Brendtro is the author of 16 books and over 200 articles in the field of positive youth development and trains youth professionals worldwide.
He formerly was president of Starr Commonwealth, serving troubled youth in Michigan and Ohio, and has been a professor in the area of children's behavior disorders.
His youth advocacy efforts include service as a practitioner member of the United States Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention during the administrations of Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama.
Brendtro is a licensed psychologist and director of Resilience Resources, Lennox, South Dakota, providing research, publication, and training in collaboration with CF Learning a program of Cal Farley's of Amarillo, Texas.