Along with his work at JFCS, Zent served as the managing partner with Topaz Information Solutions and managing partner with Behavioral Health Information Network of Arizona and was responsible for business operations for both organizations, according to the non-profit's website. Zent had been a high-ranking official of multiple behavioral-health organizations in Arizona during his career. He served as CEO of the Maricopa County Regional Behavioral Health Authority for more than six years. He also served as CEO of the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona. Zent, a fourth-generation Arizonan, grew up in Tempe. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Arizona State University and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Texas-Austin.