A second chance to rise

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how one training program is both giving people second chances and building a solution to the industry’s labor shortage. 

Tremco Weatherproofing Technologies Incorporated (WTI)’s RISE (Roofing Individuals Succeed through Education) initiative uses social and community outreach to help create pathways for entrance to the construction industry. They do this by connecting individuals to education and training that is already near them (or online) and 100% paid for. There are multiple programs that live within this initiative, but in this episode of Coffee Conversations, Heidi J. Ellsworth sats down with a panel focusing on the ELEVATE 2nd Chance program. This program focuses on empowering formerly incarcerated individuals with education and skill development and helping them find careers in the roofing and construction industries.  

One member of the panel, Maureen Greeves, has been a part of the roofing industry for over 15 years now. She was part of the internal team working on the RISE program and explained a bit of what makes this so special, saying, “What I love about this program is that it meets an individual where they're at. We have an apprentice program, 4,000 hours of on-the-job training, courses available through Tremco University that concludes with a getting a journeyman certificate... Then we also have the construction management opportunity. We partnered with University of Akron and we were able to provide an apprentice course, 63 credit hours and then a bachelor's course, 120 hours with a focus on construction management, something that's very much needed in the industry.” The 2nd Chance program is just another step in their goal to meet people wherever they are.  

Cindy Barnwell was one of the first members of the program, almost five years ago now. Today, she is an inspector with Tremco. She shared a little about how she got connected to the program, saying, “I was in a reintegration prison in Cleveland. There was a paper on the wall that said, ‘If you're interested in roofing, sign up for this.’ I actually did. I did some residential roofing with my brother-in-law years ago, and so I signed up.” From there, a case manager spoke to Cindy and got her an interview at the prison’s job fair. 

The 2nd Chance program is made possible through a collaborative effort between Tremco WTI and the Department of Corrections. This is something that Lisa Holmes knows a lot about. Today, Lisa works as one of Tremco’s regional administrators, but not long ago she was working for the Department of Corrections. She shared about how unique this program is, saying, “In a lot of the prisons, they offer training such as welding and construction and that sort of thing, but they just give you a certificate. Then the offenders are on their own to find a job when they get out.” The difference with Tremco WTI was that they helped them find jobs, often with Tremco, after completing the program. She explained how life-changing this can be, sharing, “With probation and parole in Missouri, they make sure that you have a home plan before you can get out. Some people can't even get out on time because they don't have a proper home plan. Or if they do get out, then how are they supposed to pay their bills and not slide back into what they were doing before? Because if you don't have a job, you're a felon, how are you going to make ends meet and not slip back in basically?” 

Tina Talbot is another current Tremco employee who found her path into the industry through this program. She shared a bit of her story, saying, “I spent 20 months in prison. In that time, towards the end of what was supposed to be my stay, I actually had to submit some paperwork that basically said where I was going to go home, where I was going to work.” She was looking for ways to make ends meet, to get her son back and not slip back into bad habits. Tremco ended up being the perfect place for her to work. She explained, “From November when I got out until March, I was doing plumbing and odd jobs. Then I got hired into Tremco and it's been an amazing experience. Nobody's ever treated me like I was a felon. I've been treated like just another employee and a valued employee at that.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the episode or Watch the full conversation to learn more about the 2nd Chance program and how it is creating pathways into the industry!