ABOUT
WorkNet staff include core team members, a small group of expert consultants, and certified professionals who are experienced and capable of delivering our high standard of quality care and services. Each team member is committed to and believes in providing positive outcomes for our clients. We design our client services based on current criminogenic research and evidence based practices. WorkNet's Executive Director, Chas Williams, is a front-line working member of the team with client training, mentoring, and counseling responsibilities as well as his executive administrative duties.
OUR FOUNDER
Chas Williams
Founder, Executive Director & President
Chas has had a long career in workforce development and has worked with various populations including youth, houseless individuals, and ex-offenders transitioning back to the community. Earlier in his career, he managed youth programs as the Director of Hale Kipa, managed several employment programs when he worked for the City and County of Honolulu, and managed his own company that provided consulting and business services to commercial and non-profit organizations. Chas graduated from the University of Hawaii with a special Bachelor's degree in the field of Urban Problems. This degree combines studies in psychology, sociology, and economics. When he founded WorkNet in 2000, Chas focused the agency's mission to provide reentry services for offenders transitioning back to the community.
Chas has been trained as a specialist in Cognitive Skills, Offender Workforce Development, Motivational Interviewing and Employment Assessment. He has been a trainer at the National Institute of Corrections specializing in Offender Employment Placement. Chas also designed the WorkNet LifeStiles® Vocational Inventory and Offender Service Profile.
OUR TEAM
Stephanie Ann
Women's Services Specialist
Stephanie has worked in the field of human services for 35 years and has a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Her focus is on women offenders where she provides pro social classes that include cognitive skills, improving relationships, parenting, domestic violence, and anger management. In her role as the Women's Services Specialist, she facilitates a cognitive intervention class for the women's jail population for 50-60 women per week. She also provides individual counseling and family therapy services. Stephanie has been in her current role with WorkNet as a Women’s Specialist for 5 years.
Mo Kalaikai
CARE Project - Artist in Residence/Art Instructor
Mo joined our Correctional Arts Reentry (CARE) Project as a contributing community artist in October 2014. He developed his artistic talents when he was 5 years old as a self-taught artist and has had a lifetime of experience with different styles of drawing techniques. HIs ability to create a versatile number of artistic styles from animation to photo real has allowed us to illustrate both training material, individual lessons in thinking errors, flyers, and other PR material. As our Artist in Residence, Mo has been illustrating our Cognitive Skills curriculum case studies and contributing designs for CARE project products that will be sold to the public. You can purchase Mo's art work in our online Art Store.
OUR PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS
Ruby Menon
CARE Project - Program Consultant
Ruby has had a career in human resources management in healthcare, technology, and non-profit industries. Concurrently, she has provided HR and workforce development consulting services to WorkNet, and is also the co-designer of the WorkNet LifeStiles® Vocational Inventory and Offender Service Profile. Her role has involved managing product development of the online version of the WorkNet LifeStiles® inventory, launching and managing WorkNet's Inmate Art program, the CARE Project, and managing special projects including social media presence and community collaboration. Ruby recently made a career shift to pursue her love of technology and has worked as a product manager in a tech startup and more recently as a Salesforce Business Analyst/Project Manager. She is still actively involved in the CARE project to find venues to market and sell CARE inmate art products. Ruby has an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Development.