Ohio.com | Kemp Boyd named director of Love Akron Network
April 8, 2019 • 2 min read
First published on Ohio.com April 4, 2019
Article by Akron Beacon/Ohio.com staff reporter
Read the full story on Ohio.com here.
The Love Akron Network, a coalition of clergy and Christian leaders that aims to tear down walls that divide people and churches, has named Kemp Boyd as its next executive director.
Boyd will succeed the Rev. Mark Ford, who founded the nonprofit, along with the Rev. Knute Larson, former lead pastor of the Chapel, and the Rev. Ronald J. Fowler, Arlington Church of God pastor emeritus. Ford, who has led the organization for 24 years, will formally retire Sept. 24 at the network’s eighth annual Awards Breakfast at the John S. Knight Center.
“I could not be any happier to be able to celebrate Kemp’s selection as my successor,” Ford said. “He is a next generational leader that will take Love Akron to a greater level of impact.”
Boyd said: “Love Akron’s call to pray, unite and collaborate should be the call and passion of all believers. The challenge we face in Akron is to put his kingdom first and work together to that end. I have sensed for a while now that the Holy Spirit is ready to move powerfully in this city and that Love Akron is strategically positioned to be a central part of his movement.”
Boyd earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Akron in 2004 and his Master’s of Organizational Management, with a concentration in business leadership, from Ashford University in 2010.
For the past 10½ years, he has worked for Red Oak Behavioral Health, formerly Pastoral Counseling Service of Summit County, a community mental health center in Akron, as the director of outpatient services. He also serves as football coach at Kenmore-Garfield High School. Boyd is an alumnus of Leadership Akron, where he was elected class president. Boyd is married to Stacy Boyd, and they have six children.
When asked to comment on the selection of Boyd, Matt Duncan, chair of Love Akron’s search committee, said, “We are so pleased that after having conducted an extensive search over many months, a candidate of Kemp’s quality, energy, and passion for Akron rose to the top. We are excited by what can be accomplished in our community under Kemp’s leadership and proven track record of bringing people together.”
Read the full story on Ohio.com here.
