1insidecca.com

JULY-AUGUST 2013

OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMPANY WWW.INSIDECCA.COM

THE CCA WAY Taking a fresh look at CCA’s Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles

Saguaro Correctional Center’s Warden

Todd ThomasSteps up to lead

GET TO KNOW

TransCor’s New President

500 CCA Team Members including

300 SORT Officers from

62 Facilities for

5 Days of Live Action

OPERATION DIAMONDBACK

Taking emergency preparedness to the next level

DETAILS

Beat the Heat Seven tips to help you

have a safe summer

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In this Issue

InsideCCA is published six times a year by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for employees and their families.

Editor K. Danielle Edwards

Staff Writers DeAndra Mack Stacey Sparrow

Creative Services Daniel Crandall John Diffenderfer

Editorial InternShermaine Nettles

Contact UsWe welcome reader feedback and inquiries. Write to InsideCCA: newsletters@cca.com.

FEatUrES

4 Operation DiamondbackA preparedness exercise of historic proportions

8 renewing the CCa Way Setting the stage for our new Vision, Mission and Values

11 recent Facility LossesClosures, lost contracts create challenges

14 Competing K-9sCCA K-9 teams continue to shine

14 New NaaWS President NamedTodd Thomas takes the reins of national organization

18 Meeting transCor’s Curt SullivanNew president shares goals and strategies

21 attracting Ethical Job SeekersWhy we seek conscientious employees

COLUMNS

3 From the President’s Desk

10 Service awards

12 Facility Focus

13 Facility Spotlight

15 Details

16 Our CCa Family

17 LifeStyle

20 applause applause

22 Our People

24 From the Polls

On the Cover SORT officer Ryan Laviers from CCA’s Florence Correctional Center.

All year, we’re celebrating CCA’s 30th anniversary through our monthly trivia contest. Employees who correctly answer five trivia questions are entered into drawings for amazing prizes. We’ve already given away gift cards, an iPod, airline tickets and more.

REMAINING PRIZES:iPad Mini and Case

Kindle Fire HD and Case

Home Improvement Store Card of Winner’s Choice ($300 Value)

CCA Fleece Jacket and Nike Polo

Hotel Chain Card of Winner’s Choice ($300 Value)

Restaurant Chain Card of Winner’s Choice ($250 Value)

Best Buy Card ($150 Value)

LEARN MORE AT:INSIDECCA.COM

YOU CAN’T

W I N IF YOU DON’T PLAY

Lessons from Operation DiamondbackBy Damon Hininger

Preparing for emergencies is a fundamental aspect of the work we do. As you know,

being ready to respond in the event of a crisis is a constant theme in cor-rections.

A key strength of sound corrections is our emphasis on control. With hardware like keys, gates, doors and cameras, we keep our facilities se-cure. With technology and practices, from special systems and software to detailed policies and procedures, we do our best to keep operations safe, thereby protecting our communities as well as those in our care.

Still, no matter how much we invest in resources or how intricate our pro-cesses are, we cannot control every-thing. That’s why we have to prepare for the unexpected. And that’s why Operation Diamondback was so im-portant for our organization (see page 4).

The 500 CCA employees who at-tended Operation Diamondback in May will share lessons learned and knowledge gained with all of us. In the weeks and months to come, our growth and awareness about emer-gency preparedness will spread as

the SORT members, SORT command-ers, investigators, chiefs of security, assistant wardens and wardens who attended Operation Diamondback put what they learned into practice.

Operation Diamondback was also about building friendships and strengthening professional relation-ships. It was a wonderful opportunity for leadership throughout the or-ganization to come together. It was heartwarming to see SORT members from across the country meeting each other. It was also great to see wardens and chiefs coaching, working with and learning from each other.

Perhaps most of all, one of the most memorable takeaways from Opera-tion Diamondback is how we all be-came a united front — where our job titles, position ranks and seniority sta-tuses took a backseat to the greater purpose of our being together. There were non-ADO staff members lead-ing wardens in exercises. There were also wardens acting as mentors, not administrators, in helping the next generation of correctional leaders through sound advice and casual guidance.

Because of Operation Diamondback,

our yearly incident drills and ongoing in-service training, we are all becom-ing better prepared for emergencies. Of course, we all hope we never have to put into action all the lessons, tac-tics and tips we’re learning. But our 16,000 employees are increasingly capable professionals because of it. n

From the President’s Desk

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“ One of the most memorable takeaways from Operation Diamondback is how we all became a united front.”

All year, we’re celebrating CCA’s 30th anniversary through our monthly trivia contest. Employees who correctly answer five trivia questions are entered into drawings for amazing prizes. We’ve already given away gift cards, an iPod, airline tickets and more.

REMAINING PRIZES:iPad Mini and Case

Kindle Fire HD and Case

Home Improvement Store Card of Winner’s Choice ($300 Value)

CCA Fleece Jacket and Nike Polo

Hotel Chain Card of Winner’s Choice ($300 Value)

Restaurant Chain Card of Winner’s Choice ($250 Value)

Best Buy Card ($150 Value)

LEARN MORE AT:INSIDECCA.COM

YOU CAN’T

W I N IF YOU DON’T PLAY

OperatiOn DiamOnDback

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this is not a test. When disaster strikes, you must know how to respond. If a crisis cannot be averted, you must be

prepared to spring into coordinated action.

Though real-life incidents aren’t tests, inten-sive training beforehand can help us ace them as if they were.

That’s what CCA’s security and operations leaders want us all to know about Operation Diamondback, the company’s mass emer-gency preparedness event held in May at our Diamondback Correctional Facility in Wa-tonga, Okla. The event was the first of its kind for CCA, with every facility participating, to the tune of more than 500 employees on deck.

