Beverly Parenti is a serial entrepreneur, specializing in the advancement of innovative technologies. Along with longtime business partner and husband, Chris Redlitz, she launched their nonprofit, The Last Mile (TLM) in 2010 at San Quentin State Prison. The goal of TLM is to provide education and training inside prison, resulting in gainful employment for returned citizen graduates, thereby reducing recidivism. TLM has become one of the most requested prison education programs in the United States. It is the first program to offer a computer programming curriculum that teaches men and women to become software engineers. All TLM “Returned Citizen Graduates” are prospering personally and professionally with 0% recidivism.

Chris Redlitz is the Managing Partner of Transmedia Capital, one of the best-performing micro funds in Silicon Valley, focused on early-stage digital media and commerce platforms. Chris has worked with many aspiring entrepreneurs through KickLabs, one of the country’s leading technology accelerators he co-founded in 2009. He received Ad Age’s prestigious i20 award for his contributions to the development of interactive marketing and advertising. Earlier in his career, Chris was part of Reebok’s explosive growth where he held positions in sales and marketing and also owned one of the first specialty sports retail chains in Southern California. For over twenty years, Chris was a distance runner completing marathons and ultra marathons. Today he is an avid cyclist and health advocate.

Aisha has over twenty-five years of experience in HR. Her primary focus has been working with small to medium-sized businesses in the tech industry. She has a BA in Business Management and an MS in HR Management from Golden Gate University. She is currently a Sr. Adjunct Professor at GGU, where she teaches a course on the impact of technology on the HR function. In her personal life, she is an avid reader & writer, a sci-fi & anime geek, and an overzealous pet parent to her cat Babette and her dog Bailey.

Anna is an advocate, artist, and web developer specializing in UI/UX and data visualizations. After graduating from Duke University, she worked for AppDynamics and Cisco systems as a front-end and full-stack software. As a Senior Curriculum Developer for TLM, she strives to make technology more accessible and inspire learners’ creativity in web development.

Anna is passionate about addressing the harms of the prison system by creating new and meaningful opportunities for incarcerated individuals. Anna values community, equity, and empathy in her work and is grateful to be working alongside the fantastic TLM team.

Anthony M. Villalba Joined The Last Mile in 2018 and evolved into a man who refined his dreams and destiny as part of the Ironwood cohort. During his development as a coder, Mr. Villalba learned to leverage his experience in life and inquisitiveness as a programmer towards developing into a leader while gaining proficiencies in several languages and libraries.
Mr. Villalba is currently enrolled in Justice Through Code – Data Analytics cohort, Google – Data Analytics Program.
Continuing to chase his dreams of becoming a Web Developer, Anthony is determined to manifest this destiny.

Armando Gonzalez is a formerly incarcerated individual turned returned citizen advocate. He works tirelessly to support those impacted by the justice system in successfully reintegrating into society. Armando’s personal journey inspires others, and his advocacy promotes rehabilitation and opportunities for all.

Brett is a returned citizen after twenty-four years of incarceration. He learned how to develop websites using the MERN stack while attending The Last Mile program in Indiana. He is a lifelong learner, having a passion for all things tech-related, mathematics, and physics. He has a particular love for React, but hopes to learn additional languages and stacks in order to build more complex applications and round out his skills.

Leveraging his position at The Last Mile, Brett wishes to make a difference by being an educator and example for those who have walked a rough road in life. He hopes that his story of determination, perseverance, and success will lead others to follow suit.

Courtney is an unwavering force of change, dedicating her adult life to philanthropy and empowering families to develop impactful giving strategies. Her passion extends to collaborating with influential music and entertainment companies on their social impact initiatives, firmly believing in the transformative power of music and storytelling to educate, bridge divides, and inspire change on a large scale.
Her commitment to challenge the status quo is evident in co-producing Jay-Z and Roc Nation’s United Justice Coalition Summit, where she contributed to policy shifts and advocated for stays of execution, pardons, and clemencies through her work with Jason Flom and Lava for Good. Moreover, she has masterfully harnessed the power of storytelling across various issue areas, bringing award-winning Books, Feature Films, Docs, and TV Shows to Hollywood.
Her accomplishments have earned her several prestigious awards, including the Clio, Webby, and Anthem, though Courtney finds the most profound reward in her ability to shift hearts and minds at a scale that ignites positive change.
Creative and strategic in equal measure, Courtney is a staunch believer in the potential of music, second chances, and blazing innovative trails. Her capacity to translate vision and values into meaningful experiences, alongside her ability to inspire others, positions her as a crucial advocate for returning citizens seeking new opportunities.
Residing in Santa Monica, Courtney’s vibrant spirit finds solace in nature, spending her leisure time hiking, horse riding, and golfing. Furthermore, she delights in hosting dinner parties embellished with A++ playlists, exemplifying her love for music and the power it holds to unite people and uplift communities.

