A career shaped by second chances
As Jesse Teverbaugh retired after 23 years at Cara Collective, he reflected on a journey that began during one of the most difficult periods of his life. He was facing foreclosure, bankruptcy, the loss of a long-term job, and recovery from relapse. A visit from Cara Collective to the recovery home where he was living gave him a chance to consider a different future.
Beginning again
Jesse entered the program without certainty that it would work. What he found was structure, accountability, and a community that made space for people to be honest about their struggles while still being seen for their strengths. His early jobs were humble: front-desk work, helping open the clothing closet, and distributing newspapers. But those roles helped him reconnect with the dignity of work and the value of showing up consistently.
Over time, Jesse developed a disciplined job-search system for himself. Staff noticed, and the approach became a tool that could help other participants. That moment marked his transition from participant to employee. He became a Student Liaison, then an Assistant Trainer and Trainer, later serving as the first Cleanslate Crew Supervisor and eventually as Director of Training and Alumni Affairs.
Leadership from lived experience
Jesse’s career demonstrates the impact of leadership rooted in experience. He understood the fears, obstacles, and aspirations of participants because he had faced many of them himself. In the classroom, he helped people identify practical steps toward employment while reinforcing the idea that their past did not define their future.
He estimates that he supported more than 200 cohorts and over 20,000 job seekers during his time at Cara Collective. That reach is a testament both to Jesse’s dedication and to the ripple effect of workforce programs that help participants become mentors, trainers, and leaders in their own communities.
A lasting legacy
At Sai Kripalu Foundation, we are inspired by stories of transformation that become service to others. Jesse’s journey shows how a single opportunity, coupled with accountability and sustained support, can change the direction of a life. His retirement leaves a legacy of compassion, commitment, and belief in the possibility of a new beginning.
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