Operation Diamondback was about to get underway just as the state faced catastrophic storms and F-5 tornadoes that devastated the town of Moore, Okla., located about 80 miles southwest, and other nearby communities. In true CCA fashion, leaders offered the expertise

O P E R A T I O N

Being ready for the unexpected — all the time By K. Danielle Edwards

of our operations and security staff to serve as first responders to the state as they cleared de-bris and rescued residents. But in the throes of such widespread destruction, local, state and national resources came together in the fed-erally declared disaster. CCA’s services were graciously declined — making way for Op-eration Diamondback to proceed as planned.

PrEPPINg FOr thE UNPrEDICtabLEViolent incidents. Planned escapes. Hunger strikes. Food-borne illnesses. Natural disasters. All these — and more — are the contingencies for which those who work in corrections must be prepared.

“Every day, we face the prospect of events beyond our control,” says Harley Lappin, CCA executive vice president and chief corrections

officer. “This can range from the uncertainties of severe weather to the possibility of unpre-dictable behavior of those in our care. That’s why we must be prepared to spring into stra-tegic action at any given moment.”

As with all corrections professionals, CCA’s more than 16,000 employees must always be vigilant, standing at the ready for practi-cally any unforeseen circumstance. And that’s why the chiefs of security, assistant wardens, investigators, SORT commanders, SORT mem-bers and wardens — along with dozens of Facility Support Center representatives from all departments — faced a week of intensive training and classroom sessions on topics like use of force, emergency preparedness, chain of command and more.

But the headline act for Operation Diamond-back was the 24-hour emergency simulation.

UNDErStaNDINg thE SItUatIONAs with real-life incidents at correctional facili-ties, there are many moving parts. And at Op-eration Diamondback, that simulated reality was no different.

Most of the 500 attendees, including leaders from the Facility Support Center such as Op-erations vice presidents and managing direc-tors, played a vital role in the emergency drill. The three simulated incidents included a rec yard disturbance, an incident in a segregation unit and a disruption on a transport bus.

Understanding the inner workings of the Inci-dent Command System (ICS) was continually emphasized during the emergency prepared-ness exercises. The ICS approach, used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), helps government at all levels address, contain and manage incidents. It ensures the coordination of personnel, resources, commu-nication and procedures for events of all types and complexity. This is the model on which CCA’s emergency preparedness in general is based and how Operation Diamondback was structured.

For 24 hours, Operation Diamondback par-ticipants, divided by each of CCA’s Business Units, took part in one of three eight-hour-long incident simulations. Though they all occurred at the same facility, with each of the three classrooms at Diamondback serving as separate command centers, each incident was structured as if it was happening at a different facility. As each Business Unit began its eight-hour shift, they were broken into four groups, each led by an incident commander.

The three incident commanders and their teams for each simulation were stationed in separate rooms. The commanders’ roles were to provide details to the ICS team for each situ-ation. They used radios to communicate with controllers in a separate room, while SORT com-manders assigned to each incident used radios to communicate with the ICS team. This coor-dination led to the simulation of three unique incidents occurring simultaneously, but struc-tured as though they were contained within three separate facilities.

“The actual ICS drill, working with employ-ees from different institutions and getting involved in the process was invaluable,” says Kamala Grant, assistant warden at Mcrae Cor-rectional Facility, who attended Operation

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Continued

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Diamondback with eight colleagues from her facility. “The exercise gives a broader view of what needs to be done in an emergency instance.”

While one group actively managed the incident for two hours non-stop, the incoming group had to be debriefed about the activities — as they would in real life at a facility — before continuing to manage the incident as seamlessly and safely as possible, until it was ultimately resolved.

As in all incidents, there were unexpected twists and turns. And facilitators at Operation Diamondback kept participants on realistic edge by introducing new variables in the already high-stakes situations.

Read more about Operation Diamondback and learn what’s next at www.InsideCCa.com. n

Operation Diamondback ... continued

Understanding the chain of command is crucial when it comes to emergency and incident management. In correc-tions, chain of command is embedded in our culture and well defined by our positions and responsibilities. Simi-larly, chain of command is a centerpiece of emergency response. It may be broken down into the following areas:

Now that all 500 participants have returned to their facilities, their knowledge will be passed on to their colleagues through anticipated training, learning and discussion sessions. Participants will also continue working together to develop a standard CCA Continuous Improvement Program for Emergency Preparedness (CIP/EP).

thE INCIDENt ChaIN OF COMMaND

establish and transfer command

The command function must be clearly established from the beginning of an incident and transfer seamlessly when com-mand is transferred, including briefings that appropriately share pertinent information.

establish a clear chain of command and unity of command

Everyone has someone to report to; this eliminates con-fusion caused by multiple, conflicting directives and clarifies reporting relation-ships during an incident.

create a unified command

With multiple facilities and juris-dictions, multi-agency involve-ment allows for various agencies, organizations and the company to work together effectively with-out affecting agency authority, responsibility or accountability.

Kamala Grant

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Preparing to spring into action

bracing for the exercise

Leaning In, Learning

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at 30, a New Look at Who We areThe CCA Way is refreshed By K. Danielle Edwards

Companies, just like people, naturally grow, change and evolve over time.

When it comes to individuals, such changes could be seen in new hob-bies, a different fashion sense or even other aspects of their personalities emerging into the spotlight. Similarly, when it comes to major companies, such a process may result in a new or-ganizational vision, mission and values.

In our company’s case, that means adjustments to the guiding light we have come to know as The CCA Way.

“It’s healthy to take a new look at who you are every few years,” says Damon Hininger, our president and CEO. “It’s a best practice in many leading com-panies and organizations.”

Since late 2012, Hininger has men-tioned in town halls and facility visits an ongoing exercise to reconsider The CCA Way. As CCA celebrates 30 years, it’s an opportune time for such an analysis. Just as someone who’s turn-ing 30 begins to re-evaluate their pri-orities, goals and even identity, such has been the process for our company that’s now three decades old.

And what’s to come in August and beyond is a renewed CCA Way — one that better represents the CCA of today and tomorrow.

It didn’t happen overnightFor more than two years, members of a special CCA Way committee have been considering our vision, mission and guiding principles, the three components of The CCA Way that have existed since it was established in 2004. With wardens and members of practically every department from the Facility Support Center involved, the committee has examined The CCA Way like never before.

