One by one, area logistics and transportation company representatives around the table called out what they were looking for in entry-level employees.
Time and stress management. A positive attitude. Drug free. A sense of professionalism. Being able to speak the industry lingo.
Even something as simple as a consistent work ethic — showing up on time and putting in a good day’s work.
So, asked moderator Lori Burns, if an employee had those traits and more, could those employers “do the rest” in terms of training and coaching?
“Absolutely,” a couple of them replied.
Sitting along the wall, Kevin Gay listened to the feedback, occasionally nodding while others took part in the discussion in the Jacksonville Port Authority boardroom.
He wants to help those employers fill their needs with qualified, eager workers yearning for a chance to prove themselves. His potential pipeline isn’t traditional — many employers don’t take a risk with the population Gay is building up.
Gay is CEO of Operation New Hope, whose mission includes the Ready4Work program that assists ex-offenders with re-entry into the community and workforce.
He has expanded the program by launching the Jacksonville Port Academy.
Gay’s goal with the academy is to work with port tenants, vendors and the port itself to help fill high-demand jobs that require training.
And the group at the table Wednesday was a perfect audience.
It featured companies like Crowley Maritime Corp., Suddath, CEVA Logistics, U.S. Gypsum — in all close to a dozen participants with representatives who voiced what they were looking for in employees and what skills were needed.
Gay afterward said he was pleased and surprised each seemed willing to work with the concept of hiring nonviolent ex-offenders.
During the discussion, many of the participants inquired about using the academy at least for temporary help to develop. Doing so could provide those workers with needed skills and expose them to potential longer-term employment.
It was something Gay said was a positive step. His programs train and observe participants to help them become successful when they receive an opportunity.
“I didn’t know there was that broad of a need across the board,” he said. “This is a major movement, not only for Jacksonville, but for America.”
Travis Black, Crowley manager of talent acquisition, was one of the representatives who took part in the discussion.
He said the company is in the process of implementing a “Hiring for Attitude” policy for interviews and performance reviews to determine the best cultural and attitude fits at the company.
Additionally, he said Crowley wants to continue to work with the academy as it develops because it will be a resource for talent acquisition.
In recent weeks, the JAX Chamber launched its Project Open Door that has more than 40 companies pledging to not ask about an applicant’s arrest record until the interview process.
Following that up, on Wednesday the chamber announced it signed on to the White House’s Fair Chance Business Pledge.
The pledge asks the private sector to improve their communities by providing a second chance for those with a criminal background.
In time, Gay said he believes a model can be built where 400-500 people in the academy annually can find work in the transportation and logistics companies.
In the next several weeks, he wants to continue working with area schools to further develop certification programs driven by industry — not academia — that will better position those potential employees.
The goal, he said, is to be able to start plugging academy graduates into those port-related jobs in the first quarter.
Port Authority CEO Brian Taylor was one of the people at the table, both as a facilitator and a participant. He said he thought the employers had an obligation to provide a second chance.
“Before you step back and say ‘I’m not interested,’ I ask you, how many times in your life do you wish you could press the reset button?” he asked.
Taylor said he had “many times.”
No one got up from the table or showed they weren’t interested.
For Gay and the academy, it’s another step toward fulfilling that mission.
@writerchapman
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