QUENTIN SPENT YEARS living a lifestyle that often led to bad decisions and ultimately to prison. It was clear to Goodwill Career Coach Dina Butler on their first meeting that Quentin was ready to change his life.  

“After spending our first hour together it was clear he had already made internal decisions that he wanted to change the way he was living his life,” Dina said. “He has three children and knew that if he was going to help them in any way, he had to start with himself.”

“My kids depend on me and I have to be a provider so that was basically my goal,” Quentin said. “I was acting young and doing stupid stuff and I just had to wise up and act my age.”

As part of the Offender Success program, Quentin worked with Dina to create a résumé and also participated in career coaching to become more comfortable with interviewing, job searching, and marketing himself. 

Quentin had not worked for an employer for more than a few months in over ten years. It was apparent that providing Quentin with some real work experience, to learn the expectations of his employer while continuing to make the adjustment from prison to the community, would go a long way in setting him up for success. Enrolled in Work Experience Training, Quentin received paid job skills training in Goodwill’s Industrial Services division to re-acclimate to the work environment.

 “When you get out, they give you two weeks to work with Goodwill so you can get used to the routine of work and earning money,” Quentin said.

Quentin was given the opportunity to interview with local employer, SRS Fiberglass, and was hired to work full time as a press operator beginning November 2018.  

In March 2019, Quentin experienced a hardship and found himself without a place to live. He knew where to go to get help. Goodwill was quickly able to place Quentin in safe housing. During a difficult time when many individuals would have given up, Quentin stayed the course. With the assistance of Goodwill, Quentin learned how to establish a savings plan and eventually obtain self-sufficient housing.  

Throughout 2019, Goodwill continued to check in with Quentin and SRS Fiberglass. Each month, his employer had positive feedback about Quentin’s work ethic and attendance. He did so well they hired others based on his recommendation including his twin brother.  

Quentin’s perseverance and dedication to his goals led him to successfully discharge from parole in October 2019, one year from the date he enrolled in programming at Goodwill.

MAY 2021 UPDATE 

Although SRS Fiberglass continued to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic with no layoffs, Quentin experienced a non-work related injury that prevented him from working for a good portion of 2020. Not to be defeated, Quentin’s resiliency and recovery enabled him to return to the job and is now back working full-time on third shift. He continues to be an important asset to SRS Fiberglass.

“I’m just grateful he’s back working,“ Plant Manager Kali Fox said. “He’s a great guy.”