Kenneth L. (Kenny)  Hardin

Founder / Executive Board Chairman

U.S. Air Force Veteran

Residence:

Salisbury, North Carolina

Contact Information:

kennethlhardin65@gmail.com

Kenny is the Founder and serves as the Executive Board Chairman of The High Road, Inc, the Veterans Social Center, and Peak Performance Athletics. 

Kenny was born and raised in Salisbury, N.C. He served six years 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, Kenny attended and graduated magna cum laude from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C. with a BA in Communication Studies/Journalism 

Professionally, Kenny 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, where he was 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 and assisted several organizations to reach the top 1% in national patient satisfaction rankings

Kenny is a much-requested motivational speaker and has lectured at local Colleges/HBCU’s, Healthcare organizations, Prisons, Churches, businesses, 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 over three decades of community service extending from working on neighborhood development projects, community/social advocacy, 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 the Salisbury City Council. In 2017, he was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award presented by the Salisbury Veterans Administration Medical Center for meritorious Community Service. Kenny also received the Correctional Achiever’s Program Award given by the N.C. Division of Prisons for his Meritorious Community Service.

Kenny is a proud father to three sons and grandfather to an energetic grandson.