Innovator Stories
Williamstown Massachusetts native Chris Kapiloff was always industrious, and by age 30 was managing a team of forty people. Chris credits his time in the Army as setting an important foundation for his future career. But it was his time at Fort Benning, as a member of a company of soldiers from highly diverse backgrounds, that gave Kapiloff a special lens through which he now operates.
Innovator Stories
Meet Chris Kapiloff
Williamstown Massachusetts native Chris Kapiloff was always industrious, and by age 30 was managing a team of forty people. Chris credits his time in the Army as setting an important foundation for his future career. But it was his time at Fort Benning, as a member of a company of soldiers from highly diverse backgrounds, that gave Kapiloff a special lens through which he now operates.
For example, among the many innovations developed at LTI, the company decided to alter its hiring policy to allow non-violent felons to work there. Kapiloff believed that the no-felon policy “was inherently unfair, given that our justice system is not always fair. If they have served their time and they seem like a good fit, we will hire them, providing consistent and meaningful work.”
LTI teamed up with the Berkshire County House of Corrections to make it easier for formerly incarcerated LTI employees to comply with the terms of their probation. With help from the Pittsfield probation department, LTI set upon-site drug testing. Prior to that, workers would lose up to half a day of work time to get the mandatory drug testing and now it only takes a few minutes out of their day. This makes it easier for LTI supervisors to staff projects, and it makes it easier for these employees to integrate with the LTI workforce.
“It’s a great partnership,” says Kapiloff. “We have people working with us who were in prison ten years ago and are now out and reunited with families, and proud homeowners. We know that being a homeowner is a particularly important indicator of the well-being of families and communities and are humbled to be a part of that effort in our own small way.”
For example, among the many innovations developed at LTI, the company decided to alter its hiring policy to allow non-violent felons to work there. Kapiloff believed that the no-felon policy “was inherently unfair, given that our justice system is not always fair. If they have served their time and they seem like a good fit, we will hire them, providing consistent and meaningful work.”
LTI teamed up with the Berkshire County House of Corrections to make it easier for formerly incarcerated LTI employees to comply with the terms of their probation. With help from the Pittsfield probation department, LTI set upon-site drug testing. Prior to that, workers would lose up to half a day of work time to get the mandatory drug testing and now it only takes a few minutes out of their day. This makes it easier for LTI supervisors to staff projects, and it makes it easier for these employees to integrate with the LTI workforce.
“It’s a great partnership,” says Kapiloff. “We have people working with us who were in prison ten years ago and are now out and reunited with families, and proud homeowners. We know that being a homeowner is a particularly important indicator of the well-being of families and communities and are humbled to be a part of that effort in our own small way.”