Reggie D. Ford
Motivational Speaker & Bestselling Author
As Featured in
About
Pain to Passion.
Passion To Purpose.
As a mental health advocate, Reggie’s mission is to help people build mental resilience and lead fulfilling lives through life’s challenges. He aims to provide hope and inspire change by sharing his story of perseverance and educating people so they can understand, cope with, and thrive after trauma and adversity.
Defying odds and thriving in even the most unfavorable situations is what Reggie does best. His experiences have brought him to a place of insight, knowledge, and wisdom beyond his years. Despite facing multi-generational trauma and systemic racism, Reggie’s resilience and ability to rise above serves as an inspiration to others facing similar circumstances and a beacon of hope for our collective futures.
Raised in poverty by a single teenage mother, Reggie has been fortunate to receive a education from some of the most elite institutions. This diverse background has helped him understand the common threads that run through humanity. He is an old soul, a lifelong learner, a humble teacher, and a natural go-getter, bringing a unique and valued perspective to those around him. He empowers everyone he encounters as he continues to grow into his best self. His story of turning the pain and struggle of his past into peace and abundance captivates audiences and makes him the epitome of perseverance.
Reggie is an award-winning entrepreneur, bestselling author, mental health advocate, and social activist. He is also a proud husband of Katie and dad to their beloved dog Rosie. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, practicing and teaching yoga, and spending time with loved ones.
Motivational Speaker
“Reggie’s story and personal vulnerability profoundly inspires. He is authentic and focused on sparking positive shifts in understanding. Resilience, perseverance and optimism shine through his every word!” – Jackie W., Head of School
Bestselling Author
“In this poignant, enthralling telling of his early life story, he recounts the traumas and barriers, both personal and systemic, he overcame. In doing so, the memoir doubles as a self-help book that emphasizes ‘healing,’ as the author urges readers ‘to break the curses that have plagued you and your family for centuries.'” – Kirkus Reviews
Award-Winning Entrepreneur
Reggie has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. With a keen eye for problem-solving and a passion to make the world a better place, he has used his gifts to inspire change in the finance, education, and mental health & wellness spaces.
Hi, I’m Reggie
My journey to where I am today was not accidental. Through hard work and determination, I achieved great success in the traditional sense. However, during this time, I also experienced some of the worst mental health struggles of my life. Despite the appearance of a successful life, I was plagued by anxiety, depression, and grief. I had become skilled at disguising my pain with strength and confidence.
During the darkest period of my life, I had a panic attack that left me unable to think clearly. At that moment, I had an out-of-body experience where I saw myself lying on the floor in a defeated state. This led me to ask the question that changed my life:
“How in the world did I end up here?”
Asking this question led me to the answers I needed to live a more fulfilling life. I realized that I had suppressed negative feelings as a result of experiencing developmental trauma. Understanding this was liberating. The more I learned about the importance of mental health and wellness, the more compelled I felt to educate and spread awareness.
I believe that wellness is for everyone, not just those who have experienced trauma. A world with supportive communities is healthier than one that stigmatizes mental health. If serving as an advocate helps save one life, I would feel my efforts were worth it.
Awards and recognition
Nashville Black 40 Under 40 winner
STAYONTHEGO Magazine
Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee
Forbes
Top 100 People in Finance Winner
Top 100 Finance Magazine
Nashville 40 Under 40 Winner
Nashville Business Journal
Nashville TOp 30 Under 30 Winner
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Nashville Black 40 Under 40 winner
STAYONTHEGO Magazine
Forbes 30 Under 30 Nominee
Forbes
Top 100 People in Finance Winner
Top 100 Finance Mangazine
Nashville 40 Under 40 Winner
Nashville Business Journal
Nashville TOp 30 Under 30 Winner
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
career of service
Extraordinary vision, deep-seated passion, and hard work define Reggie’s career. After gaining experience working with some of the top companies in the financial industry, he founded RoseCrete Wealth Management. This endeavor was informed by his upbringing and education, and driven by his desire to serve professionals and entrepreneurs like himself, who aim to create generational wealth and change the narrative that one’s background determines their future.
Author. Advisor. Advocate. Activist.
Reggie’s continued self-discovery and growth led him to write his autobiography, Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction (PTSD): Breaking the Curse of Intergenerational Trauma as a Black Man in America. He also founded Ella Wenthom, through which he published his best-selling book. The success of PTSD has led to Reggie being highly sought after to share his stories and wisdom with audiences around the United States, further fueling his passion for using his experiences to better himself, the world, and those around him. As an author, speaker, and teacher, Reggie inspires his audiences to greatness with his humility, honesty, and vulnerability.