“What kind of company do we want to be?” asks Mark Floyd, CCA man-aging director, Employee Relations, who served as leader of The CCA Way committee. “And what are the foun-dational attributes that define us and will take us there?”

The committee has looked deeply at what our vision to be the “best full-service adult corrections system in the United States” has meant. They analyzed the meanings of our guiding principles — words like accountabil-ity, cost effectiveness, service-driven, innovation, integrity, quality, safety and security, trust, loyalty, teamwork, communication and respect. They even wondered how well people un-derstood or remembered our mission: “In partnership with government, we provide a meaningful public service

by operating the highest quality adult corrections company in the United States.”

“They only way we can realize our vision and achieve our mission is if every CCA employee shows influence in those areas where they have some control,” Floyd says. “It’s a cooperative effort.”

“It’s been a really exciting process and something everyone approached with a lot of enthusiasm,” adds Chuck Keeton, warden at Central arizona Detention Center and a member of The CCA Way committee. “I worked with some very, very bright people who all had great enthusiasm for the task at hand.”

Words matterWords matter, perhaps more than most realize.

“Precision and accuracy were very important,” says Keeton. “True genius is being able to simplify the complex, not vice versa. You’re dealing with perceptions about what a word may mean to me, but also what it may mean to someone else.”

Members of The CCA Way committee deliberated over words for hours at a time. They discussed impressions. They talked about what specific words may

In looking at The CCA Way, CCA’s leadership sought to refine and restate our focus for the future. In their review of the previous version of The CCA Way, they noted:

The Vision was limited to only the United States. While we do not have immediate plans to expand beyond our borders, we do aspire to be the best system regardless of geography.

The Mission was long and hard for some to remember and understand.

We had a lot of Guiding Principles. Few people within our company were able to recite all 12 Guiding Principles verbatim.

The Guiding Principles were broken into two categories, though the values they represented are certainly traits that we seek in all aspects of our work.

Our priorities evolve with time. However, our Guiding Principles wern’t worded to best align with our current objetives and values.

At CCA, our focus is always on our employees. We wanted that to be reflected throughout The CCA Way.

THOUGHTS BEHIND THE REVIEW

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mean to different people. They con-ducted random questionnaires and sample surveys as well to assess opin-ions throughout the company.

Mass appealIn May at Operation Diamondback, the new CCA Way was unveiled before an audience of wardens and assistant wardens by Damon Hininger.

“I think it’s a very timely change,” says warden Chad Miller of Cimarron Cor-rectional Facility, who attended the special presentation. “It specifies exactly who we are and who we want to be.”

The new CCA Way is more memorable.

Keeton says, “We used to do contests to see who could remember the 12 guiding principles. I don’t think we’ll be having those anymore.”

It’s also more inclusive, reflecting the needs and responsibilities of the key audiences our entire company serves each day, internally and externally.

“No matter what your job is, you will find yourself in it,” Keeton says. “And so will many others in our communi-ties and in the world of corrections.” n

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Service awards

30 Years 25 Years 20 Years

20 Years 15 Years

Michael Betrus Kimberly Harris

Samuel Shaw, Jr.

Arnoldo ZepedaJames Baldwin Etta Colbert Robinson

Deana Lopez Wenceslao Mejias

Danny Arthur

Cibola County Correctional Center Cimarron Correctional Facility

South Central Correctional Center

Winn Correctional Center

Central Arizona Detention Facility

Idaho Correctional Center

West Tennessee Detention Facility Bent County Correctional Facility

Webb County Detention Center

Houston Processing Center

Edwin Lujan Kimberley James

Jason Ellis

Jeremy Hensley Juan Ramirez, Jr.Bobby Peace

Marty Garrison Loyal Bowman

Clifford Fielding

Robert Suedhof

Christopher Penn

Charlotte Young

Karen Glass

Fred Alexander

Gerry Bourland

Jimmy Garcia

Coffee Correctional Facility

Davis Correctional Facility Eden Detention Center

Hardeman County Correctional Center Houston Processing Center

Fontella Mason Helen Williams Joseph Taylor Leroy Davis Michele Carpenter Dortha Joy

Facility Support Center

T. Don Hutto

Michael Brookhiser

Brenda Horton

Eloy Detention Center

Florence Correctional Center

Facility Support CenterElizabeth Detention Center

Gwen McMillan Delia Marrufo Kristin Higbee Stacey SnyderJennifer Mosley Sandra Felix

Rose Medellin

Todd Mullenger

Wheeler Correctional Facility

Debra McDaniel Martha Gonzales

San Diego Correctional Facility

North Fork Correctional Facility

Ashley Brownfield

South Central Correctional Center

Connie Benson

T. Don Hutto Residential Center

Michelle Schlottman

Torrance County Detention Facility

Charles Rossignol

Tonee Meiner

La Palma Correctional Center

Jenkins Correctional Center

Ralph Kemp

Laredo Processing Center

Eric Ponce

Marion County Jail II

Teresa Esque

Metro-Davidson County Detention Center

James Harville

Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility

Tony Alford

Nevada Southern Detention Center

Raye Swinea, Jr.

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Service awards

Kathy Koone Beatrice Allen

Whiteville Correctional Facility Winn Correctional Center

Carlas Harris Trinty Minter Alvenia Bills Sylvia Williams Martha Herron Chrissy Chatman

15 Years

10 Years

Bartlett State JailMichael Bartlett Raymond Bennett, Jr. Robert McMinn

Bay Correctional FacilityBrenda Johnson Deana Sulfridge

Bent County Correctional FacilitySusan Wollert

Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer FacilityJanet Armstrong Rosanna Roberts

Central Arizona Detention FacilityTaffy Baca Judith Jones Kimberly Miller

Cibola County Correctional CenterLarry Burbank Shannon ChavezVictoria Desiderio Shaun Eskeets Derk Jones, Jr.

