Former Trainee is "Doing Great"

by Tim Moore,Site Manager
SCI Albion/Cambridge Springs

Brandon Cercone is a recent graduate of the OOR program at SCI Albion. He was a model trainee. He never missed a day unless he absolutely had to and showed interest in every project we did.

Prior to his release, Mr.Cercone obtained employment with Raed Investments, a real estate development company in Pittsburgh.

He is responsible for general building maintenance for a number of rental properties.

His duties include anything from complete building renovation, to repainting an apartment, to fixing a door, to unplugging a toilet.

Recently, I met with him to see how he was doing. He appears to be doing great. Here is what he had to say.

"I never had goals before."

The OOR program was the only thing that prepared me for leaving the institution. It has a lot to offer any inmate who is willing to apply himself.

 


Brandon Cercone

Prior to OOR I didn't have a clue what I was going to do when I got out. I didn't have any idea what a work ethic was and had no idea what an employer expected of an employee.

There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am now if I had not been in OOR. It gave me the confidence to look for a job in construction and I found one. Now I have a company truck, a cell phone and a lot of responsibility. The pay is good.

Mr. Black (Instructor Travis Black) was great. He taught me a lot about construction, but the most important thing he taught me was how important a good work ethic was. Also to take pride in my work.

He taught me to respect myself and that I was able to do a lot of things that I didn't think I could. Mr. Black didn't fool around, he told me right from the start that he wasn't here to hold anybody by the hand and that it was up to me to pay attention if I wanted to learn this stuff. But he always took time to explain things to the ones who were interested. I can 't thank him enough for what he gave me.

 Mr. Berarducci (Instructor Aide John Berarducci) was great, too. He was a lot of fun to be around.

Pretty soon I'll be out of the CCC and I know I can make it out here. I wouldn't have been able to say that if I hadn't been in OOR.

I plan to get a roofing business going within the next year, that's my goal. I never had goals before!

I have to say again how grateful to all of you I am and I will never be able to thank you enough.

Brandon Cercone
 

 
 

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