Keynote Speaker

Cheri discusses common fears business leaders have around second-chance hiring. She draws from more than a decade of experience helping formerly-incarcerated people find work and create generational change for their families. She shares real-life examples, data, and unique approaches to ensure success for those with criminal records or in recovery. You will learn how to create a criminal background policy that works for your business; the importance of empathy; and strategies to conduct manager training to effectively support second-chance hires.

Key Takeaways

• The economic benefit of second chance hiring for your business and society
• Ten-plus years of statistics and data to give real-life situations and results from hiring people with criminal backgrounds
• Examples of workplace environments, and what works (and doesn’t work) for a recovery-friendly workplace culture

The Audience Will Be Empowered and Equipped To:

• Create a second-chance hiring policy that works for their business
• Recruit, vet, onboard, and manage people with criminal backgrounds
• Lead with a balanced approach to empathy and accountability 

Cheri describes what it’s like to go from being a rigid person with very little empathy to learning the benefits of leading with empathy in all areas of life. The “What If” formula helps attendees learn a new way of approaching disappointing and frustrating circumstances with curiosity instead of anger. Cheri’s background includes a transition from substance addiction, with nothing to show for her efforts, to sobriety and operating and managing a multi-million dollar company that helps others realize their potential.

Key Takeaways

• How applying the “What If” formula can help you be more patient with yourself and others
• Techniques for becoming less resentful toward others
• Using the “What If” formula to be less disappointed when things don’t go your way

The Audience Will Be Empowered and Equipped To:

• Recognize toxic traits and behaviors that hold them back from joy
• Become curious about situations that normally cause anger
• Be more gentle with themselves when making mistakes

Cheri shares her journey of sobriety and spirituality. She tells her story of going from a high school methamphetamine addict to adult alcoholic, and what she did to turn her life around. Today, Cheri is recognized as one of Dallas’ top influential business leaders by D CEO Magazine, and she owns and operates a multimillion-dollar business while helping others who were once in addition themselves.

Key Takeaways

• The difficult journey of “feeling your feelings” despite making a positive decision for change
• The sneaky ways self-sabotage can make you unintentionally stunt your personal growth
• The irony of gaining control while letting go
• How codependency behaviors can unexpectedly take over our happiness

The Audience Will Be Equipped and Empowered To:

• Seek a relationship with God to understand the proper direction for their life
• Confront areas of their life they’ve been avoiding
• Be inspired to take a leap of faith, despite fear of failure