Citrus County Detention FacilityAndrea Slaght

Coffee Correctional FacilityCorey Davis Jamonte Green Malcolm Jones James Lowther Christopher Swinson

Crossroads Correctional FacilityEdward Forrest

Crowley County Correctional FacilityRichard Bachicha James Garcia Davis Correctional FacilityJohn Brewer

Diamondback Correctional FacilityLuther Waggoner

Eden Detention CenterLisa Capps

Elizabeth Detention CenterZakira Elliott Tara Gibbs Edward Stec James Williams

Eloy Detention CenterGlenn Hancock

Facility Support CenterRob Gabbert

Hardeman County Correctional CenterSteven Parram Javoris RobertsonTerry White

Houston Processing CenterJohn Hightower

Idaho Correctional CenterBrandon Delaney Chester Penn Lance Raney Jeffrey Winterholler

Leavenworth Detention CenterJohn Dunagan Robert Westfall, Jr.

Lee Adjustment CenterRichard Jewell

McRae Correctional FacilityJohn BeauchampStephanie Boone Barbara Caldwell Teresa Clark Paul Green III Ricky Hall Annette Logue Henry McMillian, Jr. Natarsha Moye Johnny Sellers Sarah Smith Annese Washington

Metro-Davidson County Detention FacilityPatricia Youngblood

Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer FacilityVicky EvansWayne Spurlin

Nevada Southern Detention CenterDaniel Chaney

Red Rock Correctional CenterSylvia Lopez Irene Reyes

San Diego Correctional FacilityLeasa Danner Debra Inniss Scott Langley Reginald Murrell John Quarles Robert Williams, Jr.

Silverdale Detention FacilityRebecca Sue Smith Theresa Williams

South Central Correctional CenterTracye Sweat

T. Don Hutto Residential CenterMonica Thurman

Tallahatchie County Correctional FacilityJanice Crawford Jeffery Jenkins Debra Johnson Ruth Johnson Kina Love Nora McClinton Brenda Westmoreland Fannie Williams

TransCorChristopher Tamayo

Webb County Detention CenterPatricia Pedraza

West Tennessee Detention FacilityJames GravesCarlos Ilarraza

Wheeler Correctional FacilityMyrtle Evans Melvin Hughes

Whiteville Correctional FacilityBetty Hutcherson Lacondya Jackson Marius Robinson

Wilkinson County Correctional FacilityVigernia Slack

recent Facility LossesCCA loses contracts at Wilkinson, Mineral Wells and Dawson facilities From CCA staff reports

In May, CCA announced it was not awarded a renewed contract with the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) for

the continued operation of the Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in Woodville, Miss. As part of a competitive procurement process, the MDOC has announced that it will enter into negotiations with Management & Training Corporation (MTC) for management operations and with Health Assurance, LLC for

health services at the facility, effective July 1, 2013. CCA provided services at Wilkinson for more than 15 years.

Additionally, in June, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) announced it would not renew management contracts at CCA’s Mineral Wells Pre-Parole transfer Facility in Mineral Wells, Texas or Dawson State Jail in Dallas. Both contracts expire on Aug. 31, 2013. CCA owns the Mineral Wells facility, while

Dawson is owned by the state of Texas. We employed approximately 600 CCA team mem-bers at these two facilities, operating Mineral Wells for 18 years and Dawson for nine years.

CCA has been working to support affected employees by offering transitional career op-portunities at other CCA locations, as well as providing leads to other local employment options. n

InsideCCA ContestFind that Fact!

the following questions ask about facts you’ll find in this issue of InsideCCA. To participate in the contest, e-mail your responses to newsletters@cca.com. Answer all five questions correctly and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win CCA merchandise.

All responses are due by August 30, 2013.

Facility Focus

a glance at recent Facility happenings

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CarINg FOr thE COMMUNIty

Leavenworth Detention Center

1 Members of the Facility Engagement Committee at Leavenworth Detention Center — Wayne Hall, Mat-thew Collins, Deborah Kin-ney and Zen Daniels — pose with the goods the facility donated to the Alliance Against Violence in Leaven-worth, Kan.

2 Many Leaven-worth employees joined Kansas State University’s Re-search and Exten-sion initiative, Walk Kansas. Pictured are team members who logged weekly activity minutes and fruit/vegetable servings for eight weeks. Participants also received weekly newsletters with tips on healthy living.

North Fork Correctional Facility

3 Our people are always ready to spring into action when the need arises. Here, Donald Thurmond of North Fork Correctional Facility is on duty, volunteering with the Red Cross in clean-up efforts after the May tor-nadoes and storms in Oklahoma. He helped serve coffee, water, and snacks to first responders and rescue workers.

4 Employees at North Fork banded together and con-tributed to clean-up efforts in Moore, Okla., after the dev-astating storms.

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1. How many uniformed TransCor employees are based at CCA facilities?

2. Name one facility that was recognized for having gone more than a year without a lost-time accident.

3. How long did the largest-scale mock incident at Operation Diamondback last?

4. Which CCA warden will become president of NAAWS this year?

5. In what desert is California City Correctional Center located? n

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Facility Spotlight

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California City Correctional CenterCalifornia City, Calif. By Stacey Sparrow

In the high desert of the Mojave, California City Correctional Center is surrounded by Joshua trees, barrel cactus, desert tor-

toises, Gila monsters and other interesting flora and fauna. Built and owned by CCA since 1999, California City houses both male and female of-fenders for the U.S. Marshals Service as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Although California City is one of the largest cities in the state, our facility takes advantage of the small community feel,” says warden Bar-bara Wagner. “As a team, we participate in local events, including Red Cross blood drives, pet rescue efforts and many fundraising walks.”

Wagner’s team of approximately 300 employees works daily with de-tainees who are enrolled in programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Arts for Healing, Bible study, English as a second language, hobby craft, musical fellowship and religious services, plus a sewing program for the females at the facility.

“Because of the nature of our population, we offer programs such as addictions treatment, recreation and basic learning,” says Virgil Ensey, chief of unit management. “These programs keep detainees active and engaged while in our care.”

