For numerous individuals reentering society after serving prison terms, starting a business offers a practical way to sustain themselves and their families. Establishing a means of income not only supports their loved ones but also aids in evading the alarming rates of reoffending among formerly incarcerated people in the U.S. The nonprofit organization Inmates to Entrepreneurs provides essential business knowledge to those in prison as well as to those who have already completed their sentences.
The following three entrepreneurs are graduates of the program’s eight-week course and have since taken on roles as instructors and board members within this national initiative based in North Carolina. They exemplify the organization’s success stories following incarceration.
Claudia Shivers
Queen Coffee Bean, High Point, North Carolina
As a single mother, Claudia Shivers was juggling three jobs to support her family when the lure of higher pay led her to take on a fourth job in tax preparation. This quickly evolved into a full-time role that allowed her to care for her five children while keeping her summers free for family time. However, her entrepreneurial ambitions took a drastic turn when she was sentenced to 21 months in prison for submitting false tax returns.
During her wait to serve her sentence, she worked a job at Starbucks, which sparked her aspirations post-incarceration. “I have a knack for numbers and an entrepreneurial spirit,” she states. “We were pulling in about $50,000 weekly at Starbucks. I thought, if I could earn just five percent of that, I would feel wealthy. Earning $5,000 weekly would make me feel affluent.” While incarcerated, Shivers drafted a business plan for her coffee roastery, named in honor of her grandmother, Queen Esther.
Upon her release, she discovered Inmates to Entrepreneurs through social media and considered it a temporary retreat until she figured out her next steps. “Most of the instructors had similar backgrounds. I found myself in a Zoom call with 100 others who were there for the same purpose,” she recalls. The workshops provided not only a platform to grow her business but also a supportive network of peers sharing similar experiences. The connection and encouragement she received played a pivotal role in overcoming the paralyzing depression she faced upon her release.
Encouraged by instructors to “aspire high but begin small,” she opted to practice roasting coffee beans with $130 popcorn poppers in her home instead of hunting for funding for a $20,000 industrial roaster. Even those poppers were a challenge for her budget after incarceration, but she began to flourish by buying and reselling small quantities of flavored beans and beverages. “I understood the importance of starting small. It enables one to manage growth and steer the business while learning,” she explains.
Queen Coffee Bean has since evolved beyond Shivers’s home kitchen, turning into a full-fledged coffee shop alongside her commercial roasting facilities. Throughout her journey, she faced detractors. “When you say, ‘I’m going to create something out of nothing,’ people often can’t visualize your vision. You have to win them over—and you really have to sell it,” she describes.
Josh Nowack
Breaking Free Industries, Santa Ana, California
Having served time for felony fraud via embezzlement, Josh Nowack understood that returning to a corporate job was improbable. “Securing employment after incarceration is extraordinarily challenging, especially if you aspire to more than just menial positions. I hold an MBA and was a CPA. Yet, I found myself trying to get a job at the grocery store, and they looked at me as if to say, ‘What are you doing here?’” he confirms. “I realized the only way to move forward was to create my own path. It became a necessity.”
The desire to provide for his family—legally—was a significant motivating factor. “This is my one shot with my children. I won’t get a second chance. That’s it,” he remembers. After his time in prison, he also confronted health issues related to a severe heart condition that required surgery and recovery.
Despite lacking experience in the T-shirt printing industry, he recognized that it had a lower barrier to entry and decided to take a risk. He founded Breaking Free Industries in February 2020 using $400 that a fellow congregation member gifted him. This required him to set aside pride and seek assistance, given that his professional network and financial credibility had diminished post-incarceration. “I’m a felon. I made a mistake. What can I do to rewrite my story?” he reflected at that moment.
Nowack made it a priority within his enterprise to offer second chances, not just for himself but also for other formerly incarcerated individuals whom he employs at a competitive wage. “Many individuals wish to offer another chance to those who have been in prison,” he comments.
Even with an MBA from Duke, Nowack acquired crucial insights as a participant in Inmates to Entrepreneurs. He explains, “The most significant lesson is that foundational elements are often overlooked. How do you attract clients? What’s your business vision? Are you implementing the fundamental strategies to generate income?”
Nowack believes that individuals who have been incarcerated are particularly suited for entrepreneurship. When he attended the Inmates to Entrepreneurs program, he heard from former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who served an eight-year term for corruption. Nowack recalls Blagojevich stating, “‘If you can endure incarceration, entrepreneurship is remarkably easier. People claim business is tough. I say, spend time in federal prison—that’s tough.’”
He believes that individuals who have been incarcerated possess many transferable abilities. They have transitioned from survival strategies on the streets to legitimate entrepreneurial hustles. However, they often require assistance with business concepts and developing the right mindset.
Inmates to Entrepreneurs teaches more than basic business principles; it empowers formerly incarcerated individuals with confidence. “Coming out of prison, there’s immense shame and self-criticism. We’ve all made errors, and sometimes incarceration is the consequence… but personally, it’s about what actions you’ll take moving forward,” he affirms.
Scott Jennings
ServiceRX, Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina
Scott Jennings reflects that his entrepreneurial journey began when he sold candy from drugstores on the playground in elementary school. However, by the age of 15 or 16, he started channeling his entrepreneurship into selling drugs to fuel his addiction. This path continued into his 30s until he was apprehended and imprisoned.
Upon his release, he accepted whatever work he could find, including landscaping in the sweltering summer heat of North Carolina, where he struggled at 37 years old to make $9.50 an hour. “I felt like I was serving a second sentence. We’ve completed our time, yet the repercussions following our release linger,” he explains.
He eagerly accepted the opportunity to work indoors repairing fitness equipment, despite his lack of knowledge in that area. Recognizing a chance to launch his own business, he started his company in 2011 with “a 1986 Toyota pickup for service calls, a toolbox, $75 to my name, and a healthy dose of desperation.” He keeps a photo of the roach-infested trailer he once lived in as a constant reminder of his journey and growth.
“There were times when I feared everything would collapse. It has been daunting,” he admits. “You can launch a business with $0 and sheer willpower, but it requires hard work.” Now rebranded as ServiceRX, his company has expanded into four states, and he has two franchisees with discussions underway for a third.
While still incarcerated, Jennings completed the eight-week course with Inmates to Entrepreneurs and has remained active in the organization post-release, even representing it and his fellow entrepreneurial peers at a White House event.
He asserts that even if course participants do not ultimately establish their own businesses, they emerge as improved employees due to the skills they acquire during the program. “If they need to reintegrate as employees, they’ll have a better understanding of the challenges faced by their superiors. I wasn’t a good employee; I always thought, ‘Why can’t we do this differently?’ Many employers dislike constant questions,” he notes.
While the organization can be life-changing, Jennings emphasizes that the true transformation must come from within. “A prior roommate shared a valuable insight that resonated with me while I was in prison. He said, ‘Scott, you are the common denominator of your life.’ Many fail to realize they are responsible for their circumstances. If things repeatedly go awry, they need to reflect on themselves rather than blaming others or making excuses,” he shares. Inmates to Entrepreneurs is a resource for those willing to seize their second chances. “That’s the essence of our purpose: to offer hope to individuals who are genuinely seeking it and are ready to put in the effort.”
