By Andy Furman
Point/Arc
Build it – and they will come. He did – and, they did.
Brandon Releford waited a long time for this opportunity.
“I’ve known about The Point/Arc for quite a while. The mission allows individuals to be creative as well as function in the community. That is a huge deal for me.”
He says his employment at The Zembrodt Education Center – a division of The Point/Arc – represents a perfect alignment of his professional experience, education, passion, and unwavering commitment to ensuring extraordinary individuals receive life-changing services.
“When I first arrived at The Zembrodt Education Center in 2021,” he says, “we were serving approximately 135 unique families. From the outset, my growth strategy centered on building a strong, mission-driven team committed to collaboration, excellence, and responsiveness to regional needs. I believed that sustainable growth would come not simply from expanding programs, but from strengthening people, partnerships, and purpose.”
The ZEC Executive Director says focusing on high-quality services, strategic outreach, and meaningful community engagement, he was able to significantly broaden impact. “In 2025, we served 464 unique families, providing expanded opportunities to build pre-employment, social and academic skills.”
A component of this growth, he adds, was the addition of Education for the Extraordinary, a K-12 school based in Union serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder through applied behavior analysis. This program enhanced the ability to provide comprehensive, individualized educational services to students and families seeking specialized support.
Today, The Zembrodt Education Center offers a robust continuum of services including:
• Transition Program
• Supported Employment
• Special Education Advocacy
• PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills)
• Parent Support Groups
• Gaming/Anime Club
• Education For the Extraordinary
“Our growth,” Releford said, “Has never been about numbers. It has been about expanding access, deepening impact, and ensuring that every individual we serve is equipped with the skills, confidence, and support necessary to lead a fulfilling and self-directed life.”
Releford is no stranger to education and teaching,. He spent over 10 years in Workforce Development as a Coordinator of Career Services, a Workforce Instructor, Career and Placement Specialist and a Case Management employee.
At Gateway Community and Technical College, Releford served as adjunct faculty in the Early Childhood Education and Human Services departments.
The Lee College (Tenn.) graduate spent five years as a classroom teacher at a private school in Northern Kentucky.
“We are truly excited having Brandon on staff at The Point/Arc’s ZEC,” said president and founder, Judi Gerding. “His education and experience have been great assets to The Point, and he has been a great fit and awesome addition to our team.”
The Zembrodt Education Center (ZEC) is an extension of The Point/Arc. ZEC was created to increase growth and support for individuals and families in the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region. The mission — to give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) opportunities to reach their highest potential educationally, residentially, socially, and vocationally.
The ZEC officially opened in 2020 and was totally vacant in 2021 thanks to the pandemic. Releford is the first active Executive Director in the Center.
“I’ve prepared for this position all my life,” he said. “This position was tailor-made for me.”
But, he added: “Our work is not complete here; we have much to do, and we are excited to see our services expand throughout the region and beyond.”
He helped build it – and yes they’re still coming.