California City is the third-largest city in California, covering 186 square miles in the southeastern region of the state. It’s approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles and within a few hours of Disneyland, Hol-lywood, the Sierra and Mammoth mountains, and beaches. n

Barbara Wagner

Competing K-9s Arizona’s K-9 teams continue to shine By Stacey Sparrow

april is a special time for our CCA co-workers of the four-legged variety. It’s when our

K-9s show their facility families and law enforcement peers what they’re made of.

The Desert Dog Regional Police K-9 Trials are held each year at the Scott-sdale City Stadium in Scottsdale, Ariz. Nearly 55 competitors come from across the nation to compete in the

two-day field exercises. Participating canines and their partners represent police, military, government and se-curity arms of law enforcement.

“We are very proud of our canine part-ners and the work they do every day in our facilities,” says Charles Mason, canine program commander at Eloy Detention Center. “The regional trials are a great way to show off our pride and their excellence.”

Individual field exercises include explosives and narcotics detection, obedience, tactical challenge, build-ing and area search, handler protec-tion, hospital scenario, and “Top Dog.” Team standings apply for overall detection, patrol and, of course, the honor of being named “Tough Dog.”

CCA’s K-9 teams participate exclu-sively in the narcotics detection field exercise. Of the three CCA teams par-ticipating in the exercise — sergeant Allen Holland and K-9 Terko, sergeant Bryant Ogle and K-9 Flo, and sergeant Malcolm Taylor and K-9 Kree — two walked away with trophies: Holland

and Terko with first place, and Ogle and Flo taking sixth. With those wins, CCA also received the first-place tro-phy for top detection agency.

A former competitor and trophy win-ner with his K-9 partners Meeka and Iko, Mason now judges the trials.

“It truly amazes me to see these dogs in action,” he says. “I’m honored to be a part of the regionals where these dogs showcase true strength and commitment.”

It’s important to note that all CCA’s K-9 teams are comprised solely of rescued and donated K-9s, and are trained by CCA employees. Other agencies spend anywhere from $5,000-$10,000 to purchase K-9s.

Since 1999, CCA Arizona K-9 teams have brought home 38 trophies. n

todd thomas: the New NaaWS President By DeAndra Mack

CCA’s own Todd Thomas has been named president of the North American Association of Wardens & Superintendents (NAAWS), an organization that offers networking and training opportunities for corrections professionals, and seeks to improve the industry.

Thomas, warden at Saguaro Correctional Center, officially assumed this new role in August and will serve a two-year term.

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as president,” Thomas says. “I’ve been blessed to have support from Facility Support Center leaders in our efforts with NAAWS. And I have been very lucky to work with such a good group of wardens.”

Thomas follows in the footsteps of other CCA employees who have held NAAWS leadership positions. For example, Sharon Johnson-Rion, former warden and TransCor president, and Melody Turner, managing director, Operations (Division III) both served as president. Johnson-Rion and Turner now sit on the board.

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Malcolm Taylor, Allen Holland and Bryant Ogle pose proudly with their trophies and K-9s.

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DetailsDetails

Keeping your Cool in the Summer heat By John Diffenderfer

Summertime can pose unique safety risks. Rising temperatures and longer days can increase the danger of exposure-related illnesses, such as sunburn, dehydration and heat stroke. In the May 2013 issue of the Zero Accident Safety Culture Newsletter, CCA’s Workplace Safety team shared a few ways to help beat the heat this summer. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Pictured: Thomas Vinson, correctional officer at Eloy Detention Center.

1. Drink plenty of non-caffeinated fluids (water, Gatorade, etc.), totaling about one cup every 15-20 minutes.

2. Stay in the shade as much as possible.

3. Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness (such as elevated heart rate, dizziness and fatigue), and monitor yourself and others.

4. Use cooling fans and air conditioners.

5. Rest often, rotating posts regularly if possible.

6. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothes.

7. Apply sunscreen before arriving for your shift and re-apply frequently. n

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For Wesley Davis, life is all about inspiring others to succeed. That’s a mission he takes seriously, both personally and professionally.

Davis joined CCA in 2009 as a correctional officer at Lake City Correctional Facility, where he now serves as a correctional counselor.

“What I enjoy most about my work is having the chance to change lives, not just the inmates’ lives, but my colleagues’ lives, too,” Davis says.

He often shares with others that at age 40, he’s gone back to school and is earning a college degree. Davis takes online courses through the Florida Institute of Technology

and is now in his junior year. This is especially surprising to offenders at Lake City, who generally range in age from 19-24 years old.

“They come to prison and think their lives are ruined, but I tell them they still have opportunities, and that they’re never too old to start on something,” Davis says. “There are always possibilities.”

Davis often urges offenders to pursue a GED. And he’s been fortunate enough to see the fruits of his labor. For example, on several occasions Davis has encountered ex-offenders who thanked him for encouraging them while they were incarcerated. One former inmate told Davis that he has earned a scholarship and is attending college, thanks in large part to Davis’ coaching.

“Being able to affect someone else and know they’re not going to return to prison is like a paycheck in itself,” he says. “I’ve met my career goal, which is to help some-one turn his life around.”

Davis balances work and educational pursuits with his top priority: his family. He has a wife, four children, two stepchildren and one grandchild. He schedules his days so he can spend time with them in the evenings and dedicate late nights to school work. And he’s setting an example for his kids all along the way.

“I have two kids in college now, and this fall I will have two more in college,” Davis says. “My kids started col-lege earlier than I did, so they’re one step ahead.”

Davis says what keeps him going is the drive to help others and a personal philosophy that has served him well: “If life deals you a lemon, add a little sugar to it and make lemonade. In other words, it might be as bad as you think it is, but look at the positive side, and it’ll get better.” n

Our CCa Family

Meet Wesley DavisCorrectional counselorLake City Correctional FacilityLake City, Fla.

