Retirement: Larry Head at TEDxMonroe

Larry Joe Head became the first Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Ouachita (HFHO) in Monroe, Louisiana after retiring from CenturyTel (CenturyLink), a major telecommunications company with corporate headquarters in Monroe. Larry Joe held management positions in Information Technology and Billing during his 22 year career at CenturyTel. As the first paid staff at HFHO, he established an office for the affiliate, worked with board members and volunteers to develop policies and procedures for the office and increased capacity of the affiliate to support multiple builds at multiple locations. Also during this time, HFHO received a Louisiana Residential Building Contractor license. In 2008, the affiliate was awarded $1.2 million dollars from the Louisiana Housing Trust Fund to build 18 Habitat homes in Monroe and West Monroe. In 2009, the affiliate in partnership with the City of Monroe was awarded $1.1 million in NSP1 funds via the Louisiana Housing Finance Agency to build 11 Habitat homes in Monroe. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)