Ledford Beltone

Eddie L. Ledford, Jr. began his career with Beltone 35 years ago when he joined his mother Lynn Ledford in the business she started on the peninsula in 1979.  With a degree in Finance from The Ohio State University, he has enjoyed the challenges of growing a small, family owned business.  He is a Board Certified Licensed Hearing Specialist and a member of the International Hearing Society.  He has served on the Virginia State Board and has won many of Beltone’s prestigious awards including the Beltone President’s Cup in 2002 which recognizes one individual each year for outstanding service and performance in the hearing health care industry.  Mr. Ledford is a member of the Beltone President’s Advisory Board, a committee composed of top dispensers around the country who provide feedback and guidance to the Beltone Corporate offices.
As owner and President of Beltone Ledford Audiology and Hearing Centers, Mr. Ledford is committed to ensuring that patients receive patient care that exceeds industry standards.  He is creative and committed when finding solutions to meet the needs of anyone who is seeking help with their hearing. Throughout his career he has strived to build a strong business,, but he considers relationships with his patients to be the foundation of his success.  He treasures and values these relationships, the trust his patients have in him, and is thankful for his committed staff that works hard every day to do the same.
 
As Vice President of Beltone Ledford, Carolyn Coats is the heart and soul of business operations. Carolyn has been with the company for nearly two decades overseeing all aspects of day-to-day operations to include accounting, human resources, finance, recruiting and training.  
Carolyn studied Mass Communications at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and worked for many years as a Paralegal before joining Beltone.  Her background as an executive administrator in the legal field led to a strong understanding of complicated legal and financial documents, making her uniquely qualified for her role.  She excels at ensuring that all business activities are in compliance with each regulatory agency with which we do business.  In addition, she is a fully licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist and enjoys working with patients when needed.   
 
Carolyn is the ‘utility tool’ and can do it all – whenever a team member is in a pinch, Carolyn is typically the first person to call and always provides sound guidance on next best steps.   
 
When Carolyn is not holding it all together at the office, she enjoys spending time with friends and family.  She enjoys traveling, trying out new places to eat (being an Italian from Philadelphia makes this one tough!!), and listening to live music.
 

Patients suffering from hearing loss deserve two things: Optimal sound quality and an exceptional hearing healthcare experience.  Gaston Ledford commits himself to delivering these axioms each day during every appointment.  He mans the Smithfield, Kilmarnock, and Denbigh offices, helping in Williamsburg and Newport News when needed. 

 

Gaston’s prior experience in the commercial real estate industry working in investment sales helped him develop a tenacity for solving problems and serving others.  These qualities are leveraged through training each and every new technician to deliver world class service every patient should expect when making the commitment to get the help they need with their hearing loss.  

 

Gaston earned his undergraduate degree in Economics & Business from the Virginia MIlitary Institute and is focused on achieving the National Board Certification in Instrument Hearing Sciences, the highest academia in the area of hearing expertise.  

 

Outside of work, Gaston enjoys spending time with his friends and family, staying physically fit, and furthering his general knowledge through his love of reading. 

 

 Rene Alvarez began his career at Beltone Ledford in 2014 and takes care of our patients in both the Hampton and Gloucester offices.  He is a licensed Hearing Instrument Specialist and has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.  He has been recognized as a Master Practitioner with Beltone since 2019.  Yet, with all his accomplishments, Rene considers his greatest achievement was to serve our country as a United States Marine
Rene’s passion to help those that are in need is very evident in the way he treats each and every one of our patients.   He strives to give each patient the best quality hearing suited to their specific needs.  He enjoys spending time with each patient and getting to know them and their families personally.    
Rene and his wife Vilma make a great team raising their five beautiful children.  He enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors with his energetic 4 boys and is thrilled to welcome their new baby girl who is the apple of his eye.  Rene’s strong faith in God, leads him to be very active in his church and prayer group. 
“Exceptional patient care, always.”  Violet Gatling, our Patient Care Coordinator, lives by these words.  Violet is the first point of contact for Beltone Ledford, handling all scheduling, financing and administrative duties that are essential to keep day to day activities running smoothly
Violet’s enterprising background as a former owner of a local salon makes her uniquely qualified to keep the specialist’s, technicians, and even Mr. Ledford in line!!  
 Violet has a heart of gold and cares deeply about patient relationships and the experiences we share with them.  During the pandemic Violet, of her own accord, would schedule our patients and even their loved ones for COVID-19 testing, getting the same group signed up for vaccines when the time arrived.  She always takes a personal interest in our patients and goes out of her way to make them feel cared for.  This commitment to caring for our patients as part of her own family is what really sets Violet apart as a valuable, special member of our team. 
In her free time Violet enjoys trying new wines with her husband, exploring local eateries, and spending quiet time down in the Outer Banks.