Success Story 1
Shannon Callins
Shannon Callins spent most of her career in customer-facing roles such as restaurants, convenience stores, and service writing. She never imagined that a flat tire would change the direction of her life. When Persevere case manager Cheryl Smiles walked into the garage where Shannon worked, a conversation about second chances opened a door Shannon didn’t know existed.
As a justice-impacted individual, Shannon had always been a natural problem-solver and risk assessor but never had the language to describe those skills. Persevere’s Project Management curriculum gave her that framework, and from there she never looked back. Shannon went from Persevere student to Banyan Labs intern, where she eventually managed seven projects and built an operational intelligence system that automated documentation across project cycles. Just a year earlier, she had never even Google Drive.
Today, Shannon is known for her servant leadership and ability to support her team through complex challenges. Her journey proves that mistakes don’t define a person—what matters is the willingness to grow and take a second chance.
