A Second-Chance Model That Comes in First
A CEO and leader of an MEP program for hiring ex-offenders shares his success with other manufacturers.
JAN 15, 2021
Andrew Jackson, president and CEO of packaging manufacturer Elsons International, looks for the same things in ex-offender job candidates as in candidates without a criminal record: a team player, a willingness to learn and work hard, and a good attitude. And one additional quality: “We just want to know that you know what you did,” he says. “You paid your debt to society, and you want to have a chance like everybody else. We’re looking for somebody who made a mistake, knows they made a mistake, and has a decent story to tell.”
Senior Editor Laura Putre manages IW contributors and covers leadership as it applies to executive best practices, corporate culture, corporate responsibility, growth strategies, managing and training talent, and strategic planning. A former newspaper journalist, Laura has written for Slate, The Root, the Chicago Tribune, the Guardian and many other publications.