BY ERIN KELLY | KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Ford dealership on Fifth Street in downtown Louisville was a short walk from Beacon House, the sober living facility where James Sherrill Jr. had been staying nearly 10 years ago, and Sherrill needed a job.
He started as a shuttle driver and began working in the shop.
What You Need To Know
James Collins Ford in downtown Louisville has partnered with Beacon House, a sober living facility
The dealership estimates it has hired more than 50 people from Beacon House over the years
41% of the dealership’s current employees are in recovery
The program began when James Sherrill Jr. applied for a job nearly 10 years ago
“They actually wanted to send me to school to train me, but I knew I had some time over my head I’d have to be going back for and so I did. I let them know you know like yes, I’d like to get trained, but I’m probably going to be gone for a while,” he said.
While he served time in prison on drug charges, James Collins Ford held his job for him, he said.
When he returned, they paid for him to go through training.
Now a senior master technician, Sherrill has been sober for nearly nine years.
“Now it’s pretty amazing, like I mean, I’ve got a great job, I’ve got good friends,” he said. “I smile a lot. Pretty happy. I actually enjoy living now, you know, like I don’t dread getting, I don’t feel like I’m just breathing air any more. I feel like I’m actually living.”
Sherrill is recently married with kids, grandkids and a home.
He thinks about the different path his life could have taken.
“Oh absolutely, every day,” said Sherrill. “One drink would take my whole life away.”
Sherrill has mentored dozens of people in recovery over the years, referring many from Beacon House to work with him at James Collins Ford.
Virginia Payne, director of fixed operations, said the dealership has hired over 50 people from Beacon House over the years and about 41% of her employees are in recovery.
“We show compassion,” she said. “We not only want them to come and work for us. We want to see them grow and just for instance, most of my mechanics, you know they come from nothing and now they have their own homes, their own vehicles, they have credit where they never had credit before … It’s great to see.”
Everyone deserves a second chance, and no one works harder than Sherrill, said Payne.
For Sherrill, it’s become more than a job. It’s a safe space.
“It’s funny — I used to ride in the back of these and now I work on them,” said Sherrill, raising a Louisville police car up on a lift in the shop. “That’s pretty cool, that I don’t ride in the back anymore,” he said with a laugh.
Seeing others around him in recovery doing well keeps him going.
“For anyone struggling, just keep trying,” he said. “There are resources here in Louisville and the Beacon House was a great place for me and it’s where it all started for me, so that place will always be special to me,” he said. “If you want to quit, we can help.”
James Collins Ford said they always have positions available for anyone who may want to apply.