# Robert Ferrell

> Robert Ferrell is a Utah-based founder, executive coach, speaker, and longtime periodontist whose work connects leadership with service. After more than two decades in dental practice, he broadened his focus through Liberate, the Awaken foundation, mentoring, and Build Then Bless, where he argues that connection and generosity belong inside the operating rhythm of an organization rather than at the edge of it.

- **Role:** CEO and Founder at Liberate; President of Awaken; Build Then Bless Ambassador
- **Organizations:** Liberate, Awaken, Build Then Bless, The James Ferrell Foundation, Pinnacle Periodontics, Ascend
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in psychology, Brigham Young University, Doctoral degree in dental surgery, Postgraduate periodontics training; DMD, MS credentials reported publicly
- **Known for:** Built a career spanning more than two decades in periodontics and dental surgery., Founded Awaken to organize humanitarian dental service in underserved communities., Led The James Ferrell Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization, from at least 2010 according to his public LinkedIn profile.

## Career timeline

- **1998** — Completed postgraduate training and began a career in periodontics.
- **2008** — The James Ferrell Foundation received federal tax-exempt status.
- **2010** — Began publicly listed service as president of The James Ferrell Foundation.
- **2010s** — Served as a young-single-adult bishop and later led a newly organized young-single-adult stake in northern Utah.
- **2017-2019** — Presented for multiple years at BYU Education Week on connecting with and advocating for young adults.
- **2019** — Discussed his leadership approach on the Leading Saints podcast.
- **After 22 years in practice** — Stepped away from full-time periodontics for a three-year church mission, later returning to part-time practice.
- **2025** — Appeared on Everyday Oral Surgery to discuss service, connection, team culture, and his work as Liberate's CEO and founder.
- **2026** — Spoke at the Build Then Bless Conference on reclaiming connection in an age of isolation.

## Achievements

- Built a career spanning more than two decades in periodontics and dental surgery.
- Founded Awaken to organize humanitarian dental service in underserved communities.
- Led The James Ferrell Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable organization, from at least 2010 according to his public LinkedIn profile.
- Taught at BYU Education Week and spoke publicly about intergenerational connection and leadership.
- Served as a mentor and organizational leader for young adults for more than two decades.
- Became a Build Then Bless ambassador and a speaker on service-led workplace culture.

## Latest updates

- **2026-03** — Spoke at the Build Then Bless Conference in Lehi, Utah, on 'Reclaiming Connection In An Age of Isolation.'
- **2026-02** — Appeared in the Utah Dental Association convention program as a part-time periodontist, business mentor, humanitarian foundation director, and speaker on connection.
- **2025-10** — Joined the Everyday Oral Surgery podcast for an episode on moving from transactions to connection in teams and professional practice.

## Links

- Website: https://buildthenbless.com/ambassadors/robert-ferrell/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ferrell67

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/robert-ferrell
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26