For some people, their occupation is more than just a job, it’s a passion.

Joi Collins, reentry program supervisor at CoreCivic's Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut, Ohio, practically grew up in her chosen field.

Her uncle (also her godfather) worked as a lieutenant at the local police department, and growing up, Collins always considered him her mentor. She’d looked up to him since she was just a little girl.

“So, I knew early on in my life that I wanted to go into some type of law enforcement,” she said.

Collins began her career working in a juvenile facility and later moved to adult corrections.

“I really wanted to make a difference,” she said.

She’s worked at Lake Erie since 2009 and for CoreCivic since 2012, when it acquired the medium-security facility about 70 miles northeast of Cleveland.

Now Collins has been chosen as CoreCivic’s 2025 Employee of the Year.

“I was surprised, and very humbled by it,” she said. “Pretty excited, too.”

Collins has been in her current role for about four years, following an 11-year stint as a case manager.

One of her many responsibilities—aside from helping incarcerated people obtain birth certificates and Social Security cards, helping them enroll in Medicaid, and arranging job interviews with community employers—is preparing residents for success after prison.

A highlight of her year involved helping a resident obtain a certificate of achievement and employability that enabled him to secure CQH housing (Certificate of Qualification for Housing).

Under Ohio law, someone with this certification won’t have their felony convictions used against them.

Landlords who are made aware of CQH credentials are more likely to consider a formerly incarcerated person to be a safe and responsible tenant, thereby increasing their chances of securing safe and stable housing following release.

Obtaining this credential was a first for a near-release resident at Lake Erie, with the hope of many more in the future.

Another one of Collins’ priorities is working with victims who have been traumatized by sexual abuse or assault, including community members and residents.

Among other related roles, she serves on the executive board of the Ashtabula Office of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center in Ashtabula, Ohio, and is involved in the Partners with a Purpose Program at Signature HealthCARE, a company that provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, memory care and other services.

Another highlight of Collins’ year came through organizing a stuffed-animal drive at Lake Erie for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, which supplies the stuffed animals to child-victims as they face post-event interviews with detectives and sessions with counselors.

“It turned out so rewarding to me that we could all come together and do this,” Collins said.

Stephen Reynolds, warden at Lake Erie, said Collins is passionate about her work and is always there for everyone around her.

“Joi not only works with the population, but she also goes out of her way to assist her co-workers when needed,” he shared.

“Joi’s extensive experience and positive attitude make her a ‘go-to’ person for many staff. She is very responsive and never hesitates to assist in any way that she possibly can," said Reynolds on Collins' nomination form. "Joi is an asset to Lake Erie Correctional Institution and very deserving of the facility’s Employee of the Year title.”