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UA – Pulaski Tech’s “Future Fit” reentry program graduates 18 in Little Rock at Arkansas Department of Corrections

Eighteen men marked a milestone in their transition from incarceration to the workforce Friday, Feb. 13, graduating the Future Fit program during a ceremony at the Central Arkansas Community Correction Center.

The Feb. 13 graduates are: Michael Berryman, David Chambers, Willard Davis, Randall Fletcher, Brock Funkhauser, Tyler Gibson, Colby Johnson, Cody Kutchfar, Austin McCalister, Michael Hoodenpyle, Jason Idleman, Rayfield Isreal, DeLinn Moorehead, Aaron Railey, Christopher Ramsdill, Shane Rhoads, Mark Stewart, and Justin Wooster.

The program, administered by the University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College, serves as a pilot reentry initiative designed to equip incarcerated individuals with high-demand technical skills for careers in manufacturing.

“Future Fit is a textbook ‘two birds with one stone,’ success story,” said UA-PTC Chancellor Summer DeProw. “Advancing workforce development and reducing recidivism are serious challenges in Arkansas and this initiative addresses both issues simultaneously.”

The comprehensive, multi-phase curriculum includes math remediation, OSHA 10 certification, and a six-week, 96-hour intensive technical phase. Participants receive hands-on instruction in blueprint reading, machine operations, and safety. The final phase provides “wrap-around” services to assist graduates in obtaining vital documents, such as Social Security cards and driver’s licenses, necessary for successful reentry.

For graduates like Tyler Gibson, the program provided a shift in self-perception. After facing long-term incarceration and seven prior prison terms, Gibson said the program offered the first real bridge to a stable future.

“There was a moment when I realized I could actually do this,” Gibson said, recalling his first time operating industrial machinery. “I feel hireable now.”

Fellow graduate Cody Kutchfar, who was selected for the program based on his leadership potential and work ethic, said the training helped him rediscover his own capabilities.

“I realized I had more skills than I recognized,” Kutchfar said. He now lists his goals as maintaining a steady job and building savings—milestones that provide a foundation for long-term stability.

The Future Fit program requires participants to undergo rigorous screening, including holding a high school diploma or GED and achieving a bronze-level Career Readiness Certification. By mirroring real-world workplace expectations, the program aims to reduce recidivism, as consistent employment remains a leading indicator of long-term success after release.

“The transformation we see in participants is remarkable. They leave not only with technical skills, but with renewed purpose and the confidence to pursue stable, long-term careers,” said Sharon Cantrell, Executive director of the UA-PTC Business and Industry Center.

UA-PTC encourages regional manufacturing employers to engage with the program through facility tours and interviews to help bridge the gap between training and employment.

UA-PTC’s Business and Industry Center sits at the intersection of Central Arkansas’s economic growth—connecting employers to skilled talent and individuals to high-demand, high-wage careers. Through strategic workforce partnerships and industry-aligned training, the Center serves as a driving force for regional competitiveness and opportunity.

Learn more at www.uaptc.edu/business-and-industry