THE CCA FAMILY Featuring Charles Staples Lisa Piskuran Robert Lacy
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MAY–JUNE 2013 Our Partnerships A deeper look at how CCA serves governments Celebrating THE CCA FAMILY Featuring Charles Staples Lisa Piskuran Robert Lacy DETAILS Checkpoint Tips Helpful ways to save time when entering a CCA facility Richness in Diversity Sexual Abuse Asian American Prevention & Pacific Islander New PREA standards reinforce commitments to safety Heritage Month OUR PEOPLE OUR COMMUNITY OUR COMPANY WWW.INSIDECCA.COMinsidecca.com 1 In this Issue FEATURES 4 Celebrating Our Professionals Honoring our teachers, nurses and security team members It takes bravery to be a 6 Getting to Zero on Sexual Abuse correctional professional PREA standards focus on prevent- ing, detecting and responding 8 Thankful at 30: Our Partnerships Creating models that work for government The CCA Courage Award 14 New Kids on the Cellblock recognizes employees who go SOAR Mentorship Program starts over and beyond the call of duty. employees off on the right foot 16 Honoring Asian American & Pacific Do you know a colleague who has— Islander Heritage Month Celebrating culture, traditions and history Saved a life, even at the 18 Controlling Contraband risk of personal safety? Cell phones pose serious security risk 19 Getting Green with Energy Stepped in when the Conservation stakes have been high? Maintenance managers meet to share best practices Been at the call of the community 21 Simplifying E-Mail Signatures during a natural disaster? Policy sets parameters for professional signature look Consider nominating him or her 24 Operation Diamondback for the CCA Courage Award! Preparedness training set for May See your HR manager for details. COLUMNS 3 From the President’s Desk 9 Applause Applause 10 Service Awards 12 Facility Focus 13 Facility Spotlight 15 Details 17 LifeStyle 20 Our CCA Family The cover features Bill Cheatham, detention officer at Houston 22 Our People Processing Center. 23 Puzzle 24 From the Polls InsideCCA is published six times a year by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) for employees and their families. Editor Creative Services Specialist Contributor Contact Us K. Danielle Edwards John Diffenderfer Jenna Slocum We welcome reader feedback and inquiries. Write to InsideCCA: Staff Writers [email protected]. DeAndra Mack Stacey Sparrow 2 insidecca.com From the President’s Desk What the REIT Really Means By Damon Hininger ast year, we announced that This move was practical for a num- On the face of it, the REIT changes CCA was exploring the possibil- ber of reasons. Fundamentally, real nothing about the vital public service Lity of redefining our corporate estate represents an essential core of we’ve been providing for 30 years. structure. We knew that our employ- our business. CCA has a market share CCA communities will continue to ees, especially, would need to be in- of 44 percent of all partnership cor- benefit from the economic vitality we formed about this development and rections bed capacity in the nation generate through careers, utility pay- understand what it may mean. today. That includes 14 million square ments and property taxes. Inmates feet in more than 50 company-owned and detainees will still experience In February, CCA was officially con- facilities. Moreover, land and build- quality care and safe surroundings. verted to a Real Estate Investment ings comprise 90 percent of our gross Our government partners will con- Trust, commonly known as a REIT. We fixed assets. As you can see, as the tinually achieve high-quality safe and are now one of approximately 140 fifth-largest corrections system in the secure operations at great value. REITs that are publically traded and U.S., CCA is highly vested in our physi- also one of approximately 120 com- As a REIT, CCA will benefit from lower cal holdings, making us a major real panies included in the MSCI US REIT interest rates when we build more estate operation as well. Index (RMZ), which represents about facilities or invest in expansions and 85 percent of the U.S. REIT universe. maintenance of our properties. We continued on page 11 Commonly Used REIT Terms Now that CCA is structured as a REIT, you may begin hearing more of these terms in company town halls, internal business unit reviews, market cover- age and investor calls. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) A REIT is a company dedicated to owning, and, in some cases, operating income-producing real estate, such as apartments, shopping centers, offices and warehouses. Some REITs also engage in financing real estate. Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) This term refers to a computation made by analysts and investors to mea- sure a real estate company’s cash flow generated by operations. AFFO is usually calculated by subtracting from Funds from Operations (FFO) both (1) normalized recurring expenditures that are capitalized by the REIT and then amortized, but which are necessary to maintain a REIT’s properties and its revenue stream (e.g., new carpeting and drapes in apartment units, leasing expenses and tenant improvement allowances) and (2) “straight-lining” of rents. This calculation also is called Cash Available for Distribution (CAD) or Funds Available for Distribution (FAD). Dividend A portion of a company’s profit paid to common and preferred shareholders. Funds From Operations (FFO) The most commonly accepted and reported measure of REIT operating per- formance. Equal to a REIT’s net income, excluding gains or losses from sales of property, and adding back real estate depreciation. Yield The percentage return paid on a stock in the form of dividends, or the effec- tive rate of interest paid on a bond or note. * Definitions from REIT.com and NASDAQ.com. insidecca.com 3 CELEBRATING Our Professionals A time to recognize the people who make us great By Jenna Slocum ith nearly 17,000 employees across the country, CCA boasts a diverse and talented workforce. In May, we celebrate National Correctional Officers and Employees Week, National Teacher Appreciation Week and National Nurses Week. We’re proud to highlight members of our Wexceptional teams who represent the best and brightest in each profession. THE TEACHER Meet Lisa Piskuran, education supervisor at Bridgeport Pre-Parole Transfer Facility. After five years of teaching first grade in public schools, Piskuran joined CCA in 2010 as a GED instructor and supervisor. She has an eye for detail and accuracy, but it’s Piskuran’s passion for building self-esteem while teaching and overseeing the GED program that’s garnered her praise. “We try to give our students the encouragement they need to pass and the esteem they need to succeed,” she says. Although a small facility, Bridgeport has CCA’s highest percentage of GED attainment in proportion to its population. While creating a learning environment that fosters trust, Piskuran’s edu- cational team also developed ways to inspire students, from quirky desk tents with motivational phrases to expressions of praise and encour- agement, such as naming a Star Student of the Week. “They love it,” says Piskuran. “As simple as it is, it’s raising morale.” Piskuran’s students work hard to earn their GEDs. And the facility re- ciprocates by making each graduation ceremony a special occasion. Graduates receive two photos taken in their caps and gowns: one to keep and one to send home, a testament to their success. For Piskuran, developing self-esteem is just as important as learn- ing algebra and social studies. “If they can earn their GED, then they know they can go on and be successful at whatever they put their minds to,” she says. insidecca.com THE NURSE THE WARDEN “People may think they don’t want to work at a correctional Robert Lacy is CCA’s most tenured warden. facility, but I actually love it. It’s a different kind of nursing.” Thirty years ago, Lacy worked for the Texas De- That’s what Charles Staples at McRae Correctional Facility partment of Criminal Justice, enjoying his bud- says about working in correctional health care. The regis- ding career. When opportunities in partnership tered nurse previously spent five years working in the local corrections began to emerge, he was intrigued. hospital emergency room before starting his career in cor- “In 1989, private corrections wasn’t very pop- rections. ular,” he explains. “But I knew CCA’s The change has been good for Staples. leadership team, and I wanted to “I see the same inmates from the day they arrive to the day be a part of it. It was a new chal- they leave,” he says. “I see improvements in their demeanor lenge.” and health. I know I’ve made a difference.” Lacy has certainly encoun- Staples explains that he’s rewarded by the continuity of tered some challenges care he can provide in a correctional setting. He’s even and witnessed many learned some Spanish to better communicate. changes. But one thing has remained constant But he hasn’t left all his ER experience behind. Staples cre- throughout his three de- ated a team approach and collaborative spirit at McRae that cades in corrections — he learned working in the ER. caring for people. “I’ve always been a team player,” he says. “If we don’t all “I have a saying on my flourish, it reflects on our overall job. It’s more of a group desk that I see every effort here. We aren’t dealing with our patients all by our- day,” explains Lacy. “It selves.” says, ‘Focus on your staff It’s Staples’ genuine attitude and positive outlook that en- and the people who work for dear him to staff and inmates. you. What you give to them you get back two-fold.’” “If I know something that can help make someone else’s job The saying, Lacy says, reminds him of better, why shouldn’t I where came from.