“Can’t Put a Price Tag on Priceless Change”: Stephanie Martin & A Chance Re-Employment and Training Agency, LLC

Stephanie Martin attained two master’s degrees from the University of Saint Francis because her focus was on changing the rules of health care from within as a member of the legislature.  She believed healthcare costs were too much and that people weren't getting the services they deserved. 

Martin was working at a state agency as a reemployment coordinator for seven years and saw that…again…most individuals weren’t receiving the services they needed.  She said God led her in this other direction.  “I didn’t quit my job because I hated my job,” she said.  “I loved my job.”

A Chance Re-Employment and Training Agency (ACRE) officially started on October 1, 2018.  Her company “assists individuals who have occupation barriers to employment with free workplace training in preparation for suitable and sustainable employment,” Martin deftly described.  That means helping those with criminal history, disabilities, veterans, displaced workers, or individuals from marginalized groups (African-Americans, Hispanics, Burmese refugees).  “I help them understand what its necessary in order for them to be successful in the workplace,” she said.  And “I am blessed the city feels that what I’m doing for the community is worthy of being honored.”

Martin was the recent recipient of the Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc.’s Bridge Program sponsorship; as per the program, Bridge Investor Ambassador Enterprises will sponsor Martin’s GFW Inc. membership dues for a five-year period. ACRE was one of 15 local startups that will now receive full investor benefits, including access to investor-only events and tailor-made educational and networking programs.  Renata Robinson, director of small business development at GFW Inc., and SEED (Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District) Executive Director Trois Hart both urged Martin to apply.

“I’m not going to lie, I didn’t think I was going to get it,” Martin said.  “I was in shock.”  ACRE also received the $1,000 Farnsworth Fund grant (now rebranded Fortitude Fund) for entrepreneurs.

Martin estimated that about 95% of the individuals she serves are black…a majority of them are men.  Almost all of the jobs her company partners with are physically-demanding; most of her potential female employees prefer administrative or nursing work.  But Martin said that it’s hard to place women in those fields if they have a criminal record.  “I’m not saying it’s impossible because I’ve done it,” she said.   

ACRE’s getting more “lighter duty” jobs now, including new services the company now provides.  Martin is the co-owner of S and P Transportation LLC that provides transportation for her employees and others; there might be jobs available for drivers. 

Not even a year into her business and Martin can boast she works with every state and federal agency to place her employees (probation, house arrest and work release programs), as well as local ones (YWCA, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, and Wayne Township).  “We’ve been able to place [them] in all areas of employment they didn’t think they could get placed,” Martin said.  “And they’re making good money.”

And we’re using the word “employees” here because technically they (around 42 of them as of this issue’s printing) work for Martin’s company.  200 candidates have been placed by ACRE since it was established.  Martin has roughly ten that she’s placed directly with a company…she’s also a recruiter.  These are work-to-hire direct placement jobs; she does not run a typical temp agency.  After a 90-day probation period of 40-hours/week, 9-to-5 work, Martin’s employees are hired in.

Her emphasis is on “increasing production and decreasing turnover” with quality employees; her training, structured and matching the conditions of a regular job, tends to wean out the unmotivated.  Her doors are locked at 9 a.m. for the training sessions. No horseplay. “If you can make it through my three-day training, you can make it through a 40-hour work week,” Martin said.

Employees have to look presentable during the training.  "You determine how other people view you; you should never allow others to make that determination for you.”  That’s Martin’s motto.  She focuses on the candidates from a holistic approach; she understands their barriers, she said, because she’s faced many of them herself.

Stephanie Martin, MBA, MHA, CEO/Owner

A Chance Re-Employment and Training Agency (ACRE), LLC

1830 Wayne Trace

Fort Wayne, IN 46803

Office Phone: 260.387.6602

Email: AChanceReemployment@gmail.com