Leveraging graduate work in strategic marketing, economics of information & managing IT innovation, Kent became a managing director for Computing Services at Erie Neighborhood House (a Settlement House providing comprehensive social services founded in 1897). In this capacity, Kent held a seat on the Erie's leadership team with shared responsiblity for financial and operational oversight. Responsibilities spanned the full range of management duties including bugeting, fundraising, board relations, and program development. A principle achievement was the development of the award-winning Erie Technology Center, a chicago-based CTC embedded within Erie Neighborhood House. Kent has served on a wide range of boards, examples include the Advisory Board of Loyola University's Center for Information Management for the Professions, Technology Working Group Member at Loyola University's Center for Urban Research & Learning, and Board Member of the Chicago Area Furniture Designer's Association.

Selected Erie Technology Center Awards (1995-2000) include:

Urban Leadership Award ($434,000)
Presented by the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation ($434,000) presented to Erie to develop innovative community-based technology education centers on Chicago's northwest side.

Learning in a Global Environment ($150,000)
A National Kellogg Foundation Education Grant presented to leverage technology to provide educational services to at-risk youth.

Digital Divide Brdige Grant ($100,000)
Presented by the AOL Foundation to develop innovative connectivity & network solutions for inner-city day care providers with emphasis on childcare information & entrepreneurial resources.

Chicago Spirit Award ($50,000)
Presented by the Sara Lee Foundation to Erie for innovative application of technology to meet community education needs for low-income urban residents

Digital Steppingstones Award for Exemplary Information Technology Public Access
Presented by the Thomas Rivera Policy Institute for exemplary practical uses of information technology in diverse learning environments.