Dan Tinkler is a lifelong musician whose passion for performance and musical study led him into the world of audio engineering. He has spent the last 11 years working in recording studios and venues in Chicago with artists from all over the country. Dan always had a passion for sharing his knowledge of audio with others and received his master's from Northwestern University in 2018 to pursue teaching in higher education. He began working as an adjunct instructor at Flashpoint College before joining The Last Mile as an Audio Program Specialist. Dan is eager to continue to share his love for audio with students and grow the audio community with passionate engineers.

Deven Anthony's interest in computer science began after taking a coding course at his local community college, after that, he dove head-first into the world of computing. He started his career working as an IT Technician for a small construction company in Napa California, as well as contributing to multiple open-source projects in his spare time. Other interests include filming, video production, and aviation.

Dylan Franks is an educator and filmmaker committed to making the tools of video production accessible to storytellers within their communities, regardless of systemic divide. After studying rhetoric and community filmmaking at Bates College, Dylan worked as a teacher and curriculum specialist for the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC) and has been a frequent collaborator on grassroots film projects. Now based in Arizona, Dylan is excited to join the team at The Last Mile and support this integral work.

Emily is the Digital Communications Coordinator at The Last Mile. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, she got involved in the Inside/Out program and participated in the Pittsburgh Prison Outreach, an organization that helped with book donations and letter writing to those in prison in the Allegheny area.

Eric Abercrombie (also known as Maserati-E) was born in Oakland Ca. He was featured in the Emmy-nominated Documentary “Q-Ball”. Eric also is formerly incarcerated, he learned sound design and film while incarcerated. Eric plans to show the world how people are not defined by their past mistakes or conditions and give a glimpse of what could be accomplished if afforded the opportunity. Eric plans to change the world by changing the way we view the world.

Erin has worked in the Finance departments of private for-profit and not-for-profit companies for 10+ years. A graduate of Widener University, she joined The Last Mile to support their mission of breaking the cycle of incarceration through educational opportunities that result in gainful employment.

Erin Palumbo graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she studied social work. After moving to Australia to complete her education, Erin worked with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.  This experience led to an interest in education and rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals. 

Gary is a returned citizen who was released in June 2020, after 22 years of incarceration. He learned web development using the MERN stack and is actively engaged in pursuing web development as a career and as an entrepreneurial endeavor. Gary believes that creating jobs and helping individuals become employable are equally important and is passionate about doing his part on both sides of that equation.

Greg's life took a profound turn during his 20-year incarceration.

Several years before his release Greg realized the importance of education and a keen understanding of business and economics. He completed an Associate's degree in business administration, using this knowledge to strengthen his grasp on the financial world. His interest in trading stocks was at the forefront of his interest in The Last Mile, as he had learned about algorithm trading in his studies. The Last Mile's web development program allowed Greg to use a computer for the first time.

Upon his release, he enrolled in a computer systems program at Post University and a specialized Node.js course through Code the Dream.

Currently, Greg finds immense satisfaction in supporting The Last Mile's reentry team as a coordinator. He applies his relentless work ethic to play a meaningful role in a broader vision that he wholeheartedly believes in and has personally benefited from.

Henry is a returned citizen after serving 25 years of incarceration in the Michigan Department of Corrections. Henry became a part of the TLM family as a student in the first TLM Michigan classroom where he finished track one of the web development curriculum. Although he was introduced as a student of coding he always showed interest in project management, and with the help of TLM began studying and preparing for a PM career. Henry is now a CAPM-certified PM and a member of the Project Management Institute.

As a Remote Instructor, Henry is excited to grow his skill set, helping to make the TLM experience better for the students that will follow. Henry believes it’s important for everyone to understand that TLM isn’t just about coding, it’s about people. He takes pride in being in a position to assist with helping people discover themselves and change the lives of families and communities everywhere.

Jacob is a returned citizen who worked as a software engineer prior to joining The Last Mile. He learned how to code while attending The Last Mile program in Indiana. He is a driven philomath, is excited about teaching, and even got a Department of Labor certification in Education and training. He has a deep interest in blockchain technology – he has been learning many of the languages involved in web3 development and started his own web3 and blockchain services company.

