Grad Year: 1980

Came to Lee from: Charlotte, NC

Occupation: Leadership Developer

Fred Garmon was born and reared in Charlotte, NC. He was the youngest of eight children, and following a childhood of tragic events, became the first of his family to graduate from high school.

He then enrolled at Lee, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies in 1980.

He now holds a master of divinity with an emphasis in Ministerial Ethics from the Church of God Pentecostal Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia. His doctoral dissertation research examined leadership and conflict in the ministerial context.

A university-level lecturer and instructor, Fred speaks from experience, but he also understands theory and research. He is involved daily in the life of the church. During his 47 years in the ministry, he has served as Senior Pastor for over 25 years; as superintendent of Southeast Asia for the Church of God World Missions; as Executive Director of PCL -People for Care and Learning (a humanitarian arm of the denomination), a professor in the doctoral program at Regent University and the Pentecostal Theological Seminary; as a board member of SOW (Serving Orphans Worldwide); and as a consultant to administrative bishops and pastors across the country and around the world.

He is now CEO of Leader Labs, which is leadership development with Christianity at its core. Leader Labs was founded and incorporated in 2004 by Fred and his wife Shirley, as a source of leadership development for both leaders and staff of charitable organizations, churches, missions, civic organizations and other areas of ministry and service to better equip them to serve.

LeaderLabs is also available to marketplace businesses, with a goal of providing the highest level of training available to those who are looking to serve in their place of influence with the greatest impact.

Fred has presented his LeaderLabs Executive Leadership material all across the United States in conferences and workshops as well as internationally in over 42 countries.

Through his work, Fred Garmon mentors and models the life and skills of ministry leadership in the marketplace, sending forth leaders to deliver the light of Christ to people everywhere.