergraduate and graduate health administration courses.
-Led the department at Pfeiffer University in acquiring CAHME national accreditation and incorporating new technologies into health administration education that produced increased enrollment.
-For her passion in teaching, she was awarded the University’s inaugural 2019 Webb Award for Excellence in Teaching. This recognition was determined by the student body.
-Worked for Carolinas Medical Center (now Atrium Health), where she was a Corporate Expert and Administrative Manager within Human Resources.
-At CMC (Atrium), she developed and implemented a Return to Work program for 65,000 employees, responsible for an 11% decrease in Short Term Disability claims duration which resulted in a $1.2 million savings.
-Worked as a Clinical Manager with the Mecklenburg County Health Department for Maternal and Child Health Services and Immunizations
- Responsible for managing a comprehensive community outreach program resulting in significant increases in both client referrals and a 25% increase in revenue for the agency.
-Attained Fellow status in the CAHME (Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education,
-Selected as the 2022 President-elect of the Greater Charlotte Healthcare Executives (GCHE) organization.
Tara S. Edwards
Tara S. Edwards
Dr. Gwyndolan Swain
Contact Information:
Residence:
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Education:
-Received a BA degree in Criminal Justice from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ
-Academic scholarship recipient at Monmouth University
-Received her Associates in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Brookdale Community College in
Contact Information:
Residence:
Perth Amboy, New Jersey
Education:
-Received a BA degree in Criminal Justice from Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ
-Academic scholarship recipient at Monmouth University
-Received her Associates in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies from Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, NJ
-Both a Distinguished Scholar and a Dean’s List Honor Student at Brookdale Community College
Professional Background:
-Twenty one (21) years of continuous professional experience in the paralegal real estate field
-Currently serves as a Real Estate Paralegal with Elias & Gonzalez, LLC in Perth Amboy, NJ
- Provides management and oversight of the sale, purchase and closing process from the initial contract through closing. Attends closings to assist clients, realtors and mortgage brokers with queries
-Previously provided twelve years of long term expert real estate paralegal services to Valerie F. Arvin, Esq. in Hazlet, NJ and Weber & Layden, LLC in Aberdeen, NJ, where she cleared titles and managed the refinance, purchase and sale files after attorney review
Vince Eury
Tara S. Edwards
Vince Eury
U.S. Navy Veteran
Contact Information:
Residence:
Aldie, Virginia
Education:
-Received a BS degree in Criminal Justice from University Westwood College in Arlington, VA
-Graduated with honors and was a member of Alpha Beta Kappa by election of the Westwood College Sigma Chapter of Virginia.
-Attained certificat
U.S. Navy Veteran
Contact Information:
Residence:
Aldie, Virginia
Education:
-Received a BS degree in Criminal Justice from University Westwood College in Arlington, VA
-Graduated with honors and was a member of Alpha Beta Kappa by election of the Westwood College Sigma Chapter of Virginia.
-Attained certification to become a Navy Vocalist from the Naval School of Music, Little Creek, VA
Professional Background:
- U. S. Naval Veteran having served as a Petty Officer 3rd Class E-4
-Extensive background and experience in Federal employment working with the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of National Security in Washington, DC / Rockville, MD.
-Manages and processes high profile National Suitability Assessments and Security Clearances for senior executives, federal employees, and contractors