Second Chance Hiring Lunch & Learn (01.22.26)

This will be a practical lunch-and-learn for construction employers on hiring people reentering the workforce after incarceration. Learn how to plug into Utah Department of Corrections (UDC) job fairs and talent pipelines, how incentives like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and fidelity bonding work in real life, and which simple onboarding and supervision practices help new hires succeed on active jobsites. Hear a personal success story and a short employer panel, get your questions answered, and leave with clear next steps like registering for upcoming DOC job fairs and joining a pilot employer cohort. Owners, HR and safety leaders, superintendents, and hiring managers are welcome.

You will take away:

• How to access UDC job fairs and talent pipelines

• Which incentives exist, who qualifies, and how to claim them (WOTC, bonding, supports)

• A straightforward onboarding and communication playbook for jobsites

• Local examples of second chance hiring that improved retention and productivity

• Contacts for state partners and community resources

Program agenda

• 11:00 AM – Department of Corrections: Accessing Skilled Labor and the Talent Pipeline
  Speakers: Katie Christensen and Armanda Mercado, Utah Department of Corrections

• 11:15 AM – UDC Reentry and Rehabilitation – Education
  Speaker: Kelsey Gressmen, UDC Reentry and Rehabilitation

• 11:30 AM – Financial Incentives: WOTC, Bonding, and Support
  Speaker: Alexia Murphy, Department of Workforce Services

• 12:00 PM – Networking Lunch
  Connect with agency reps and industry peers

• 12:30 PM – From Reentry to Results: A Personal Success Story
  Speaker: Jordan Holdaway, The Other Side Builders

• 12:45 PM – Expert Panel: Best Practices and Jobsite Integration
  Panelists: Justin Neville (Stadler Rail), Rebecca Roberts (WP Movers), and Concetta Defa (Women in Trades)

Who should attend: Owners, HR leaders, safety leaders, superintendents, hiring managers, and anyone responsible for recruiting or onboarding.

Logistics: Lunch included. Seating limited. Registration required. (Member fee: $25. Non-member fee: $35.)