Loading
RK![]()
author
Roy Kitchen
Roy Kitchen was born on June 29, 1963 in Galveston, Texas. He was one of three siblings and his parents divorced when he was three years of age. He was reared in t...view more
Roy Kitchen was born on June 29, 1963 in Galveston, Texas. He was one of three siblings and his parents divorced when he was three years of age. He was reared in the projects and his mother worked two jobs just to make ends meet. She had a third grade education but she instilled into her children Godly principles. At the age of thirteen the family relocated to Crossett, AR to be near relatives. During this time Crossett was a community separated by hate and prejudice. He started working at age thirteen to help his mother pay the bills and provide for the rest of the family. He went on to graduate form Crossett High School with honors. After graduation he attended Louisiana Tech University. After a year and a half he left school to get married and went to work for Georgia Pacific Chemical Plant where he remained for nearly fourteen years. While working for Georgia Pacific in his later years, he owned and operated two businesses and sold real estate. He had two sons, Leroy Jr and Ronnie, by his first wife but the marriage ended in divorce after twelve years. He later remarried Lynne and formed a family with her, Austen, and his two sons. Roy always knew he wanted to leave the manufacturing sector and become a white collar worker but was trapped because of the lack of education. Lynne convinced him to go back to school and finish his education. This was something that he always dreamed of but never could figure out a way to do it. He was on a swing shift rotation but gave up day shift hours to attend college. He commuted one way twenty-five miles and his last semester he worked twelve hour nights and carried 27 college hours. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Business Administration.
Upon graduation, he relocated to Little Rock, where he worked various jobs, while pursuing a position that would make all the sacrifice pay off. None of these positions were satisfying or rewarding, so once again he went back to school to pursue his MBA. He and his wife Lynne formed a team, she working two jobs while he played “Mr. Mom” and attended school. He graduated a year later with his Masters in Operations Management, having once again proven that hard work is the key to success.
His ambition when he was growing up was to become a doctor or lawyer. He never dreamed of becoming a writer. In fact, when he married Lynne he told her that he did not even like reading. He would read, but only if he could learn something. She was a relentless reader and often shared the details of the stories and books she was reading. He would tell her all the time that she should be a writer. She was well read and spoken. This inspired him to start reading. He discovered a great love of reading and of words.
He received a position at the University of Central Arkansas teaching in the Marketing and Management Department. After seeing his students struggle with speaking in front of the class, he decided to write "PHOBIA" not only to help them, but, to help others overcome America’s number one fear. In "PHOBIA" he discusses five keys to help anyone overcome their fear and learn to speak with confidence. He is in the process of writing his next book entitled, “Selling with Pizazz.” In this he will talk about principles to becoming a better “Salesperson.” It should be out in the spring of 2006.
He is currently the Administrator of Cardiology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR. He resides in Little Rock with his wife Lynne.
view less