Improving lives, strengthening businesses, and building Florida’s workforce one meaningful employment match at a time.
At Operation New Hope, we believe employment has the power to change the trajectory of a person’s life. For individuals rebuilding after involvement with the justice system, securing meaningful, living-wage employment can provide the stability, independence, and opportunity needed to build a successful future.
But employment is much more than filling an open position. Across Florida, Operation New Hope’s Workforce Development Managers work at the intersection of talent and opportunity, building relationships with local employers, understanding their workforce needs, and connecting them with motivated candidates who are ready to contribute.
Behind partnerships like these are dedicated Workforce Development Managers who understand their local communities, develop relationships with employers, and help create the connections that lead to successful hires.
Meet the people making hiring happen across Florida.
Connect with BJ:
(904) 354-4673 ext. 165
bbeaman@operationnewhope.org
A Jacksonville native, BJ comes from a family with a deep legacy of education and community service. Before joining Operation New Hope in June 2025, she worked with Family Foundations of Northeast Florida, bringing experience in education and community engagement to her role.
Her connection to reentry work began even earlier. While attending the LISC Financial Opportunity Center Conference, BJ participated in a reentry simulation that gave her a firsthand look at the barriers individuals can face after the justice system. “It opened my eyes to the barriers and judgment individuals face after serving their time. That experience sparked a strong desire in me to be a part of real change. So, when I heard about the opportunity at Operation New Hope, I knew this was exactly where I needed to be.”
Today, BJ helps Jacksonville-area employers connect with Ready4Work talent while building partnerships that contribute to stronger businesses, healthier families, and a stronger community.
“HOPE, to me, is the opportunity to rise above your past and walk in grace and mercy toward a better version of yourself. It’s a fresh start filled with purpose.”
Kiara Rucker serves as Operation New Hope’s Senior Manager of Community & Workforce Development in Orlando, working alongside employers throughout Central Florida to identify workforce needs, build meaningful partnerships, and connect businesses with motivated Ready4Work candidates. Through these relationships, Kiara helps create employment opportunities that benefit both local businesses searching for talent and individuals working toward long-term career success.
Before joining Operation New Hope, Kiara worked in government relations, where she developed skills in relationship building, navigating complex systems, and bringing diverse stakeholders together around a common goal. Today, she brings those same strengths to workforce development.
“Workforce development has allowed me to combine relationship-building and advocacy with something very tangible: helping people connect to meaningful employment and helping employers find talent they may have otherwise overlooked.” Kiara has been with Operation New Hope for more than four years and says the organization’s mission immediately stood out to her. “I wanted to be part of an organization that wasn’t just talking about second chances but actively creating opportunities for people to build a different future.”
That belief continues to shape how Kiara approaches her work with both clients and employers. For her, hope is rooted in the possibility of what comes next. “Hope means believing that what is happening right now does not have to determine what happens next. People walk through our doors with histories that may have made them feel like their options are limited, and our job is to help them see that there are still possibilities.”
Connect with Kiara:
(321) 234-4782 ext. 211
krucker@operationnewhope.org
Connect with Charlotte:
(321) 305-6027 ext. 304
cperkins@operationnewhope.org
On Florida’s Space Coast, Charlotte Perkins helps employers discover a new source of talent while creating pathways to meaningful careers for Ready4Work participants.
By developing relationships with local businesses and collaborating with Operation New Hope’s Employment Services team, Charlotte helps identify opportunities where a candidate’s experience, skills, and career goals can align with an employer’s workforce needs.
Since joining Operation New Hope in May 2024, Calvin Brown has helped strengthen connections between Ready4Work participants and employers throughout the St. Petersburg community.
As Workforce Development Manager, Calvin works with local businesses to understand their hiring needs, develop employment partnerships, and connect employers with candidates prepared to bring their skills and motivation to the workplace.
Connect with Calvin:
(727) 350-2644 ext. 409
cabrown@operationnewhope.org
Connect with Tomisha:
(813) 360-0280 ext. 509
tdicks@operationnewhope.org
A Tampa native, Tomisha joined the organization as a Job Coach when Operation New Hope expanded into Tampa Bay in 2024. With a degree in Criminal Justice and previous experience in business development and career services, she brought both a passion for serving justice-impacted individuals and valuable workforce development experience to the team.
As a Job Coach, Tomisha worked one-on-one with Ready4Work participants to create resumes, translate unconventional professional experiences into transferable skills, prepare for the workforce, and identify employment opportunities that matched their goals.
After seeing that impact firsthand, Tomisha was promoted to Workforce Development Manager, where she now brings her understanding of both the candidate and employer experience to building relationships with Tampa-area businesses. Today, she works closely with employers to understand their staffing needs, foster lasting partnerships, and support the Employment Services team in creating successful matches between businesses and Ready4Work talent.
For Tomisha, the ultimate goal is creating opportunities for people to move forward. “To me, HOPE means looking forward to the future and embracing the journey along the way.”
A job can change the trajectory of someone’s life, and the right employee can make a lasting impact on your organization.
When you partner with Operation New Hope, you gain more than access to motivated candidates. You gain a local workforce development partner committed to understanding your hiring needs, helping identify the right talent, and supporting successful employment beyond the first day on the job.
Together, we can strengthen Florida’s workforce while creating pathways to lasting employment and economic stability.
Visit our Employment Partners page to learn more about partnering with Operation New Hope, explore the benefits available to employers, and submit an Employment Partnership Inquiry for your hiring location.
Or reach out directly to your local Workforce Development Manager to start the conversation.
Jacksonville: BJ Beaman | (904) 354-4673 ext. 165 | bbeaman@operationnewhope.org
Orlando: Kiara Rucker | (321) 234-4782 ext. 211 | krucker@operationnewhope.org
Space Coast: Charlotte Perkins | (321) 305-6027 ext. 304 | cperkins@operationnewhope.org
St. Petersburg: Calvin Brown | (727) 350-2644 ext. 409 | cabrown@operationnewhope.org
Tampa: Tomisha Dicks | (813) 360-0280 ext. 509 | tdicks@operationnewhope.org
