CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT STRATEGIES INC

What CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT STRATEGIES INC does

Career Development and Placement Strategies Inc (CDPS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Ohio, incorporated in 2009 with a predecessor program dating to 1996. It serves unemployed and underemployed adults, low-income fathers, and individuals reentering society after incarceration, operating from offices in Cleveland and Akron. CDPS reports cumulative outcomes of 3,347 participants enrolled, 2,510 completions, 1,506 placements, and 4,525 children impacted across its programs.

CDPS delivers three core programs: the Rising Above fatherhood initiative; Expert Reclaim, a separate social enterprise that employs and trains formerly incarcerated workers on construction and deconstruction projects; and the Carpentry and Building Trades Training program, which prepares participants for NCCER- and OSHA-certified trades careers. Service delivery combines classroom instruction, hands-on training (including paid deconstruction work via Expert Reclaim), and structured placement support. The organization maintains partnerships with more than 20 government and community entities, including the Cuyahoga County Land Bank, which together function as both a participant-referral pipeline and an employer/placement channel.

Revenue is generated through government contracts, foundation grants (including start-up funding from the Cleveland Foundation), corporate and individual donations, and earned income from Expert Reclaim's social enterprise operations. The effective "customers" are funders — government agencies and philanthropic foundations — rather than program participants. Leadership has been continuous under Executive Director Maurice Stevens since 2006, providing institutional stability across CDPS's evolution. No AI/ML or proprietary technology components are evident; the operating model is labor-intensive and in-person.

Name

CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT STRATEGIES INC

Legal name

Career Development and Placement Strategies Inc.

Website

https://cdps4u.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CDPS is an Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers workforce training, certification, and job placement to unemployed adults, low-income fathers, and formerly incarcerated individuals through its Rising Above, Expert Reclaim, and Carpentry and Building Trades programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (61), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAOAG

Workforce Reentry Programs (Justice-Involved)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

SECONDARYEDAAAOAE

Incumbent Worker Training & Upskilling

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Workforce Development Initiatives

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Construction trades training
• Reentry employment programs
• Fatherhood initiative services
• Job placement assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: CDPS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization receiving funding through government contracts (Cuyahoga County, Office of Reentry, Ohio) and foundation grants from organizations such as The Cleveland Foundation. These funds support workforce development programs, the Rising Above fatherhood initiative, and the Expert Reclaim social enterprise.
2. Donations: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from the public to support program operations and expansion, as evidenced by their donation page and call-to-action for financial support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CDPS delivers workforce development, personal development, and skill training programs to currently employed, unemployed, downsized, underemployed, and formerly incarcerated individuals in Ohio. Core offerings include the Rising Above fatherhood initiative, Expert Reclaim (a social enterprise providing construction trades training and employment for reentrants), NCCER-certified Carpentry and Building Trades Training, and supplemental workshops in workforce development, entrepreneurship, and money management. Services are funded through government contracts, foundation grants, and donations and provided at no direct cost to participants.

Product overview

CDPS offers a multi-faceted workforce and personal development ecosystem consisting of three core programs: the Rising Above Program (a fatherhood initiative providing employability skills and job placement services), Expert Reclaim (a social enterprise offering construction trades training and employment for formerly incarcerated individuals), and Carpentry and Building Trades Training (NCCER-certified construction skills program). These core offerings are supplemented by workshops in Workforce Development, Entrepreneurship, and Money Management. The programs work together to serve unemployed, underemployed, and formerly incarcerated individuals in Ohio, combining hard trades skills with soft skills training and job placement support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rising Above: Fatherhood Initiative Program focused on enhancing employability skills for fathers and assisting them with job market preparation, child support issues, and employment upon release from incarceration.
• Expert Reclaim
• Carpentry and Building Trades Training

