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Ballard Center CEO Announces Retirement and Board of Directors Appoint Successor

On August 1, 2023, the Ballard Center will enter a new chapter in its long history when Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Becky Price retires and passes the leadership baton to Development Director, Kyle Roggenkamp.

When Price was named CEO in August of 2016, she inherited a nonprofit that was severely understaffed and struggling financially. Led by her passion to fight any social injustice that a child might face, Price made it her mission to do everything in her power to save the Ballard Center.

Over the past six years, she has worked tirelessly to re-engage the community in Ballard’s mission. To date Price has helped build organizational capacity, stabilize Ballard’s financial situation to include a “rainy-day fund”, improved the quality of Ballard’s many services, secured funding for many structural improvements to the 108-year-old property and grown a sustainable staff of devoted educators, social service providers and administrative talent.

“It has been an honor to play a role in Ballard’s long history of serving our community,” Price said. “Ballard is stronger today than ever before and thriving thanks to the support of this community.”

When Price announced her retirement plans to the Board of Directors (BOD), due to what she calls her “talent for hiring great people”, it was immediately clear that her mentee, Development Director Roggenkamp, would be a natural successor. Roggenkamp joined Ballard Center in April of 2021 after 12 years of working in social services throughout the state of Kansas.

“The opportunity to serve our community at Ballard is a dream come true,” Roggenkamp said. “I grew up on the doorsteps of places like Ballard. I personally know the impact that abuse, poverty, addiction and houselessness can have on a both children and adults, and I know just how hard it is to move up the socioeconomic ladder. Using that experience to help others is my life’s purpose.”

“I have complete faith that handing the reigns over to Kyle will enable Ballard to continue serving our community for generations to come,” Price said. “He is disciplined, focused, leads by example and most importantly, he is always kind, no matter what pressures he may face. I hired Kyle for a reason, and he has exceeded all my expectations.”

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