Searching for Dad: Nine Side Effects of Growing Up Fatherless and How to Overcome Them
Byron Ricks, MA, is an expert in human behavior, and a certified corporate trainer, facilitator, and professional speaker who specializes in helping people increase their levels of self-understanding and workplace performance. He is also the author of a new book, Searching for Dad (Brown Books, 2008).  Ricks grew up on the mean streets of West Side Chicago without a father, but with many extended family members and adults in his life-including a strong mother and a range of wonderfully eccentric uncles, aunts, and kindly neighbors. By sharing his stories about the challenges he faced as a fatherless child, the lessons he learned, and the man he has become, Ricks hopes to help fatherless young men become well-rounded adults, inspire absentee fathers to take responsibility for their actions, and encourage single mothers to do what is best for their sons.  President of Byron Ricks Seminars Group located in Plano, Texas, Ricks conducts results-oriented seminars on Critical Thinking, Diversity, Interpersonal Communication Skills, Creating a Positive Work Environment, Team Leadership, and a variety of subjects tailored for professional groups and corporations. Recent clients include Samsung, Pitney Bowes, IRS, Fannie Mae, RTI International, Texas Lottery Commission, AOL Time Warner, FDIC, Administrative Professionals Conference, and Simon Property Group.  His professional background includes positions as public affairs manager for the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and director of administrative services for National University in Irvine, California. He has managed, supervised, and implemented performance management standards; recruited, interviewed and hired staff; and designed and implemented workshops for organizational development.  Ricks is a member of the American Society for Training & Development and an adjunct instructor for the American Management Association and Ziglar Training Systems.  He has served on numerous boards, including First of America Bank Small Business Development Committee, the Board of the Coalition for Minority Business Development, Youth Works Board of Directors, Women & Work Conference Board, Eli Lilly MBD Coordinators, and Career Options Advisory Council.