By DeAndra Mack

CCA employees are the lifeblood of our company. They bring many talents, skills, experiences and perspectives to their jobs — and willingly share them with their CCA family. Each issue of InsideCCA spotlights one employee whose contributions to the company serve as a strong example of The CCA Way.

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LifeStyle

Start taking better Pictures todayHow to be more photogenic By Shermaine Nettles

Do you ever feel nervous when someone pulls out a camera to take an impromptu photograph? In the high-tech world that surrounds us, there are

more ways than ever before to take and share pictures.

Once your photo is posted online, thousands of people can instantly view it. To some, this may seem daunting. But did you know you don’t have to look like a model or have the build of an athlete to be photogenic? All you need to do is focus on lighting, posture and confidence.

LIghtINgAn abundance of light usually produces better pictures. If you’re indoors, try to stand next to a window or near a well-lit area. Shadows can emphasize flaws, making them more obvious. Allow the light to fall on your “good side.” To determine the best side of your body or face, practice taking photos at many different angles. Whichever angle produces the most consistently flattering photos can be deemed your good side.

POStUrE A great shot can be ruined by poor posture if your shoul-ders are slumped. It’s important to be aware of how you’re standing or sitting. If you’re in a group picture, wrap your arm around the person standing next to you. If you’re alone, place one hand on your hip with the other arm at your side. Lean your body slightly toward the camera with your good side facing the lens. Look slightly above the camera for a more natural appearance.

CONFIDENCEAlthough it may not seem like a practical application to great photo taking, confidence can really determine whether or not a picture comes out well. Keep the previ-ous tips in mind and smile for the camera! n

18 insidecca.com

a new leader is steering transCor america into its future.TransCor, a subsidiary company of CCA, is the nation’s largest, most experienced non-governmental correctional transport provider. Curt Sullivan officially became president and general manager in December 2012, succeeding Steve Kennedy, who announced his retirement last year.

InsideCCA recently sat down with Sullivan for a Q&A session. Here’s what he shared.

What’s your career path been like?At age 19, I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for 23 years. During my military service, I was responsible for logistics, training and leadership development. I have ex-tensive experience in logistics and support operations with a diverse range of transportation operational management theories and information systems. I was hired at TransCor as assistant director, Special Operations, and was promoted to director and then managing director, Operations. In 2010, I became president and chief operating officer. Last year, I became president and general manager.

Explain the CCa-transCor relationship.TransCor America is a Limited Liability Company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of CCA. Our current business model is to provide CCA and its partners with a safe and cost-effective public service by operating the highest qual-ity prisoner transportation company in the U.S. and abroad.

transCor Moves Forward with Curt Sullivan New president shares goals, strategy

As told to DeAndra Mack

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how many employees currently work at transCor?We have 150 uniformed employees based at nine CCA fa-cilities: adams County Correctional Center, California City Correctional Center, Florence Correctional Center, houston Processing Center, Nevada Southern Deten-tion Center, North georgia Detention Center, Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, Stewart Detention Center and torrance County Detention Facility.

We also have a Special Operations Unit and 36 support pro-fessionals who work at our national headquarters in Nash-ville, Tenn.

What types of careers are available with transCor?The majority of our employees are transportation special-ists, or agents. That position requires expertise in security, corrections and transportation. We also have positions and career professionals in Fleet Management, Human Re-sources, Accounting, Safety and Risk Management, and Lo-gistics. At TransCor, logistics includes detailed planning and carrying out the movement of prisoners safely and securely from one location to another. We plan and manage trips electronically, by the minute.

Why are prisoner transportation services such an important offering as a correctional solution?Regardless of the purpose, transporting a prisoner can be a potentially dangerous assignment. We take very seriously the service we provide because we recognize our responsi-bility to ensure the safety and security of every community we drive through. We have an obligation to our partners and the general public to ensure that their prisoners get from one place to another securely.

What’s your vision for moving transCor forward?We will continue to provide CCA with quality service, and we warmly welcome the opportunity to expand our ser-vices as new opportunities arise. We also look forward to ex-panding our footprint to other CCA facilities as CCA grows.

Outside of CCA, I think we have an opportunity to capture a niche in the industry by providing guard services and paddy wagon services to local-level law enforcement agencies. We did that in West Palm Beach, Fla., for about 10 years, and it was enormously successful. But in 2010, due to budget con-straints, the county had to pull that service off their budget. n

To learn more about TransCor, visit www.transcor.com or Facebook.com/transCoramerica.

Did you know TransCor . . .

Transports about 125,000 prisoners annually and drives about 2.6 million miles throughout our network

Moves 500 offenders on average every day

Conducts about 7,800 air and ground trips annually and reached a milestone in 2010 of having moved one million offenders

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timelineTonee Meiner May 27, 2013

On this day, La Palma Correctional Center honors those we knew and loved and those we never met. Thank you to all of the men and women that have served in the past and continue to serve in the present.

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Discover, share and connect: Facebook.com/CorrectionsCorp

Corrections Corp. of America May 20, 2013

Inmates at CCA Cimarron Correctional in Cushing, Oklahoma, get crafty with birdhouses. Their finished work is now up for silent auction to help raise funds for the facility’s Relay for Life team to benefit people battling cancer.

Scott Leatherwood You go, Case Manager Laura Green. May 30 · Like

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TRACKINg TEAM SAFETy

The following facilities have gone more than a year without a lost-time accident (as of press time):

Facility Date of Last Lost-time accident

Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer Facility May 10, 2012

Idaho Correctional Center January 18, 2012

McRae Correctional Facility April 12, 2012

T. Don Hutto Residential Center April 28, 2012

Applause applause

ACA ACCREDITATIoN

Congratulations to the following facilities on their recent accreditations by the American Correctional Association and their high scores:

Facility aCa ScoreCrossroads Correctional Center 99.76%

Jenkins Correctonal Center 100%

Lake City Correctional Facility 100%

Marion Adjustment Center 100%

McRae Correctional Facility 99.77%

Northeast Ohio Correctional Center 99%

todd thomas: the New NaaWS President ... continued from page 14

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Kevin Myers, managing director, Operations (Division V) represented NAAWS on the American Correctional Association’s (ACA) Board of Commissioners for Ac-creditation for eight years.

