Since the moment he found himself incarcerated, Christopher was already thinking about ways to improve his circumstances. While incarcerated, he pursued opportunities that will help set him up for success as he released back into the community. One of those opportunities was to work for Correctional Industries (CI). “From the very beginning, I would talk to other incarcerated individuals about how they can gain skills and aptitude from working for CI. But they were more interested in where they can get all their money now and get to keep more of it, even though working for CI you will be paying off some debt and gaining those important skills and knowledge,” said Christopher. “To me, it was a short-sighted way of thinking. Chasing the money was more important to them than improving and expanding their knowledge base and skills base.”
While incarcerated workers, who have voluntarily applied in a Class II job in an CI industry shop earn gratuities in addition to learning marketable technical skills and receiving training and support from supervisors in a business environment, as much as 80 percent of the gratuity they earn goes towards the crime victims’ compensation account, personal savings account, contribution to the cost of incarceration, legal financial obligations, and if court-ordered, child support and civil judgments. For individuals working in DOC facility managed Class III jobs, their gratuities are subject to fewer deductions with a maximum of 35 percent going towards the crime victims’ compensation account, and any court-ordered child support and civil judgments. However, to Christopher, it is the intangible benefits of working for CI that he thought was the more valuable investment of his time.
Christopher’s way of thinking and acting, of being relentless about improvement by jumping on opportunities to expand his knowledge and skills base, served him well, not only during incarceration, but in his current job working for Tool Gauge in Tacoma. To Christopher, being relentless about improvement includes a singular concentration on the task at hand and becoming proficient in what you are doing, whatever that is.
Proving his mindset could be a winning approach, by Christopher’s second day on the job at Tool Gauge he was moved from the assembly line to the floor, doing parts marks, which is a critical process in manufacturing. The rapid move by management to have him work in part marks, a job that carries a heavy responsibility, felt gratifying and humbling to Christopher. “Doing part marks, if you didn’t get the numbers right, Boeing will return them and will also fine the company as well,” said Christopher. “I felt that I had proven my valuableness in attitude by keeping my head down, working hard and being heavily focused on my work.” To Christopher, “keeping his head down,” (which he stated he did a lot of while working at CI too), didn’t mean he was shy or felt intimidated, it is a frequent phrase he uses to describe the instances when he is solely concentrating on getting whatever tasks needed to be done. Especially when it was of an urgent nature or came with a heavy responsibility.
In describing what that would mean practically, Christopher recalls a particularly challenging moment while he was still incarcerated and working for CI’s Laundry operations. He recollected having to get through huge piles of extremely muddy DNR (Department of Natural Resources) clothing with only one other incarcerated worker as they were short-staffed. “The clothes were wet and mud-soaked from rain and muddy terrain, and there were literally truckloads of them. But I was keeping my head down, working with the other incarcerated worker, and we got through it in one day working overtime,” said Christopher, who still marvels at the memory. He chalks it up to that singular focus and attention, which has been his go-to method as he worked in other CI shops like the Furniture Factory, and now, working with Tool Gauge.
Reflecting more on his time working for CI, Christopher remembered how he would move from one CI position to another, whether it was from one CI shop/industry to another, or within the shop itself, such as the Furniture Factory, where he had moved from woodshop to banding to CNC machinery. To him, the idea was to become proficient in a task and then moving on, shifting his focus to something else to keep expanding his knowledge and skills level. He did this for six years before releasing to the community. During that time, there was a point where he felt deeply discouraged, and realized it was due to his thinking that there was a lack of growth and opportunity. This feeling persisted until he recognized that just like a car needed fuel to keep going, he needed to opportunities to keep growing, so he decided that it was up to him to keep finding and chasing these opportunities. As challenging as the work was at the time, Christopher acknowledges that it was through working at the Furniture Factory in particular, that he became aware of his proficiency with numbers and patterns, which is a key aptitude for manufacturing work.
Christopher also recalled that as he was nearing his release date, he met Sebastian Trice, a CI Workforce Development Specialist, who helped him with job readiness documents and preparation. He also worked with Karen Tarver, CI Workforce Development Manager, with job searches and creating targeted resumes. Their efforts and support assisted in his transition back into his community. CI helped Christopher gain the marketable knowledge and skills he was seeking while incarcerated, and also offered real-world work experiences and job preparedness support that forged who he is today, a valued worker for Tool Gauge who is advancing within their company in an upward trajectory.
“I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher when he applied for our Assembler position. During his interview with our production manager, he conducted himself in a highly professional manner, effectively communicating his previous work experience and emphasizing how he could contribute as an asset to Tool Gauge. Impressed by his presentation, our manager promptly hired him. Since then, Christopher has consistently demonstrated problem-solving skills and self-advocacy. He meticulously plans and adjusts his transportation schedule to ensure punctuality, reflecting his commitment to the company’s success. Christopher actively engages in professional development, seeking knowledge and asking insightful questions. His openness to constructive feedback and accountability in assigned tasks further exemplifies his dedication. Always willing to assist others and share his expertise, Christopher embodies a strong work ethic. His rapid progression from Assembly to Part Mark and ultimately to a quality position underscores his adaptability and determination. Working with Christopher has been a pleasure, and Tool Gauge has undoubtedly benefited from his contributions. Christopher’s proactive approach and dedication are commendable, and he continues to make a positive impact at Tool Gauge,” said DeeAnn Harris, Tool Gauge Workforce Development/Training Coordinator.
Tool Gauge’s all-in support still astonishes Christopher, it fuels his commitment and boosts his confidence in learning all he can about the area in manufacturing he would aspire to be an expert in. After a short period of time working for Tool Gauge, Christopher once again demonstrated his winning formula works. He took a pay cut by switching to a 1st shift entry level Quality and Assurance (QA) role knowing it would put him on the path to qualify for a higher-level QA job. It wasn’t just about the knowledge expansion he’ll receive; it was also the choices he makes toward that aim. “It was a no-brainer. If you’re learning to improve, the money will come,” Christopher said confidently.
To qualify for the higher-level QA job, Christopher spent hours poring over the QA manual, which fills a huge 5-inch binder. He shadowed a QA worker during a workday and then spent a couple of hours afterwards to study the manual, which normally takes two full-day shifts to complete. Christopher worked in QA document control and tests all airplane parts. “I get to work from a desk in a lab, with five other QA engineers,” said Christopher.
The concepts of continuous improvement, expanding one’s arsenal of skills, absorbing and building on your work, are the driving forces for Christopher, day after day. And because it has brought him success, he enjoys imparting his work experiences and sharing his knowledge with others, something he has consistently done, even from the beginning of his incarceration. In summing up where he is coming from, what he’s about, and where he wants to go, Christopher’s response was clear and succinct, “Building character.”
