Worth more than our worst decisions.

My name is Jason and I am the founder and CEO of FreeWorld. I'm also formerly incarcerated.

My name is Jason and I am the founder and CEO of FreeWorld. I'm also formerly incarcerated. I was incarcerated for a 1st degree felony (Aggravated Robbery) at the age of 15. I was given a 12-year sentence at a maximum security prison in Texas.

When I was released, I felt lost. The world had passed me by. Before I went to prison I had a flip phone; when I was released, everyone was carrying around an iPhone 3. The first time I saw that I said, “what the fuck is an iPhone.” Times sure had changed.

Parole required me to get a job. Every time I applied for a job I was denied employment due to my felony. The jobs that would take me, paid less than $10/hour. Stealing and dealing paid better than that, but I knew that the next time I went to prison, I would end up doing life. I wanted to find a better way.

Long story short, I've been blessed in life because good people invested in me, guided me, and believed in me. I earned a double Masters degree, started a few businesses, and married the most beautiful woman in the world.

My life's mission is to end mass incarceration. I plan on doing that by equipping 26 million formerly incarcerated people across the nation with the tools, education, and the jobs they need in order to live positive, productive lives. Right now, that means investing in your education and getting you a badass job as a truck driver. That's why we're doing this. Because we all deserve a legitimate second chance.

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Meet the Team

Alissa Efteland
Grants Manager

Experienced development professional and writer with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit and social services industries.
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Allison Carroll
Education Manager

Educator with 20+ years teaching/facilitation experience in public, private, & corporate education settings.
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Benjamin Bechtolsheim
Chief Operating Officer

Mission driven leader with experience across public, private and non-profit sectors.
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Brigid Toney
Program Manager

MS in Criminal Justice; Worked with returning citizens pre- and post-release on programing and job readiness.
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Heath Pannell
CDL A Theory Instructor

CDL Instructor with 8 years of experience as a dedicated educator and as a CDL A professional driver.
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Hunter Johnson
Success Coach

Strong operations professional. Possess a bachelor degree focused in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
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Jason Long
Senior Engineer

Full Stack Engineer who specializes in improving efficacy for tech-organizations. Previously Incarcerated.
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Jay Gutierrez
Success Coach

Operations specialist with 16 years of experience developing, implementing and scaling evidence-based interventions for vulnerable populations.
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Jeff Lee
Success Coach

Formerly incarcerated pastor and community leader with over 10 years of experience in career development and reentry support.
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Matthew Bedard
Software Engineer

Full Stack Engineer with experience in big data and e-commerce.
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O'Neal Heard
Post-Program & Job Placement Manager

Previously worked as a CDL A Driver. FreeWorld Graduate; Dedicated Team Lead; Previously Incarcerated.
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Priscilla Hung
User Experience Designer

A dedicated optimist who carefully crafts experiences to empower all people to live their best life.
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Ross Patton
Engineering Lead

Engineering Lead with 10+ years of experience. Previously employed by WIRED, Iodine, and GoodRx.
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Shawna Canady
People Empowerment Director

Operations factotum specializing in creating and scaling internal processes for startup organizations.
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Steph Knox
Success Coach

Empathetic coach and educator with a passion for social justice and creating an equitable world for everyone.
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Tiereny White
Marketing & Recruitment Manager

Digital Marketing Specialist with strong commitment to brand growth and awareness through social media platforms.
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Veronica Pearson
CDL A Theory Instructor

Reliable and dedicated CDL holder and instructor with 40 years of experience in trucking, education, and healthcare industries.
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