Cheri C. Garcia

Cheri Garcia is a nationally-recognized recovery advocate, investor, and expert in second-chance hiring. She consults with companies ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations on second-chance hiring and diversity initiatives.

For more than a decade, Garcia has worked to help formerly incarcerated people and those in recovery find meaningful full-time jobs. In 2016, she launched Cornbread Hustle, Inc., the first staffing agency focused on second-chance job opportunities. Cornbread Hustle has placed more than 2,500 eager workers in jobs around North Texas and the U.S.

In 2021, Garcia was recognized as Social Innovator of the Year by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She was named to the D CEO 40 Under 40 list that year. Other honors include a 2017 Resolution in the Texas House of Representatives, honoring Cheri for her work with formerly-incarcerated people.

In 2022, Garcia created the 12-Week Starting Over Program, an interactive video series available to inmates in prisons nationwide.

Garcia unashamedly shares her struggles with addiction to methamphetamine and alcohol, and how she overcame these challenges to serve and inspire others. She is also an investor in recovery-focused businesses owned by people who have overcome their own addiction issues.

Garcia's additional experience includes work as an inventor, marketer, and public relations specialist.