TEaMS is dedicated to successful reintegration of ex-offenders into the community. We believe in the concept of 'normalizing' the ex-offender's life as much as possible through employment, housing, and mentoring. TEaMS recognizes that the fundamental element of reintegration is vestment. If an ex-offender is not involved totally in his or her re-entry into the community then the chances of success are much lower.
We offer an employment program that is designed for the ex-offender and the unique problems they face in seeking employment. Entry into our employment program begins with a workshop that covers employment skills such as the application, cover letters, resumes and the interview. This course is designed for ex-offenders and covers the unique issues faced by that population in seeking employment. After the workshop we will help place successful graduates with employers who hire ex-offenders.
Meet the TEaMS Organization
Steve Temple - President
The TEaMS program is designed by one of the leading experts in ex-offender employment in the state. Steve Temple GCDF has been recognized by the Arizona Employer Advisory Council as a leader in Maricopa County ex-offender employment. Mr. Temple is an author with a regular article in Prison Living Magazine and has written many critically recognized curriculum on employment of ex-offenders. He has developed two leading employment programs in Maricopa County and is the President and founder of The Community Reintegration Coalition a 501c3 non- profit association dedicated to helping ex-offenders re-enter the community thru employment. Mr. Temple is a Global Career Development Facilitator, an internationally recognized workforce development credential.
EJ Smith - Board Member
E.J. Smith has spent most of his career in the corporate environment having worked for 20 years with GE Plastics in several Technical, Marketing and Sales positions. He has been a business owner operating the largest photo film labs in Western Massachusetts. He became involved with social services after being asked to assume the position of Associate Director, Administration and Finance for United Veterans of America at the VAMC in Leeds, MA. He was also the Opportunity Coordinator for Paz de Cristo, a faith based non-profit catering to the needs of the homeless population in Mesa, AZ. At the present time he is an Employment Specialist/Career Counselor for United Veterans Initiative in Phoenix, AZ working exclusively with homeless veterans in the Phoenix metropolitan area. He is presently an officer and on the board of directors of the Community Reintegration Coalition which helps ex-offenders with felony convictions find gainful employment and safe and affordable housing.
William Edward Anderson - Board Member
William Edward Anderson is the Executive Director for Prison Fellowship Ministries in the state of Arizona, and the creator of Step Out Approved and Renewed (SOAR), a comprehensive program for inmates preparing to transition from incarceration. He is also the CEO of The Vision Catalyst Group, a leadership consulting enterprise. Mr. Anderson has served on several Gubernatorial and Legislative Task Forces focused on areas of Community, Justice, and Prisoner Issues; he has been appointed to several State and County Commissions, and has participated on numerous private Boards of Directors. He is an active alumnus of the Black Board of Directors Project, and a Centurion of the Wilberforce Forum. Mr Anderson graduated from Stanford University, where he earned his degree in Communication/Organizational Management; he is also currently a candidate for a Ph.D. in Ministry Leadership through Trinity Theological Seminary.
John Irwin - Instructor
John Irwin. Master's Degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Colorado and a BA in Human Resource Management. John relocated from Denver, Colorado in 2005, where he was an employment specialist for the Inman Work and Family Center, a division of the Colorado Department of Corrections. John has done extensive studies in the area of recidivism and in the arena of reintegration and recently became a member of the Community Reintegration Coalition in Phoenix. John's background includes banking, non-profit management, corporate management and research, however his passion is the development of networks that can help ex-offender's effectively and successfully re-enter the community and live productive and meaningful lives...allowing the individual to achieve the goals they want to reach and realize who they and what they could be.
