Unlocking the Labor Force
Staff
Jannett Keesling, President
Jkeesling@keys2.org
Jannett has more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality and the workforce/staffing industry. Her entrepreneurism began in her homeland of Jamaica in 1983 when she and her husband developed a cultural tourism hotel. Immigrating to the United States in 1996, Jannett founded Keys To Work which grew to become the city’s largest transitional staffing firm serving disadvantaged workers. In 2020, Keys To Work incorporated into a nonprofit organization, Keys2Work, to focus on helping homeless and returning citizens secure and maintain employment.
Jannett is a past president of the Indianapolis Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and has been a member since 1998. She was honored in 2008 with the Starkey Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award, and in 2009 she was selected by 100 Black Women for the Indianapolis Woman of Color Award. In 2013 she was honored as a community leader by the Center for Leadership Development.
Glenn Johnson, Executive Director of Contract Accounts
Gjohnson@keys2.org
A graduate of Indiana University, Glenn played football for the Hoosiers went on to play professional football in the NFL and Arena Football League from 2004–2012. Glenn joined the Keys2Work staff in 2014 as Director of Business Development and has been instrumental in growing the business model and helping marginally employable people find secure gainful employment. Glenn has always been passionate about helping people get ahead in life.
Tiana Johnson, Chief Operating Officer
Tjohnson@keys2.org
Tiana (Keesling) was born into a family of entrepreneurs. She spent her early years in Jamaica and her family moved to Indiana when she was 8 years old. After graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration, Tiana decided to follow in her parents' footsteps, joining them at Keys2Work in 2012.
She encourages her clients, most of who are homeless and/or citizens returning to the community from incarceration, to not settle for a job, but to move toward a career. She listens to their struggles and introduces them to employers willing to provide them an opportunity to succeed. Tiana is a member of the Rotary Club of downtown Indianapolis. Her ultimate goal is for the world to understand the struggles of folks previously incarcerated and of the homeless.
Andrea Ayietta, Community Engagement and Networks Specialist
aayietta@keys2.org
Andrea Ayietta, a native of Indianapolis, began her journey with RecycleForce and Keys2Work in 2018 as a reentry program participant. She had just completed her 10-year sentence to the Indiana Department of Correction. While in the reentry program, Andrea was assigned to and excelled as front desk clerk for Keys2Work. Upon completion of the reentry program, Andrea accepted a position as Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment Coordinator with WorkOne. She credits this work—helping others through her personal experience of incarceration and reentry—as playing an intricate part in her own rehabilitation and revealing her life’s passion. Andrea believes every justice-involved person is capable of rehabilitation if provided with the kind of resources and support she received at RecycleForce and Keys2Work. Andrea is currently continuing her studies in Human Services at Indiana Wesleyan University and plans to continue to serve her community and returning citizens, where she feels she is most needed.
James Conway, Youth Program Manager
After both personal and family tragedy, James landed at Keys to Work as their office manager in 2016. James became familiar with the profound impact both Keys to Work and RecycleForce have in the lives of those we serve. In 2017, Keys to Work was awarded the WIOA federal grant to serve, out-of-school youth, who were homeless or formally incarcerated. Along with local youth services grant YES, James changed positions to become the manager of these two programs and serve as the primary case manager for our youth clients. Keys to Work’s youth program has since remained a high performing program. In 2020, EmployIndy offered James the chance to apply for the Indiana’s Governors Coaching Corps. James was accepted along 35 other workforce development professionals from across the state to work on creating new models and best practices that will be formally presented in December. Keys to Work’s youth program was again recognized by EmployIndy, and became one of three organizations in Indianapolis to join a pilot project with the National Youth Employment Coalition.
James is currently working with a consortium of youth services organizations across the Mid-West and Western U.S. This pilot program seeks to introduce TABS (Translating Adolescent Brain Science) into our programs. The intent is to gather data and best practices that will be presented in Washington D.C. for national consideration.
Zandra Baker, Senior Program Director
Zandra Baker, a native of Jamaica, moved to Indianapolis in 2000. She has 35 years of management experience and is skilled in coordination, organization, and planning. She has been pursuing her passion for supporting individuals in crisis to make positive changes in their lives since 2010 when she joined RecycleForce as Director of Safety. She was later promoted to Vice President of Operations. As the Senior Program Director of Keys to Work, she supports the President, COO, program participants, case managers, and administrative staff through careful oversight of the organization's grant-funded transitional jobs program to meet the organization's objectives. Additionally, she supervises training programs to ensure skills gain and credentialing requirements are met for grant performance and manages grant data collection. Her attention to detail and zest for helping others were recognized in 2021 with a Lifetime Safety award and Community Mentor award.
Nicole Spurrier, Executive Administrator
Nicole graduated with distinction from IU Bloomington with a BSPH in Community Health and minors in Psychology and Youth Development on a Pre-Occupational Therapy track. While in college, she worked with individuals with developmental disabilities and was a Peer Health and Wellness Educator, educating her peers on topics such as stress prevention and management, smoking cessation, sexual health, and nutrition. During her time at IU, she also participated in service learning through the Boys & Girls Club and was on a committee for IU Dance Marathon, which raises money for Riley Hospital. She completed her field experience at the Wayne County Needle Exchange Program and then moved to Indianapolis in 2019. Through previous life experiences, Nicole has a passion for working with disadvantaged youth, especially those with disability. She feels a strong sense of advocacy for those who cannot successfully advocate for themselves.
Board Members
Doran Moreland, Board Chair, KSM Consulting
Dustin Jones, Secretary and Treasurer, RecycleForce
Honorable Judge Patricia Riley, Vice President, Indiana Court of Appeals
Charles Neal
Joy Arnett
Erin Anderson
Lahny Silva
Ex-officio
Tim Brown, Indy Chamber and the Law Office of Tim J. Brown
Jannett Keesling, Keys2Work