Building on his knowledge of education and his experience as a software engineer, Jacob sought a position at TLM because he wanted to be a part of the organization and process that has changed his life so drastically. He hopes to help others who are striving to make these same changes and considers his job very rewarding.

Jerry was a participant in The Last Mile program at Ironwood, where he learned CSS3, HTML5, and Javascript among other technologies. He went from never having been on a computer to eventually tutoring other students in web development fundamentals. Jerry went on to create the first workshop in computer programming at Ironwood, geared specifically for The Youthful Offender Program. He credits The Last Mile for opening a whole new world of opportunities for him. It has been a dream come true for Jerry to be a part of the organization that helped change the trajectory of his life.

Jesse is the Curriculum Manager at The Last Mile. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer with five years of classroom teaching experience in the Bay Area and abroad, Jesse brings his pedagogic expertise to serve TLM’s diverse range of learners. He is a boot camp graduate and has worked in coding instruction to help students and professionals of varying proficiencies bring their dreams to life by writing full-stack applications.

Collaborating closely with TLM’s curriculum developers to implement new lessons and the facilitator team to effectively deliver the curriculum, Jesse leads TLM’s effort to provide all program participants the skills they need to find work and build projects outside of prison.

Jillian Godshall is a filmmaker and educator. She has taught digital media to students of all ages and has worked with organizations across the country to design and implement innovative curriculum. Her career has been dedicated to making storytelling and digital media more accessible to under-resourced communities. She is excited to continue that work with The Last Mile’s AVP Program.

John was one of the students selected to the Last Miles’s inaugural cohort in Michigan. He spoke on behalf of the class during its grand opening and was the first to graduate both Track 1 and Track 2. His love and understanding of coding, and his love for teaching allowed him to become a student worker after the second week of class and a tutor upon completion of the program. Now working for The Last Mile, John is afforded the ability to incorporate most of his dreams as one single pursuit: his love of coding, advocacy, teaching, learning, creativity, and growth.

Johnson started his career with The Last Mile Code.7370 program, where he learned valuable skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and initiative-taking. After his release from prison, he worked at Checkr Inc. and was promoted twice, but ultimately left to pursue software engineering. He completed a Full-Stack Software Engineering Immersive program through Adobe Digital Academy and General Assembly, gaining expertise in React, JavaScript, Node.js, Python, Django, HTML, and Sass. Johnson is motivated to continue learning and excel in his career.

Julia Schnoll graduated from the University of Oregon where she studied International Studies with an emphasis in Human Rights and Law. In her senior year, she participated in the Inside Out Exchange Program, a college course that brings together traditional university students and incarcerated students for a semester-long class at Oregon State Penitentiary. This experience sparked her interest in fostering educational programs for people entangled in the justice system.

Katy graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University in May 2021. During the program, she co-facilitated trauma-informed support services for men who were incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison and worked on research about San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall. Prior to entering the degree program, she worked as a community sex and health educator.

Keith started his coding adventure in the inaugural class at Putnamville Correctional Facility in Indiana and has been intrigued by all aspects of programming ever since. He especially likes to develop with React. When Keith is not coding in his spare time, he loves to build race cars, go moto-crossing, and hang out with his family.

Kelly has been a communication leader in the non-profit sector for nearly a decade. She is driven by mission-based work, centered around equity, access, and social justice. With a background in psychology, marketing, and mediation, she utilizes the power of effective and authentic communication to help people tell their stories. This passion is her motivation for joining The Last Mile team.

She intends to bring awareness to the ineffectiveness of today’s incarceration system and empower the voices of the students forging a path forward through TLM’s programs. Her experience also includes a strong background in civic engagement including a founding member of an organization that activates the under-40 community; a communication liaison for several election campaigns; and a key member of several committees dedicated to economic development and legislative action.

Kevin Kelly was a participant in The Last Mile Program at San Quentin State Prison. Kevin is very passionate about helping those returning to society to get the best reentry possible. As a Returned Citizen Advocate with The Last Mile Kevin hopes to have an impact on the way society views and welcomes those who are justice impacted.

Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and energy to the TLM team. He has been an advocate of fair chance employment for 23 years and a volunteer in San Quentin State Prison for 8 Years, most recently as the ED of Prison2 Employment Connection (Prison2EC.org).
Kevin is leading the expansion of our hiring partner network, working with the TLM Reentry team to increase services and community engagement and he will be developing new TLM business enterprises to provide career pathways for program participants.
His passion for helping his fellow human beings is infectious. Kevin is the co-founder of Social Imprints, one of the most successful Social Enterprises in the country.
Kevin is excited to bring his experience and dedication to The Last Mile and help propel our mission across the country.
“I am very grateful for this opportunity to change the world.”

Kinning Jefferson (also known as TK) completed The Last Mile WDF program while incarcerated at the San Quentin facility in California. He is focused on continual personal and professional growth that ultimately gears him toward generational wealth. Kinning thrives on creative thinking, collaborative design, and visionary perspectives on life. As a Social Media Coordinator with The Last Mile, Kinning plans on expanding TLM’s audience and support base through intuitive forward thinking.

KD is a graduate of The Last Mile Program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in Mcloud, OK. She is dedicated to making a positive impact on the perception of returned citizens and their successful reintegration into the workforce. As a Returned Citizen Advocate with The Last Mile, KD is committed to ensuring that the reentry process goes as smoothly as possible and strives to ensure returned citizens find suitable employment opportunities. Her ultimate goal is to target systemic inequalities, advocate for equal opportunities and resources, and break down the barriers that prevent returned citizens from accessing the same opportunities as others. KD is honored to be joining the TLM family and is passionate about empowering and providing support to returned citizens.

Matthew is an educator, artist, and activist who believes in challenging systemic inequities through the radical reimagining of tech education. Prior to joining TLM, he worked as a classroom teacher and teacher-trainer in California, Maine, Russia, and Nepal. Matthew’s introduction to coding came in 2017 when he discovered the live-coding music platform, Sonic Pi. Since that time, he has become passionate about coding as both a professional skill and a creative endeavor.

Michael Wolberg finished the Web Development Fundamentals course while incarcerated in the North Dakota State Penitentiary. He is purposefully driven to be part of the collaborating team that effectively and positively alters justice-impacted individuals' lives by providing support in the position as Classroom Programs Coordinator.

Mikayla is a former TLM student who developed a deep passion for coding and reignited her love of teaching. Upon her release, she wanted to further pursue her education in coding with the Justice Through Code program. Mikayla is looking forward to working closely with TLM students as a web development education apprentice. She is thrilled to merge both passions: coding, and teaching into one.

Mike Bowie is the Chief Technology Officer, leading the long-term technology vision for The Last Mile. He is responsible for the architecture and implementation of the technology infrastructure, systems, and evolving programs. Mike has spent his career enabling people and businesses through technology-driven solutions and is extremely passionate about designing innovative systems at TLM, to change lives through technology.

Prior to joining TLM, Mike established the IT organization for a healthcare business, growing the team and their platforms from those of a startup to a scalable operation. With over twenty years of technology experience, he has developed a number of engineering teams and worked in many distinct facets of the industry – from software development to hardware design. He has provided oversight and design guidance to a multitude of startups.

He has a soft spot for arcade game restoration, considers himself a “reformed” marathoner, and is currently attempting to re-training for obstacle racing.

Molly is a graduate of The Last Mile program at Indiana Women’s Prison. She is passionate about helping returned citizens as a Returned Citizen Advocate in the Reentry Department. Molly strongly believes in The Last Mile and in the power of supporting others through their reentry journey.

Nick graduated from Suffolk University in 2014 with a graduate degree in Public Administration following an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. He spent his career working with proven-risk and justice-impacted youth and families in Massachusetts and Louisiana and has always been passionate about advocacy with this community. Excited to be part of the TLM family, Nick is honored and humbled to work with Returned Citizens as a Returned Citizen Advocate.

Having spent several years as a nurse, Paolo developed exceptional skills in communication, empathy, and problem-solving. These qualities, coupled with his natural curiosity and affinity for technology, led him to transition into the world of web development. His unique background as a nurse gives him an empathetic approach to web development. He understands the importance of user-centric design and strives to create accessible and inclusive digital experiences. His ability to communicate effectively with others and understand their requirements enables him to translate their vision into reality.

Paolo’s journey as a Fullstack Web Developer began with a strong foundation in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript at Pelican Bay where he was part of The Last Mile’s Web Development Fundamentals “Class Beta” cohort. He quickly honed his abilities in both front-end and back-end development, creating visually appealing and responsive websites. With an eye for detail and a commitment to providing seamless user experiences, Paolo’s designs stand out for their aesthetic appeal and functionality.

