Ty Johnson
Asst. Director of Manufacturing
Thistle Farms
Nashville, TN USA
“When you’re given a second chance with anything: take a hold of that second chance, be the best that you can, and give it all that you have to give.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationTy Johnson
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I grew up in a great Christian-based home in Knoxville, Tennessee, but things quickly changed when my mother married an alcoholic—from then on, I faced a lot of abuse and turned to drugs to cope.
I dropped out of school and the community I grew up around quickly shifted to drug dealers, drug users, prostitutes, and gamblers.
I had already been in and out of prison a couple of times before my final arrest for selling drugs in Lewisburg, Tennessee.
I decided that I needed help, so I put myself on the waiting list for Magdalene, a residential recovery program for women with criminal histories of prostitution and addiction.
I got a bed at a Magdalene home and stayed there working on myself for about a year—despite my efforts, I was still sentenced to 14 years for my drug charge.
While in prison, I participated in behavioral modification programs, started working towards my GED, and stopped hanging around the wrong crowds—I was granted parole three years later.
I returned to the Magdalene program and got a job with Thistle Farms—I started working as a candle maker and have worked my way up to assistant director of manufacturing.
I’ve been out of prison for over eight years now without any violations!
Education
GED
Career
Asst. Director of Manufacturing
I oversee the manufacturing floor of a social enterprise that supports women healing from prostitution and addiction.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Non-Profit Organizations
Building Things
Day to Day
I help train our employees on how to make the products and how to use the machines. I also mentor the women who are still in our residential program. Once a month I get a forecast. I sit down with those numbers and break the report into different weeks. Then I'll assign women to different machines and find trainers for women who need to be trained. I also work on payroll and evaluations for employees. On top of all of that, I get to set my own goals to work towards.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"They want something from me. What do I have to do in return for this free support?"
Challenges I Overcame
Gangs / Violence
Drugs / Addiction