“These three paved the way for us in the organization,” Thomas says.

Thomas joined NAAWS in 2000 and has served on the executive board for nearly 10 years as treasurer, second vice president and first vice president. As president, he will work with the executive director and the board to plan the organization’s annual conference and ACA meetings. He’ll also work to maintain and grow the organization’s membership. Additionally, Thomas will work with the Make A Smile Foundation, a non-profit organization that NAAWS helped form.

NAAWS currently has 1,100 members, and Thomas aims to focus recruitment ef-forts on the states where there’s ample opportunity to grow.

“If each person can recruit just one active member, imagine the good we can do,” he says.

Another of Thomas’ goals is to attract younger members and help them prepare for correctional leadership roles. They, in turn, can bring fresh perspectives to the organization.

“Being part of NAAWS will expose you to the world of corrections beyond your particular agency,” Thomas says. “If you’re looking to further your career in cor-rections, there’s really no reason to not get involved.” n

To learn more about NAAWS, visit http://naaws.corrections.com.

ACA ACCREDITATIoN

Congratulations to the following facilities on their recent accreditations by the American Correctional Association and their high scores:

Facility aCa ScoreCrossroads Correctional Center 99.76%

Jenkins Correctonal Center 100%

Lake City Correctional Facility 100%

Marion Adjustment Center 100%

McRae Correctional Facility 99.77%

Northeast Ohio Correctional Center 99%

todd thomas: the New NaaWS President ... continued from page 14

attracting Ethically Minded Job SeekersWhy it matters By the CCA Ethics Office

CCA remains committed to an ethical culture, from the top down. Instilling ethical practice is a key pri-ority and has significant benefits for our workplace.

One such benefit is attracting morally minded job seekers. As companies compete to attract workers with coveted skills and a strong moral compass, organizations like ours must be proactive in creating a strong ethical identity.

Why is this so important?

Ethically conscious job seekers want to know about the val-ues, mission and culture of a company, even before they apply for a position. They want to know how employers address topics related to ethics and compliance. Plus, they increasingly care about how companies approach topics like sustainability and diversity. They want to know about channels available to report concerns. They also need op-portunities to voice their opinions, and they care about having systems in place that show technological innova-tion. Increasingly, job seekers search online to find out more about companies — essentially “interviewing” the would-be employer before even taking the first step in completing a job application.

That’s why CCA focuses on best-in-class systems and pro-cesses to maintain an ethical workplace that attracts quali-fied professionals. As we seek to become a better place to work, opportunities like employee engagement and profes-sional development are becoming more prominent. n

CCa fares well in critical areasFormalized policies and Code of Conduct √

Code of Conduct training √

Ethical leadership team √

Transparency and open communication √

Established reporting channels √

Exhibits corporate social responsibility √

Mechanisms in place to address reports of misconduct

√

FaQs that gauge ethical workplace culture• ArethereformalizedpoliciesandaCodeofConduct/

Ethics?

• Istheresystematictraininginethicalpracticesfornewemployees and refresher training for the general em-ployee population?

• Doesethicaltrainingspanallstrataoftheorganization,and are leaders committed to ethics and compliance?

• Whatisthetoneatthetop?

• Are employees at all levels held accountable for misconduct? Are reports of misconduct seriously con-sidered?

• Is there organizational transparency and disclosureof information? Does the company have a corporate social responsibility statement that reflects social and environmental consciousness?

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CaLIFOrNIa

John Weaver has been promoted to assistant warden at San Diego Cor-rectional Facility. Weaver joined CCA

in 2011 as chief of unit management at Crossroads Correctional Center. He started his career as a correctional counselor at the New York State Department of Corrections. He also spent nearly 15 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he worked as a unit manager, correctional pro-grams manager, executive assistant, special appointee to the U.S. Parole Commission and advisor to the U.S. Parole Commissioner before joining the Foundation for Correctional Inno-vation and the Montana Department of Corrections.

COLOraDO

Bobby Bonner has been promoted to warden at Kit Carson Correctional Cen-ter. Bonner joined CCA in 2004 as case

manager at Crowley County Correc-tional Facility, where he also served as unit manager and chief of unit management. He then transferred to the formerly CCA-operated Huerfano County Correctional Center as chief of unit management and later joined Kit Carson Correctional Center in the same role. He was later promoted to assistant warden at California City Correctional Center. Prior to joining CCA, Bonner worked for the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, where he started as a correctional of-ficer and promoted through the ranks to corporal, sergeant and operations lieutenant. He holds a bachelor’s de-gree in criminal justice from Wash-burn University.

FLOrIDa

Jeff Bowe has been named assistant warden at Lake City Correctional Facility. Bowe brings 25 years of corrections experi-

ence from the Federal Bureau of Pris-ons, where he started as a correctional officer and worked at nine different facilities before retiring as associate warden.

Todd Wasmer has been promoted to chief of security at Citrus County Deten-tion Facility. Wasmer joined CCA in 2005

as a correctional officer at the formerly CCA-operated Hernando County Jail, where he also served as senior correc-tional officer, assistant shift supervisor and shift supervisor. He became shift supervisor at La Palma Correctional Center, where he was promoted to assistant chief of security. Wasmer served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant and a non-commissioned officer spe-cializing in training and Equal Op-portunity Employment. He holds a bachelor’s degree in applied manage-ment from Grand Canyon University.

gEOrgIa

Calvin Blue has transferred to Stew-art Detention Center as assistant warden. Blue joined CCA in 1997 as a detention

officer at Houston Processing Center, where he later served as recreation supervisor. He became shift supervi-sor at Torrance County Detention Facility, where he also held the posi-tions of assistant chief of security and chief of security. He was later chief of unit management at T. Don Hutto Residential Center, where he was pro-moted to assistant facility administra-

tor. Before joining CCA, Blue worked as a detention officer at Curry County Jail in Clovis, N.M.

