At GEO, we believe that diversity in our workforce and the inclusion of a variety of views, perspectives, and backgrounds are integral parts of our company's success. This unique mixture in the workforce provides unlimited ideas, increases productivity and innovative solutions for our clients and those we serve.
We believe that work is more than a place you go every day. It is a place of professional growth, exploration, creativity, and interpersonal relationships. It is about being inspired and motivated to achieve extraordinary things. We want our people to take pride in their work and in maintaining a safe and secure environment. After all, it is the combined talents, skills, knowledge, experience and expertise of every one of our employees that makes us who we are.
Our employees around the globe live and work in the communities we call home. In this geographically diverse environment, we learn from each other and share those lessons within and outside our communities.
The inclusion of all employees makes our teams more effective, enhances communication among other people of different backgrounds and experiences, and creates an atmosphere that benefits from the talents and capabilities of our diverse workforce. Inclusion through recruiting, hiring, developing, training and promoting employees of all genders, races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, and physical abilities is essential to our success.
The result of our desire to be diverse and inclusive creates a company culture that is ever more collaborative. Our employees are increasingly more enthusiastic about their work because they are sharing ideas across departments and divisions in inspiring new ways.
Morris, affectionately known as “Mo” started his career at GEO as a Detention Officer 16 years ago. Prior to GEO, Mo retired from the United States Army after achieving the highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E-9), a decorated and distinguished service of 30 years to our country. Mo embodies the true meaning of leadership by influencing others to achieve the common goal. Mo performs with a sense of purpose and direction. Ever vigilant to the goals, visions, and direction of the Company. Mo has a go-getter attitude that is infectious to other staff and residents.
With great personal conviction, Mo continues his path outside of work by being a community pillar. Mo is a critical contributor and manager of the Community Food Bank for his local church. Through his guiding support and dedication, the food bank serves approximately 450 families during Thanksgiving and 350 people during Christmas. Mo also focuses time on the Vision Center, a faith-based community agency which partners with the Tacoma Department of Social and Human Services to transport and supervise court ordered parent/child visitations. As a senior leader with his local church, Mo serves as the financial manager for the partnership program. Mo also sponsors a youth summer program with the Vision Center for teens that teams up with local volunteers who teach and mentor youth preparing them as tomorrow’s adults.
During his time with GEO, Mo continued his personal growth earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership graduating Cum Laude and a Master Degree in Christian Ministry graduating Summa Cum Laude. Morris LaGrands's legacy has expanded, by touching all he interacts with. His unique style of supporting, advising, teaching, mentoring, and leading by example is just phenomenal.
Patrick has held several leaderships roles during his 10 year career with GEO and has exceeded expectations in each of them. Patrick has willingly taken on difficult projects like facility sanitation and facility searches and seizures for contraband. Because of his knowledge and familiarity of the facility’s physical plant layout he has brought continual insight and awareness to the areas used by residents to conceal and/or solicit contraband that would have otherwise gone unknown to staff.
Patrick is a visible presence in his community as an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He is involved in service projects which include feeding the homeless, big brother programs, voter registration, and college enrollment drives to name a few. Patrick coaches a youth football organization where he spends time weekly serving as a role model to under privileged youth. He also serves his church as a Deacon and ministry leader where he provides spiritual guidance to several men and youth under his leadership. Through his church he speaks to local men’s shelters, aids nursing homes, feeds and provides clothing to the homeless and helps elder members complete small tasks in their homes.
Patrick’s presence brings positive energy when he walks around the facility. He engages with everyone, including residents, staff, and visitors. As such, his professional demeanor has gained him respect on all levels. He always provides suggestions to build morale and engage staff and residents alike. Patrick takes pride in what he does and encourages others to not settle for the minimum, but to give 100% and be a leader even when that person is not in a leadership role.
In 2018, 2020 Women on Boards recognized The GEO Group as a Winning Company for its commitment to Board Diversity. Winning Companies champion board diversity by having 20% or more of their board seats held by women. 2020 Women on Boards is a non-profit campaign dedicated to increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards to 20% by 2020.
The GEO Group currently has 9 Board Members, two of whom are women. These two experienced and talented women are Board members Anne N. Foreman and Julie Myers Wood.
Dr. Cheralee Morgan displays many outstanding leadership qualities such as inspiration, vision, dedication, stewardship, and work ethic. Cheralee has shown that she possesses the ability to motivate the people she works with. For example, she has built relationships with the City of South Bay, the Facility’s contractors, the Florida Department of Corrections, GEO’s Corporate Office, and several accreditation institutions. These relationships have an impact on the successful performance of the departments she oversees. Recently, Cheralee has effectively fostered staff collaboration on educational projects to ensure participant success. Within the first year of joining the organization and without any correctional experience, she mobilized the staff to work together to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the American Correctional Association (ACA). Cheralee’s vision for the departments she manages is evident to her team and includes diligent efforts to incorporate more college courses into the academic programs, and to gain The National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) accreditation for the vocational programs. Dr. Morgan serves on several community boards. Most notably, she is a member of the City of Lauderhill Arts, Culture, and Tourism Board. In this capacity, she works with other board members to promote local business and community relations for the City of Lauderhill. She also serves on the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network. This is where professional Jamaicans living in the United States participate in designing programs that help in the growth and development of Jamaicans. Cheralee also sits on the executive boards of all her past educational institutions, from elementary through college. Through these associations, she partners with local organizations like Food for the Poor, Habitat for Humanity, and Feeding South Florida. These organizations provide aid and service to underserved communities.
To balance her work and community service, in her personal time, Cheralee also serves her church community at Christian Life Center as a member the Red-Carpet Ministry and Online Moderator Ministries.The GEO family congratulates TaCara and Cheralee, as well as all the nominees in this great recognition program that provides an opportunity to showcase the distinguished and diverse individuals we employ in all areas of the company. Each winner received a check for $5,000 sponsored by our insurance consultants, Lockton Companies.
The judges for this year's Diversity in Leadership Awards were Dr. Derrick Schoffield, Alex Londono, Susan Napolitano, Johanny Handel, Louise Williams, Jada Preston-Hill
(Lockton Companies), JoAnne Steed (Lockton Companies), along with 2020 winners Jamie Flores and Thatiana Tavarez. Both new recipients will join the judges’ panel to assist with the selection process for 2022.
In 2018, 2020 Women on Boards recognized The GEO Group as a Winning Company for its commitment to Board Diversity. Winning Companies champion board diversity by having 20% or more of their board seats held by women. 2020 Women on Boards is a non-profit campaign dedicated to increasing the percentage of women on corporate boards to 20% by 2020.
The GEO Group currently has 9 Board Members, two of whom are women. These two experienced and talented women are Board members Anne N. Foreman and Julie Myers Wood.
