Will Dent

A graduate of McKinley High School and Wilmington College.

He has served for 50 years as President and Chief Executive Officer of The ABCD, INC, a non-profit Community Development Corporation related to the Office of Community Developers of the United Methodist Church. 

ABCD operates; an Energy Conservation Program which insulates and conducts electrical audits on over 300 houses a year and enabled the creation of a Minority Owned Energy Conservation firm known as Urban Green Solutions; a Specialized Transportation Service which transports an average of 200 elderly and low-income people daily, including 66 daily to receive Dialysis treatments; 

ABCD also provides transportation to job training and work sites for those recently released from Penal Institutions and Veterans; Sponsors a  Center for Entrepreneurship Development which houses  Minority Owned Service oriented businesses and agencies and a Property Management Company, along with ABCD’s administrative offices. 

In housing, ABCD has organized ten Limited Partnerships which have constructed 255 new houses and renovated 24 during the past several years and constructed a 24 unit apartment complex for people who derived the majority of their income from farm labor.  Construction of 33 cottages for the elderly, known as Queen Esther’s Village, and a 40 unit, 3 story building for the elderly in downtown Canton known as Wilson Pointe was completed during the past two years. 

Ground breaking was held 8/26 for a 52 unit complex for the elderly in the City of Massillon. 

ABCD also sponsors the Association for Urban Training Opportunities (AUTO) which houses the Transportation Services, an ASE Certified Automotive Mechanics Training Program, a Commercial Driver [Symbol]s License Preparation Program; an Auto Repair business, and Trucking Company. 

Will serves as a Training Consultant with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and is a member of the Training Faculty of the Communities of Shalom Initiative at Drew University. 

He formerly represented the Midwest area on the Board of Directors of the National Congress on Community Economic Development and serves on the following boards or councils:  member of Region/Advisory Council for Minority Business Assistance Centers; Community Treatment and Correction Center; Omega  Psi Phi Fraternity; The Stark County Minority Business Association-Vice President and United Way’s Family Impact Council; the City of Canton’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and former Chairperson of the Administrative Council of the James S. Thomas U.M.C. 

He is married and the father of four children and the grandfather of five.