Products and services

• Rising Above Program A fatherhood initiative program established in 1996 that assists fathers in learning to accept and fulfill their parental responsibilities while helping individuals with job market preparation, addressing child support issues, and gaining employment upon release from incarceration. Includes OSHA 10-Hour Health and Safety Training & Certification.
• Expert Reclaim A social enterprise formed in 2012 offering workforce development and on-the-job training programs for those recently released from prison or on probation. Provides construction trades training in home renovation, vacant property management, landscaping, asbestos abatement, deconstruction, and residential/commercial cleaning services.
• Carpentry and Building Trades Training A 12-week (24 hours per week) training program introducing students to core skills in drywall framing, material selection and handling, drywall construction, and finishing. Leads to NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Core Construction Craft Training certification for entry to mid-level jobs in construction trades.
• Workforce Development Workshops A series of two-hour workshops covering employment readiness topics including resume writing, interviewing skills, job search techniques, employer expectations, and career planning to help participants transition from unemployment to full employment.
• Entrepreneurship Training A program providing entrepreneurship skills and coaching for individuals with criminal records to start their own businesses, covering business planning, market research, marketing strategies, financial management, and business start-up options. Delivered in partnership with Madison Development Consulting.
• Money Management Workshops Financial education workshops covering money attitudes, banking and credit unions, savings and checking accounts, credit scores, credit reports, and loan underwriting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% program completion rate (2,510 of 3,347 enrolled)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Expert Reclaim, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Social enterprise venture formed in 2012 by CDPS Inc. and the first of its kind in Cuyahoga County. Offers workforce development and on-the-job training programs for those recently released from prison or on probation. Provides construction trades training in home renovation, vacant property management, landscaping, and residential/commercial cleaning.
• Cuyahoga County Office of ReentrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner that co-selected Expert Reclaim for start-up funding as one of three Transformation Enterprises. Works with CDPS to support reentry programming for individuals returning to Cuyahoga County from Ohio prisons.
• Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLand Bank provides vast portfolio of uninhabited properties for Expert Reclaim's hands-on skills training. CDPS helped structure the Land Bank's workforce development programs, and Expert Reclaim provides vacant property cleaning and home rehabilitation services.
• Cuyahoga County Fatherhood InitiativecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExtended organization partner that recognizes CDPS as a premier workforce development organization serving thousands of participants in the Fatherhood Initiative Program. Partnership since 2005.
• Madison Development ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CDPS to provide entrepreneurship skills training for Rising Above and Expert Reclaim clients with criminal records. Identified critical gap in entrepreneurship training in Cuyahoga County.
• Cleveland Public LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublic sector partner providing services at their location as part of CDPS's continuum of care through community-based agency partnerships.
• Summit CountyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty government partner for workforce development services, particularly supporting CDPS expansion to Greater Akron Area.
• Cuyahoga CountyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCounty government partner for workforce development and reentry programming in Cuyahoga County.
• ODOT (Ohio Department of Transportation)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState government partner in workforce development initiatives.
• Kokosing ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivate sector contractor partner providing site supervision for Expert Reclaim training, benefiting from labor while providing real-world training for re-entrants in skilled trades.
• Cleveland Housing NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate employer that places Expert Reclaim participants in employment to provide specific services. Some participants are hired on as permanent employees.
• Artessa Building GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrivate sector construction partner in CDPS's collaborative partner network.
• Arrow InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization in CDPS's collaborative network.
• Salvation ArmyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNonprofit partner providing services at their location as part of CDPS's continuum of care.
• Centers for Families and ChildrenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial services partner in CDPS's collaborative network serving families and children.
• UStoWork, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMBE/EDGE and female certified Business Services organization led by Carol Howlett with over 3 decades of experience in employment strategy and design.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing technical and professional training combined with corporate internships for young adults from low-income communities. Comparable scale and outcomes-based training/placement model, though focused on younger demographics than CDPS.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit workforce development operator, providing job training and placement across diverse populations including justice-involved individuals. Operates retail-funded training programs similar in concept to CDPS's social-enterprise funding model.

Emerging players

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology training and career support to individuals from underserved communities. Comparable in mission (workforce development for economically disadvantaged populations) and outcomes-based placement focus.

Direct peers

• The Fortune Society: New York-based nonprofit offering workforce development, education, housing, and reentry support for formerly incarcerated individuals. Operates a social enterprise similar to Expert Reclaim, with comparable mission and participant profile.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National nonprofit providing immediate employment services and transitional work to people returning from incarceration. Closest direct peer to CDPS's Expert Reclaim reentry model, with comparable placement and retention metrics.
• America Works: National workforce development provider with strong presence serving justice-involved and welfare recipients through placement-focused programs. Directly comparable to CDPS's employment placement and retention-focused service model.
• Homeboy Industries: Los Angeles-based nonprofit operating social enterprises (bakery, café, landscaping, cleanup) to provide job training for formerly gang-involved and formerly incarcerated individuals. Closest analog to CDPS's Expert Reclaim model of using earned-revenue businesses to fund reentry employment.
• Safer Foundation: Chicago-based nonprofit providing employment-focused reentry services with industry-recognized certifications. Comparable to CDPS's combination of construction trades training (NCCER/OSHA) and reentry-focused placement support.
• STRIVE (EXOS/STRIVE partnership): Workforce development nonprofit with a long track record of providing hard-skills training and job placement to individuals with significant barriers to employment, including those with criminal records. Comparable to CDPS's holistic soft-skills plus trades training approach.

Regional players

• OhioMeansJobs (Ohio Department of Job and Family Services): State of Ohio's public workforce development system operating comprehensive employment and training services across Ohio counties. Operates in the same geography as CDPS and serves overlapping populations with comparable workforce services.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cdps4u
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/career-development-and-placement-strategies-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT STRATEGIES INC