Speaker Event

Giving Second Chances- Employing Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

November 20, 2020 7:30 AM

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9:00 am

Giving Second Chances- Employing Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

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Hear from our remote panel:
- Barbara Campbell, Executive Director of The Dalton Foundation and of ReLink.org
- Brandon Chrostowski, Founder of Edwin's Leadership and Restaurant Institute
- Jill Rizika, Executive Director of Towards Employment
- Frank Whitfield, Mayor of Elyria, Ohio

This event is co-sponsored by CFE, Leadership Geauga, and ReLink.org

Hosted by Melanie Scanlon of Leadership Geauga. Moderated by CFE co-founder Ben Calkins of The Calkins Law Firm, Ltd.

Following the Q&A, we will have about 30 minutes of networking for smaller groups in breakout rooms.

Barbara Campbell

Barbara Campbell graduated from Pharmacy school at the University of Minnesota in 1993 and has worked in pharmacy operations and management for over 20 years.  Over this time, she developed an interest in working with individuals to provide real, lasting changes to health and well- being that go beyond medications.  This led her to continue her education, and in 2008, she completed her certification as a clinical nutritionist. In addition, her passion for applying practical business strategy to promote sustainability, and staff development have been at the core of every operation she has had the opportunity to lead.

In 2017, after over 6 years of working in Haiti overseeing medical operations, Barbara made the move to Ohio and joined The Dalton Foundation as their Executive Director.  Barbara has spent the past three years at The Dalton Foundation developing and implementing their strategic programs and developing partner relationships to effectively support the programs in the contexts where they work.  The Foundation team is very excited about the future and plans for growth over the next few years.  

Here’s a link to recent article in Crain’s Cleveland Business about the workforce development program The Dalton Foundation helped to coordinate and implement.

Brandon Chrostowski

The man who turned incarceration into inspiration through perseverance, passion and purpose, Brandon Chrostowski, founder and CEO of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute has started a revolution in social enterprise through his groundbreaking culinary arts training program. He’s gone on to electrify crowds nationwide with his story of redemption and lessons on leadership.

Jill Rizika

Jill Rizika is Executive Director of Towards Employment, a community based non profit which delivers quality workforce services for low-income Greater Clevelanders, and helps local businesses fill their staffing needs. The agency helps over 2000 individuals every year prepare for a job, find a job, keep a job and advance in a career.  She transformed an innovative job retention program into a revenue-generating stream for the agency, and strengthened programming to meet the employment needs of individuals with a criminal background, doubling the number of people placed in jobs on an annual basis.  She oversaw implementation of a national demonstration grant, WorkAdvance, that resulted in higher earnings for low-income participants relative to a control group.  In 2014, Ms. Rizika was recognized as a White House “Champion of Change” for her work on creating employment opportunities for individuals involved in the criminal justice system and received the Pillar Award for non-profit Executive Director of the year.  She was named a Northeast Ohio “Smart 50” executive by Smart Business magazine (2016) and a Crain’s Business Magazine Woman of Note (2019).  She has a B.A. from Dartmouth College and a Masters in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.  

Frank Whitfield

Frank D. Whitfield is the first elected African American and independent Mayor of Elyria, Ohio, and passionately pledged to transform Elyria’s economy, community, and culture through meaningful collaboration.

Throughout his robust grassroots campaign, Mayor Whitfield elevated the voices and concerns of residents, and works to keep transparency, communication, and accountability are the forefront of his administration. He was elected in a landslide victory on Nov. 5, 2019.

Mayor Whitfield lives on the central-east side of Elyria, and is an innovative visionary with a passion for serving others.

Before stepping down to run for office, Whitfield served as the youngest President & CEO in the history of the Lorain County Urban League from 2014-2019, where he led team that assisted over 2,000 individuals with employment, over 500 young people become college & career-ready, and cultivated the growth and expansion of over 25 small businesses in Lorain County. During this time, Whitfield also served as President of the Elyria Sunrise Rotary Club, Chair of the Lorain County Children Services Board, and Chair of Mobility and Opportunity for a Vibrant Economy (M.O.V.E) Lorain County.

Mayor Whitfield’s commitment to economy, entrepreneurship, and business is longstanding, and prior to his role with the LCUL, he worked as a Foundation Fellow at the Nord Family Foundation, where he established a leadership program for nonprofit leaders to increase business acumen, program development, and capacity building. He also supported grant making efforts throughout the country.

Melanie Scanlon

The host of the event is Melanie Scanlon, of co-sponsor Leadership Geauga

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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