Crawfordville, FL, August 27, 2025 — In a state where recidivism remains a persistent challenge, Vincent M. Gordon Delemos represents a different outcome: two months after his release from Wakulla Correctional Institution, he’s working as a QA Tester at Vant4ge, a public safety technology company. His rapid transition reflects the impact of Persevere’s results-based training and wraparound support model, with the national nonprofit achieving under 3% recidivism rates compared to Florida’s 21.3% and the national average of 60%.
“Vincent’s achievement shows what happens when skill meets opportunity and support. Persevere prepares talented people with industry-aligned training and stands with them for a full year after placement; employers like Vant4ge gain resilient, high-output contributors who strengthen teams and deliver results,” said Mary Graham, CEO of Persevere.
“When you hire a Persevere graduate, you not only get a developer; you get a walking, talking, problem-solving, goal‑oriented individual who has been transformed mentally to adapt to the rapid pace of this industry,” said Delemos. “Five years ago, I would not have dreamed of being where I am right now. I am focused on learning, growing at Vant4ge, and giving back to people who think their situations are hopeless.”
“Vincent secured his offer the same way anyone does at Vant4ge: by shipping quality work. His QA discipline, curiosity, and pace add value on day one. When partners like Persevere prepare candidates with real skills and support, employers get high performance team members and stronger products. Vant4ge strongly believes in second chances for those individuals who earn them,” said Sean Hosman, CEO of Vant4ge.
Employers consistently report strong performance from second-chance hires; 81% of managers say employees with prior justice involvement perform as well or better than their peers (Society for Human Resource Management, 2024).
Delemos earned a Full Stack Web Developer certification, mastering front-end (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and back-end skills in the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), and completed more than 14 additional certificate‑granting courses during training and reentry. Persevere’s model pairs industry‑aligned instruction with mentoring, case management, and job placement support. Nationwide, Persevere touts an 87% employment rate within six months and a recidivism rate under 3%.
Call to action for employers
Employers interested in meeting Persevere candidates can contact employers@perseverenow.org or visit https://www.perseverenow.org/employer-info.
About Persevere
Persevere is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that prepares justice-involved individuals for technology careers through industry‑aligned training, mentoring, and wraparound reentry support, including one year of post‑release services. Operating across Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, and Nebraska, Persevere partners with employers to build dependable tech teams while advancing economic mobility for families. Learn more at: www.perseverenow.org.
About Vant4ge
Vant4ge is a public safety technology company that partners with correctional and community supervision agencies to improve safety, operations, and outcomes with its digital intelligence platform. Its flagship solution, Vant4gePoint, unifies data across systems and uses automation and AI to classify, predict, and recommend actions that enhance staff safety, institutional security, and program utilization while controlling costs and reducing recidivism. Complementary offerings include Evolve, a community corrections platform designed to actively engage individuals in their own rehabilitation; advanced risk-needs assessments; and AIDA, a patent-pending artificial intelligence data assessor, to address staffing and assessment challenges, alongside consulting services tailored to each jurisdiction. Learn more at www.vant4ge.com and www.helloaida.io.
Media contact
Becca Brado, Manager of Constituent Engagement
bbrado@perseverenow.org | 907‑987‑2807
Editor’s note
Start date and primary work location for Mr. Delemos: August 11, 2025; remote confirmed
High‑resolution photos of Vincent M. Gordon Delemos and leadership from Persevere and Vant4ge are available upon request.
Interviews with Mr. Delemos, a Persevere representative and/or a Vant4ge representative can be arranged.
