Staffmark Group is expanding its mission to transform lives through work

Staffmark Group first made headlines with its innovative approach to helping Americans with criminal records rebuild their lives. Launched in early 2023 across five states, the program has already helped hundreds of individuals transition from the justice system back into stable employment.

From second chances to systemic change

The initiative addresses a staggering reality: nearly one in three Americans has a criminal record, yet 98% of companies perform strict background checks that effectively bar these individuals from employment. The program works by connecting participants with Staffmark Group clients who are either second-chance employers or willing to consider candidates with a criminal record on a case-by-case basis, allowing them an opportunity to develop crucial workplace skills. During their post-incarceration transition, comprehensive support continues – from basic life skills to ongoing mentorship.

The results are encouraging: participants report feeling treated with dignity and respect, and clients are happy their roles are being filled by a motivated workforce eager to do well. Success stories include individuals who have reconnected with family members, as well as those who have saved enough to buy cars or provide for aging parents. The program has helped break cycles of reoffending by providing stable employment and a sense of purpose.

Expanding the circle of opportunity

Building on this success, Staffmark Group has dramatically expanded its reach under the RGF Connect umbrella. Matt McGowan, Director of Social Impact, oversees initiatives that now include six additional communities beyond their original work with justice-impacted individuals: young adults, military veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, women who face systemic barriers, and non-citizens.

Foster youth: a partnership born from mentorship

Foster youth face unique challenges when they ‘age out’ of the system at 18, suddenly losing their support network and often becoming homeless without family to fall back on. Staffmark Group has developed partnerships with organizations like Foster Nation and Foster Greatness to address the challenges for these young adults.

“The program provides foster youth with direct access to Staffmark’s job listings nationwide through a specialized portal within the Foster Greatness app, while our teams offer personalized support to match candidates with opportunities. The initiative also provides support through mock interview sessions, coaching, and essential job skills training sessions on topics like workplace communication and how to build a network. We proactively skill market candidates to current clients and prospects, offering them an opportunity to help us make a positive impact in the lives of these young adults,” says Matt.

Military veterans: bridging the gap to civilian life

Many veterans struggle with the transition to civilian employment despite military transition assistance programs that focus mainly on skills like resume writing. The challenge is deeper: veterans often lack guidance on career options and may not know how to translate military experience into civilian roles. As a veteran who struggled for 10 years to find his career path after military service, Matt brings personal passion to Staffmark Group’s military initiatives.

Matt McGowan: “We’ve put individuals into nearly every role that we have in this company and have made some great additions to our team through this program.”

The company participates in the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program, allowing transitioning service members to intern for three to six months while the military continues paying their salary and benefits.

Supporting other communities

As an additional level of support for individuals from impacted groups, Staffmark leverages its Business Resource Groups (BRGs), with each group supporting a specific underrepresented community. These groups help develop workforce readiness programs that are provided to individuals facing barriers to employment through partnerships with community impact organizations.

For example, people with disabilities, seniors, and veterans receive support through a partnership with Easterseals Redwood, which provides job fairs and hosts workforce readiness training. The program has been so successful that the Easter Seals has called requesting additional computer skills and AI training sessions. Staffmark Group is working to expand this regional Cincinnati partnership into a national relationship.

Women facing systemic barriers to employment, such as limited childcare, transportation, or career gaps, also benefit from targeted support through Staffmark Group’s BRG-driven efforts. In partnership with organizations like ARVAC, Inc., Staffmark Group is expanding access to workforce readiness programs in underserved and rural areas. These collaborations provide hands-on training, job skills, and personalized support to help women overcome obstacles and step into meaningful employment.

The company is also developing partnerships with groups like CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), an organization that works with various vulnerable populations including non-citizens and foster youth. Matt shared a story of a Nigerian welder in rural Kentucky who performed so well that the client immediately requested 20 more candidates from similar backgrounds as an outcome they hope to replicate on a larger scale through these partnerships.

Business-focused approach to inclusion

Staffmark Group has found success by emphasizing the business benefits of their inclusion initiatives and appealing to widely shared values.

“For example: many people express strong support for veterans and military families,” Matt explains. “What they don’t always realize is that veterans are a protected class under federal law, making veteran hiring programs part of diversity and inclusion efforts. It’s been a teachable moment – companies aren’t hiring veterans out of charity or because of quotas, but because they see the value they bring. We ask companies to apply that same approach to other underrepresented groups, who are likewise a great source of untapped talent.”

A personal mission with universal impact

For Matt, this work extends far beyond professional responsibility. His decade-long struggle to find meaningful employment after military service drives his passion for ensuring others don’t face the same challenges. Even more personally, he lost an older brother who cycled in and out of the justice system, was unable to find stable employment, and eventually succumbed to drug addiction. “I've often wondered whether, if he had had a chance to get a ‘real job’ that paid him a livable wage and allowed him to get his life back on track, he might still be alive today,” Matt reflects. “Being able to change that outcome for the next person that comes along – it’s deeply personal, not just to me but to a lot of people here.”

More opportunities through partnerships

As the program expands in markets all across the U.S., Staffmark Group demonstrates that business success and social impact can go hand in hand. 

“Our mission is about providing genuine opportunities for people to show what they are capable of,” says Melissa Fulmore-Hardwick, Global Head of RGF Connect. “Through this work, we're rebuilding lives and strengthening communities. This shows how meaningful employment can transform not just individual lives, but entire families and neighborhoods.”