NCET Biz Tips: Creative solution to finding employees leads to inmates turning lives around

During January’s NCET Tech Wednesday, participants were guided through the nearly 37,000 square-foot Marathon Truck Body facility. We were expecting to learn about chassis, lift gates, ramps, electric options, etc. We walked away with a wonderful story about management’s creativity, and stories of redemption.

Like just about everyone else in the region — Roger Balz, general manager of Marathon Truck Body, was having a hard time finding employees. (After all, recent data shows there are 1.4 jobs available for every unemployed worker.)

“I had tried everything, every avenue that you typically would and it just was not coming up well,” Balz said. Eventually, he was connected to Northern Nevada Transitional Housing (NNTH) — a residential restitution center for non-violent, non-sex offender inmates who are within 18-months of term expiration or parole eligibility. The NNTH happens to be conveniently located three miles down the street from Marathon.

At Tech Wednesday, Balz was telling us how successful he was in finding reliable employees through this work release program when another one of our tour guides, Cody Edmisten, volunteered that he used to be one of Marathon Truck Body’s inmate workers. Edmisten’s original sentence was to serve four-to-14 years for sales of narcotics. Today, a free man, Edmisten is the Lead Production Supervisor.

He reflected back on what his mentality was like while an inmate.

“I wanted to change everything I was doing in my life. Change my attitude most importantly,” Edmisten said. “So, I was like, ‘I need to go work with my hands.’ Marathon was convenient. It was down the road. I was able to get out of my wheelhouse, get out of my comfort zone.”

“I give everybody a shot,” Balz said. “When you start working with these guys and start learning their stories, and their problems with addiction and these kind of things… it’s hard to break. Some guys do it and some guys can’t.”

According to Nevada Department of Corrections Deputy Director Bill Quenga there are 100 inmates participating in a work release program in Northern Nevada. Reno/Sparks has the lions’ share with 94 inmate workers, and there’s one employer in Lyon County who employs six inmates.

“At the Nevada Department of Corrections, we know the most effective way to help offenders find success after incarceration is through meaningful employment,” Quenga said. “We are grateful to our community partners who allow these offenders the opportunity to gain marketable skills that will help them transition into productive members of society.”

At Marathon Truck Body the inmate workers are paid at the same rate as civilians. The state deducts about half of the inmates’ payroll for restitution, child support, and other line items outlined in Nevada Revised Statutes. Still, inmate workers leave with a lot more in hand upon release than the typical convict.

“I had a nice chunk of money, I had a job in place already,” Edmisten said. After six years and three months, he was released from the system. His job at Marathon Truck Body continued. “With my charm and good looks and hard work - Roger gave me a shot at supervisor.”

The mutual respect between Edmisten and Balz is very apparent, with the latter confirming he’s very proud of the younger man.

“He’s like a son I’ve never had now,” Balz said. “In a lot of ways I treat him like a son because I’m very hard on him. I don’t let him get away with anything.”

“I love it. I’ve learned a lot. Just life lessons and professional lessons,” said Edmisten. “There’s nothing that we can’t do, and nothing that we can’t solve.

“I tell everybody it was a Godsend… I’m making it. I’m doing it. And it’s huge.”

Potential employers may contact Deputy Director Quenga directly at wquenga@doc.nv.gov or 775-848-2457.

NCET is a member-supported nonprofit organization that produces educational and networking events to help people explore business and technology.

Sarah Johns is president and Chief Executive Officer of NCET - Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology. Sarah joined NCET in 2022 when Dave Archer retired after 16 years at the helm. Sarah has extensive experience in communications and networking with 20 years experience in television. She has also worked as Director of Public Relations for a tech startup, and most recently she was the Public Information Officer for the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Sarah was recognized in 2017 by the Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network as one of Northern Nevada’s 20 Under 40. In 2018, Sarah received the 2018 Sierra Nevada Top-20 Powerful Women award from Northern Nevada Business Weekly. When not working to further the NCET mission, you can find Sarah spending time with her husband Dave Lawrence Johnson, their two young children, and two rescue dogs.