Harley Blakeman

At age 16, I was homeless. I dropped out of school and began using and selling drugs until, at the age of 19, I was sentenced to 14 months in prison. While there, I earned my GED and became an avid reader. After being released, I went on to graduate with honors from The Ohio State University. I interviewed with nearly 100 companies, making it through to the last round, only to be rejected after disclosing my criminal history. I eventually found a manufacturing company that was willing to give me a chance, where I was promoted quickly, overseeing 45 direct reports. However, after my own job search experience, I knew that I wanted to help break down the significant employment barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face after release.  https://www.honestjobs.com/