Howard W. Hancock, Jr.

Board Certified by the National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences. Howard is licensed in Alabama and Florida. He is a Beltone Master Hearing Aid Practioner, a member of the International Hearing Society, The Florida Society of Hearing Healthcare Professionals, and The Alabama Society of Hearing Healthcare Providers. Howard holds an AA degree in Liberal Arts, BA degree in Spanish and English, and an MBA degree. Howard prides himself in providing compassionate service to the hearing impaired community. Howard with his wife, Margaret, in December of 2004 purchased the Pensacola practice. In 2006 they were awarded the 2005 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD as one of the best new practices in the United States. This practice was the recipient of the 2010 BELTONE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE SOUTHEAST REGION.

Derek Hancock

Derek is licensed in both Alabama and Florida and serves as the primary practitioner in our Andalusia, Atmore and Milton locations. Derek holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science and Bible from Freed-Hardeman University. In addition, he also holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Harding University.

Derek is an active member of the Alabama Society of Hearing Healthcare Providers. In 2011 he was presented with a Pacesetter Award for exemplary performance in maintaining the high standards of ethical and conscientious service to the hard of hearing public.

"Whether working with Beltone or volunteering at church I find my greatest joy when I am able to help someone improve their life. The feeling I get when I am able to help someone hear their family and be able to communicate with others again is beyond description. I take pride in our mission at Beltone and love being able to "help the world hear better."

Hope Ballew

Hope is the Patient Care Coordinator at our Andalusia location alongside Derek Hancock. Hope has had the pleasure of working with Derek for the past 2 years after her husband purchased hearing aids from him. As the wife of someone with a hearing disability, Hope knows exactly how important hearing health is for her patients, those she knows already and those continues to meet along the way. Hope is a people person and enjoys getting to interact with patients day in and day out, all the while assisting in their health care.

Hope was born and raised in Covington County, AL. Hope has been married for 30 years and has one daughter, Tara. For the past 9 years, Hope and her husband, Terry, have been rescuing and raising dachshunds.