When he is not coding, Paolo is on a never-ending quest to find the perfect chicken nugget that is balanced in flavor and texture.

Sam is the Sr. Manager of Research and Analytics at The Last Mile. After earning his BA and MS in Economics from Marquette University, Sam worked in a research role at the Social Policy Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, studying the socioeconomic needs and priorities of US households. Residing in Santa Barbara, CA, but originally from St. Louis, MO, Sam enjoys listening to (and occasionally playing) music, following his hometown’s professional sports teams, and advocating for restorative justice systems.

Sarah Brown is a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Information Studies and went on to receive her Master’s in Library and Information Studies. She also received her Certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida. Sarah recently worked as a public librarian for six years where she brought her passion for E.D.I., leadership, and advocacy into her work building relationships with community organizations and working with at-risk and underrepresented communities. Outside of work, Sarah is a mother of two, an avid reader, and a proud member of Matriarch, a local non-profit that focuses on educating and empowering indigenous women and Two-Spirit relatives.

Sierra is a passionate individual with a flair for both baking and web development. With a positive and ambitious attitude, Sierra envisions a future where these two seemingly unrelated worlds can come together to make a positive impact. Fueling this ambition is a deep desire to open a business aimed at empowering at-risk youth through a combination of technology, life skills, empowerment, and career training. Sierra believes in the transformative power of education and aims to create a space where young minds can not only learn valuable skills but also discover their own potential.

Terrell joined The Last Mile in 2016 as a student in Ironwood State Prison. Released in February 2020, he immediately pursued his passion for Web Development and enrolled in General Assembly’s Software Engineering Immersive. Focused on his passion to be a Full-Stack Developer, he enrolled as a student at Cal State Fullerton University, where he is majoring in Computer Software Engineering. He is proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Mongoose/MongoDb, Express, React, NodeJS, Python, Command Line, Git, and C++.

Toc is a graduate of The Last Mile program at Mabel Bassett Correctional Center. She is passionate about being a part of mending broken pieces of life. This passion is particularly focused on how the returned citizen population is viewed. She wants to be the change and is willing to do the work of supporting others and being a foundation they can rely on. Railing for equal opportunities and breaking down stigmas that create barriers, especially the one about who society thinks we are. Being a part of someone’s reentry is empowering and she is so proud to be a part of The Last Mile Family.

IT Manager, Tulio Cardozo, works with The Last Mile to support the student and staff’s experience as it relates to technology across TLM’s learning services, proprietary network, and physical device infrastructure spanning three timezones.

Tulio’s career with The Last Mile initially started eight years ago as a founding graduate of The Last Mile Entrepreneurship Program. After serving seven years in state prison, Tulio has successfully transitioned into a technology career in San Francisco, CA.

Tulio is a state-credentialed employee and previously managed TLM Works, at San Quentin State Prison, the same prison he resided during his incarceration. TLM Works is the first-ever web development shop staffed by currently and formerly incarcerated web developers working for “outside” companies.

Aside from The Last Mile, Tulio has worked as a business analyst for technology accelerator, KickLabs, mastered WordPress as an independent contractor, lead engineering and development at Launch Podium (a tech startup in San Francisco), and has taught Web Design and Coding through Five Keys Charter School, to residents of the San Francisco County Jail and the San Francisco Adult Probation Department.

Tyler was a participant in The Last Mile program at Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson, MI. Tyler was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI and holds a BA from The University of Colorado. He has spent the last 15 years in the IT Sales/Consulting space and is excited to be a part of The Last Mile team. In his down time, Tyler enjoys spending time with his family, live music and being outside or on the water. He also loves spending time with his two Bulldogs.

Vah Saechao is a returned citizen and a graduate of The Last Mile program. He is an Operations Support Engineer for The Last Mile. All of his software skills were learned in prison. Vah is a constant learner and enjoys working as a team. With a wealth of experience in Web Development, Vah expands his skill sets by transferring what he has learned in programming to engineering.

Walker is an educator and musician from Ojai, California. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz in 2010, Walker spent several years in various education roles, developing a special interest in working with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. It was in pursuit of this interest that he joined The Last Mile in 2020 as a Classroom Facilitator for the coding program at Ventura Youth Correctional Facility. The opportunity to combine his passions for music and education arose when he transitioned into the role of Audio Program Specialist in order to develop the pilot for TLM’s Audio and Video Production (AVP) Program. Walker now serves as AVP Manager and takes great joy from seeing students engage with this new and quickly growing educational program.