Shelton Richardson has transferred to Stewart Detention Center as warden. Richardson joined CCA in 2004 as a de-

tention officer at Houston Processing Center. He was promoted to assistant chief of security at Correctional Treat-ment Facility, where he also served as assistant warden before being named warden at Leavenworth Detention Center. Before joining CCA, Richard-son spent 22 years with the Texas De-partment of Criminal Justice, where he started as a correctional officer and retired as senior warden. He served for 28 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a master sergeant.

Stacey N. Stone has transferred to McRae Correctional Facil-ity as warden. Stone joined CCA in 2005 as chief of security

at McRae, where he was promoted to assistant warden, Operations. He later became warden at North Geor-gia Detention Center and transferred to Stewart Detention Center in the role. Before joining CCA, he spent nine years with the Georgia Depart-ment of Corrections, promoting from correctional officer to deputy warden, Security. Before entering corrections, Stone served in the Georgia Army Na-tional Guard for 12 years.

IDahO

Jason Ellis has trans-ferred to Idaho Cor-rectional Center as warden. Ellis joined CCA in 1993 as a correctional officer

at Metro-Davidson County Deten-tion Facility, where he also served

Our People

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Our People

as assistant shift commander, shift commander and SORT commander. He became chief of security at the formerly CCA-operated Mountain View Correctional Institution. He later served as chief of security and assistant warden at Citrus County Detention Facility. He transferred to the formerly CCA-operated Wilkinson County Correctional Facility as assis-tant warden before being promoted to warden at Citrus. Ellis later became warden at Graceville Correctional Fa-cility. He holds a master’s degree in management from Northcentral Uni-versity.

Chris Penn has transferred to Idaho Correctional Cen-ter as chief of se-curity. Penn joined CCA in 1998 as a

correctional officer at North Fork Correctional Facility, where he was promoted to sergeant. He later served as sergeant at the formerly CCA-oper-ated David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center, where he also served as a lieutenant and where we was also a captain. He went to Idaho as a captain and was promoted to training man-ager before joining the formerly CCA-operated Prairie Correctional Facility as chief of security. He transferred to Crowley County Correctional Facility as chief of security, and later held the same role at Eden Detention Center. Prior to joining CCA, Penn worked at the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office.

tENNESSEE

Mitchell L. Brad-shaw has been pro-moted to assistant warden at Hardeman County Correctional Facility. Bradshaw

joined CCA in 2012 as chief of security at Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility. Before joining CCA, he spent three years at Boulder County Correc-

tional Facility in Boulder, Colo., where he worked as a correctional officer. He later spent 24 years with the Texas De-partment of Criminal Justice, where he started as a correctional officer and promoted through the ranks, working as sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and assistant warden before retiring.

tExaS

Yves Forges has been promoted to chief of security at Houston Process-ing Center. Forges joined CCA in 2006

as a detention officer at Houston, where he has also served as shift supervisor, administrative captain, transportation supervisor, and receiv-ing and discharge supervisor. Before joining CCA, he spent nearly 22 years with the Texas Department of Crimi-nal Justice, where he held various po-sitions including sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major before retiring. He served for six years in the U.S. Army.

Thomas Hopkins has been promoted to chief of security at Willacy County State Jail. Hopkins joined CCA in 1995 as a

disciplinary officer at Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility, where he also served as STG investigator, grievance officer, correctional officer, senior correctional officer, assistant shift supervisor and shift supervisor. He transferred to Bartlett State Jail as shift supervisor and later held the same role at Mineral Wells, where he also served as unit manager and facil-ity investigator. Hopkins served for two years in the U.S. Army.

Rodney Johnson has been named chief of unit management at Houston Process-ing Center. Johnson joined CCA in 2007

as a shift supervisor at Correctional Treatment Facility and transferred to Leavenworth Detention Center and Houston in the same role. He was promoted to chief of security at Hous-ton. Before joining CCA, he spent 23 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, where he started as a correctional officer and worked as a sergeant, lieutenant and captain be-fore retiring.

FaCILIty SUPPOrt CENtEr

Tom Shaw has been named director, E-discovery Counsel. Shaw joined CCA in 1995 as an academic instructor at Metro-

Davidson County Detention Facility, where he was promoted to instructor supervisor before joining the Facility Support Center as manager, Educa-tional Services. He was later named director, Educational Services. Shaw holds a bachelor’s degree from West-ern Kentucky University and a juris doctor degree from Nashville School of Law.

John Baxter has been named vice president, Health Services. Baxter joined CCA in 2008 as director, Mental

Health Services. He has more than 30 years of experience in correctional health. Before joining CCA, he spent 24 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where he held a variety of roles, including psychology services administrator. He holds a master’s de-gree from Harding Graduate School of Religion and a doctoral degree in human development counseling from Vanderbilt University. n

From the Polls

there’s a lot happening in our lives, in and out of the workplace. That’s why each week, our readers get to weigh in on new, timely topics on InsideCCA.com. Be sure to visit and make your opinion

count! Here are some recent poll results.

Q

according to a recent study by Northwestern University researchers, salt levels in processed foods and fast foods remain dangerously high. Do you watch your salt intake?

Yes, I try hard to keep appropriate levels of salt in my diet.

45%

I monitor my salt intake somewhat. 40%

No, I haven’t tried to maintain a low-sodium diet.

15%

Q

tornadoes recently ripped through the plains and the Midwest. Do you have an emergency plan in the event of severe weather like this in your area?

Yes, I have an emergency plan. 21%

I have a general idea of what to do. 46%

No, I don’t have an emergency plan. 33%

24 insidecca.com

I wrote a novel

and got it published.

Without CCA, I probably

wouldn’t have tried.

My name is Sheena Zernicek. I like comic books and telling stories.

I’m a correctional counselor in Texas.

IamCCA.com

Do you know someone who represents the diverse

culture that is CCA? Go to IamCCA.com and nominate

him or her before the next season of filming begins!