Author. Advisor. Advocate. Activist.
Speaking from the heart
Life-Long Learner
As a smart and dedicated student, Reggie earned recognition throughout his academic career. While playing as a cornerback for Vanderbilt University, he consistently appeared on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and the Commodore’s Dean’s List. His professors and classmates at Vanderbilt’s business school even honored Reggie’s visionary leadership and indelible spirit by naming him a 2014 Owen School of Management World Shaper.
Author. Advisor. Advocate. Activist.
Community Involvement
People are drawn to Reggie because he practices what he preaches. His authenticity shines through as he works to be his best self, seeks help when needed, and spreads love and joy through his involvement in non-profit organizations whose missions are close to his heart. He combines his generosity, empathy towards others, experience, creativity, and skills to guide community service groups and individuals to reach their full potential and purpose. He recognizes the roles others played in his success and works to pass along his gifts to others.
Current and past Seats at the Table
Annual volunteer hours
Lives Impacted Every year
Alive Hospice
Reggie serves on the board and finance & HR committee of Alive Hospice.
Mission: To provide loving care to people with life-threatening illnesses, support to their families, and service to the community in a spirit of enriching lives. Alive’s services include adult and pediatric hospice care, palliative care, financial support, community education, memorials, and a Grief Center that helps families heal from loss.
Impact: In 2021, Alive served 4,719 patients hospice care, 21 pediatric patients and their families received pediatric hospice care, 16,233 palliative care visits were completed, 544 Veterans were cared for, $1.4M in support was given to patients and families, 3,771 individual grief counseling sessions were provided to 710 unique clients (Reggie was one of those clients!), 15,062 meals served to patients and guests.
Reggie’s Alive Story: Reggie was introduced to Alive after his father-in-law was placed under their care. When Reggie’s grandmother was in need of hospice care, Reggie again witnessed the loving care that Alive provided. After being reluctant to get professional mental health help for decades, Reggie took advantage of Alive’s grief support services and has been on a healing journey ever since.
Learn more about Alive: https://www.alivehospice.org/
Backfield In Motion
Reggie served on the board and finance committee of Backfield in Motion (BIM).
Mission: Backfield in Motion is a non-profit organization that focuses on education through mastery of literacy and numeracy skills for at-risk youth that leads to a high school diploma, a foundation for higher education, and the on-job skills needed to enter the world of work, while using athletics as an incentive for academic improvement.
Reggie’s BIM Story: Reggie discovered BIM as a 10 year old boy when the program was introduced in his neighborhood. What started as a way to play organized football for free quickly shifted into a life-changing opportunity for him. Through BIM, Reggie was introduced to Montgomery Bell Academy where he attended high school. During those years, Reggie served as a mentor and tutor for younger boys coming through the program. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Reggie joined the board of directors. While Reggie no longer serves on the board, the organization has a special place in his heart for all it has done for him.
Learn more about Backfield in Motion: https://www.backfieldinmotion.org/
Phoenix Club of Nashville
Reggie is a legacy member of the Phoenix Club of Nashville (PCON).
Mission: To benefit under-served youth in Middle Tennessee and develop members into leaders in their community and in business.
Impact: Since its inception in 2001, the Phoenix Club has continually attracted the next generation of leaders from all walks of business. As a result, the Phoenix Club has raised and donated over $1.8 million to Nashville-area nonprofits. In 2017 alone, the Phoenix Club raised over $300,000.
Reggie’s Contribution: In 2021, Reggie championed a grant of $35,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee to assist in the development of a mobile application called MentorHub that pairs evidence-based social-emotional learning and mental health activities with a supportive accountability mentoring model. In 2022, Reggie championed a grant of $21,600 for Small World Yoga to expand the access of yoga to 1,200 additional students in historically underserved communities. Reggie was recognized as PCON New Member of the Year in 2021.
Learn more about Phoenix Club of Nashville: https://phoenixclubofnashville.org/
SMALL WORLD YOGA
Reggie serves on the board and development committee of Small World Yoga (SWY).
Mission: Connect people and create community by increasing access to yoga. We believe in the power of yoga to transform individuals through healing and connection. We envision a world in which everyone has access to these benefits. By empowering people, we strengthen communities, and ultimately make a big world feel small.
Impact: SWY delivers more than 150 classes to over 3,000 students per month.
Reggie’s SWY Story: Reggie began practicing at Small World Yoga’s community studio in 2020. Shortly thereafter, Reggie was the recipient of SWY’s scholarship for yoga teacher training which he took full advantage of to become certified in 2021. Reggie joined the board because he believed in the organizations mission and has experienced the positive benefits of yoga in his personal life.
