With support from the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Goodwill, and his own perseverance, Tommy Vaughn has returned to commercial driving after incarceration, rebuilding his career and taking a significant step toward financial stability.
For years, Vaughn experienced a recurring cycle of incarceration. After spending an extended period in prison, he faced the challenge of rebuilding his life and establishing financial stability. Although he had previously worked as a commercial driver, his time away meant he had lost the credentials needed to return to the field.
“I needed to be more financially stable and get help,” Vaughn said. “Because when you’re first out of prison, it’s hard to get started back.”
Vaughn took a step toward rebuilding his future by securing a cashier position at Goodwill in Somerset, KY. There, he connected with Rachel Perry, a Goodwill career coach who helped him explore opportunities for advancing his career.
Through their conversations, Perry learned that Vaughn had previously held a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and wanted to return to the profession. Recognizing an opportunity to help him build on his existing experience, Perry connected with Jeremy Lewis, a Career Navigator with EKCEP’s Recovery & Reentry division, to explore funding for CDL training.
Perry’s connection with Lewis helped set the process in motion. EKCEP’s Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) covered the cost of Vaughn’s training at Lake Cumberland CDL school, helping him regain his credentials and return to commercial driving.
The SITE program connects participants with employment and supportive resources to help them overcome barriers to workforce participation. Through collaboration with partners such as Goodwill, EKCEP helps individuals pursuing employment during recovery or reentry access opportunities for training and career advancement.
Vaughn recognized Perry’s role in helping him access the support he needed.
“My Career Coach up there at Goodwill, which would have been Rachel, she’s the one that helped get everything in motion,” Vaughn said.
While preparing for his return to commercial driving, Vaughn continued working at Goodwill. Balancing employment with CDL training required a coordinated schedule, and Goodwill and EKCEP worked together to help him manage both commitments.
“I would work here Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and then I’d go to school Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday,” Vaughn said.
The arrangement allowed Vaughn to maintain his employment while completing the training necessary to pursue his career goal. His determination, combined with the support of his career coach and EKCEP, helped him take the next step toward long-term financial stability.
After completing his training and regaining his CDL credentials, Vaughn secured a driving position with Gonzalez Transportation. In his new role as a hotshot delivery driver, he operates a Ram 3500 pickup truck with a 40-foot gooseneck trailer, transporting loads across the country.
For Vaughn, the new position represents an important milestone in his efforts to build a more stable future. He plans to continue driving while saving for a place of his own. Eventually, he hopes to transition into local driving work so he can spend less time on the road and more time with his children.
Reflecting on the support he received, Vaughn expressed gratitude to Goodwill for providing him with employment and connecting him with EKCEP.
“Thanks to Goodwill for getting me in touch with EKCEP, for giving me a job, and giving me a career coach to help guide me through everything,” Vaughn said. He also offered his thanks to Lewis for his assistance.
Vaughn encourages others facing similar challenges not to give up on their goals.
“Go chase what you want. You know what I mean? There’s people out there to help you,” he said. “Don’t get discouraged and just keep moving forward.”
Vaughn’s journey is a reminder that a person’s past does not have to determine what comes next. With perseverance and the right support, new opportunities can open the door to a different future.
EKCEP’s Strategic Initiative for Transformational Employment (SITE) program helps people affected by substance use disorder obtain and maintain employment through career guidance, access to training, and support to overcome barriers to work. SITE is funded in part through the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort (KORE).
EKCEP is a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Kentucky, serving residents of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.