Full Circle: Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)

Courtney first came to CEO after a 2017 felony conviction made it difficult to find stable employment. Despite working her way up in multiple jobs, she repeatedly lost opportunities once employers learned about her record. By 2020, discouraged by years of rejection, she reached out to her probation officer and was connected to CEO’s Louisville program.

At CEO, Courtney began transitional work while receiving one-on-one job coaching, resume support, mock interview practice, and encouragement from people who understood the barriers she was facing. Within two months, she secured a job in shipping and receiving. Just as importantly, her experience with CEO helped her recognize a new goal: building a career helping others navigate reentry.

Courtney spent the next several years building that experience, moving into management and later becoming a career coach. In 2023, she returned to CEO as a job developer at the Cincinnati site. One year later, she was promoted to Site Director, where she now leads day-to-day operations while continuing to build relationships with participants and support their path toward employment and stability.

Today, Courtney’s lived experience shapes not only how she leads her team, but also how she contributes to broader reentry efforts in Cincinnati. Her work earned her a seat on Hamilton County’s Welcome Home Reentry Docket, where she helps guide an early-release program supporting people returning from prison. For Courtney, the opportunity represents how far her own journey has come, from seeking a second chance to helping create one for others.