History
Blue Jacket, Inc. is an independent 501c3 nonprofit, originally a spin-out agency from Allen County Community Corrections, where a few of its original programs were developed. Much of the entity’s inspiration came about through the Allen County ReEntry Court, a widely acclaimed initiative that is overseen by Honorable John F. Surbeck. It was incorporated in June 2003 and officially launched in October 2005.
Blue Jacket, Inc. was created, in large part:
1) To fill the gap in local workforce programs and services.
2) To provide services all to people with criminal records
3) To provide real transitional job opportunities.
4) To eventually self-fund through enterprising efforts.
5) To offer these services to other jurisdictions (through training).
The recidivism rate for the state and federal systems are between 40 - 44% within 1 year. Blue Jacket's recidivism rate is 18% (2008) within one year. Recidivism is defined as return to prison for any reason or re-arrested for any reason within one year, regardless if found guilty. It is Blue Jacket's goal to reduce this to 12% within 1 year of graduating from the Blue Jacket training.
Typically, upon leaving the prison system, offenders face many barriers. Employers are reluctant to hire them, landlords will not rent to them, many do not have a driver’s license, many have child support obligations with little means to pay, and few can manage a simple budget.
Blue Jacket's goal is to become diverse in Foundation, Government, Individual and Corporate gifts and Earned Income as a strategy to begin to serve more adults with felony records. Your support is critical.
Board of Directors:
President - David Gutting
Vice President - James A. Federoff
Treasurer – Dan Schreiber
Secretary – Jennifer Winkeljohn
Dana Barrett
Greg Copeland
Kevin Erb
State Representative Phil GiaQuinta
Bennie Lewis
Magistrate Marcia Linsky
Dr. Karen Palumbo
Stan Pflueger
Deborah Stewart
Tony Stites
Becky Teagarden
Dave Umber
Staff:
Anthony Hudson, Executive Director
Nicole Huston, Accounting Manager
Lance Stiver, Program Operations Manager
Jennifer Harvey, Intake Coordinator/Case Manager
Tina Shull, Office Manager/Program Assistant
Brandy Wilson, Case Manager
Kimberly Trygg, Facilitator/Case Manager
Debbie Gotsch, Development Director
Elisa Quick, Opportunity Staffing Coordinator
Jennifer Crickmore, Alumni/Mentoring Relations
About Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket
Blue Jacket, Inc. is named after Wayapiersenwah, or Chief Blue Jacket; an intelligent, strong entrepreneur and diplomat and one of the greatest Shawnee war chiefs.
He fought on the banks of the Wabash River in 1791 delivering the worst defeat the United States Army ever suffered at the hands of Native Americans. Chief Blue Jacket led the confederated Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Huron, and Potawatomi nations alongside Chief Little Turtle with their strongest resistance in Downtown Fort Wayne. Later in 1794, he again tried to push the Americans from the same area and was defeated by General Anthony Wayne, ending organized Indian conflict east of the Mississippi River.
The story of Chief Blue Jacket surrounds the legend that he was an abducted white settler named Marmaduke Van Swearingen, then adopted into the Shawnee Nation rising through the ranks to become Chief and was known to be friends with Daniel Boone. Recent DNA testing concluded that the Chief Blue Jacket was not white but actually Shawnee.
Thanks to the 2011 Mock Interviewers!
Cynthia Amber
Erin Dove
Ron Etzler
Jennifer Fisher
John Flanagan
Greg Friend
Michel Holland
Patricia Knaebe
Doug Lucas
Bob Mansfield
Saadia Mead
Nancy Steigmeyer
Rick Stiver
Dan Surface
Cory Troutner
Cindy Verduce
Adam Witmer
You help make the Career Academy practical! Thank you.
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