Learn more about Small World Yoga: https://smallworldyoga.org/
Nashville Stars Youth Foundation
Reggie served as a founding board members for the Nashville Stars Youth Foundation (formerly known as Empowerment Pursuit).
Mission: To educate and empower young athletes by fostering a diverse and competitive baseball program. The Stars know the power of baseball and seek to share it with others by creating opportunities in underserved communities.
Learn more about the Nashville Stars Youth Foundation: https://starsyouthfoundation.org/
Nashville Coaching Coalition
Reggie served on the ambassadors’ board for Nashville Coaching Coalition (NCC).
Mission: To develop full-hearted coaches who prepare young people for life. NCC envisions a world where athletics teaches every kid that they belong and matter for who they are, not how they perform.
Learn more about the Nashville Coaching Coalition: https://nccnashville.com/
Montgomery Bell Academy
Reggie serves on the young alumni board and mentoring/college counseling committee of his alma mater, Montgomery Bell Academy.
Learn more about Montgomery Bell Academy: https://www.montgomerybell.edu/
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF TENNESSEE
Reggie served on the board, finance committee, and chaired the investment committee of Communities in Schools of Tennessee (CISTN).
Mission: We surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. The services and support a CISTN site coordinator provides is unique to the community in which they serve and can include the following: academic assistance, basic needs, college and career readiness, family engagement, life and social skills, physical and mental health, professional mental health, social-emotional growth.
Impact: CISTN serves 16 counties in the state of Tennessee, meeting the needs of more than 19,000 students. CISTN’s history of success is based on a foundational belief in the power of relationships. No child can succeed without the support of caring adults.
Learn more about Communities in Schools: https://www.cistn.org/
Monroe Harding
Reggie served on the board and chaired the trust and investment committee of Monroe Harding (MH).
Mission: MH’s mission is changing young people’s lives.
Impact: Since we began in 1893 as an orphanage for displaced youth, Monroe Harding evolved and continually adapted to meet the needs of children and young adults who are in or transitioning out of state custody. We ensure that foster care youth and other vulnerable young people build a solid foundation of strengths, positioning them for success in adulthood. We provide children, young adults, and families with resources in the areas of Homes, Healing, and Opportunities through Engagement. We also advocate for service recipients and empower young people to advocate for themselves. Monroe Harding is the only agency in Middle Tennessee providing a comprehensive continuum of services for current and former foster youth from birth to 26, as well as serving other vulnerable young adults. We fulfill our mission through four programs: Foster Care, Supportive Housing, Clinical Emotional and Mental Health Support, and a Youth Connections Resource Center.
Learn more about Monroe Harding: https://www.monroeharding.org/
Nashville Sports Council
Reggie served as a board member for the Nashville Sports Council (NSC).
Mission: To connect the city’s sports and business communities together.
Impact: Established in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council has been the driving force of sports tourism and culture in the Music City by recruiting events that’ve resulted in over $1.1 billion in direct economic impact. NSC is a membership-driven organization dedicated to connecting our city’s sports and business communities together. Members play a pivotal role in driving sports tourism and making Nashville the best sports city in the country. They receive exclusive access to numerous Nashville sporting events, volunteer opportunities and networking events hosted by the Sports Council.
Learn more about the Nashville Sports Council: https://www.nashvillesports.com/
Brandon Key ScholarShip Fund
Reggie is a co-founder of the Brandon Key Scholarship Fund established in memory of one of his late childhood friends.
The scholarship benefits Middle Tennessee students who embody the life-loving characteristics that Brandon possessed. Applicants must have a minimum weighted GPA of 2.5 and have shown a willingness to serve their community with plans to attend an accredited college or university, starting the academic year immediately following their senior year of high school. Preference will be given to those applicants from low socioeconomic status who plan to attend a Historically Black College or University.
The Brandon Key Scholarship Fund was established in memory of a young man best known for his commitment to his community, volunteering for causes that were most important to him, and interest in human and civil rights. In addition to serving others, Brandon was a terrific athlete and thespian. During his high school years at Montgomery Bell Academy, he was involved with a variety of teams, clubs, and activities – namely football, wrestling, lacrosse, debate, and theater.
Learn more about the fund: https://www.cfmt.org/story/brandon-key-scholarship-fund/
Donate to the fund: https://www.cfmt.org/giving-and-investing/become-a-donor/give-to-a-fund/brandon-key-scholarship-fund/
Reggie D. Ford
Motivational Speaker & Bestselling Author
Connect today!
If you’re looking for a top motivational speaker for your next event, look no further. Please complete the following form to start a conversation with Reggie D. Ford.