We had the good fortune of connecting with Jamie Hatfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jamie, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Coming from addiction and homelessness and incarceration myself, I knew my passion was to help others in the same situations. I have found two companies that let me take my knowledge of these and fight every day to help reintegrate my fellow recovering addicts back into society again. I, myself, think it starts with compassion and relatability. How are you going to help me if you can’t understand what I’m going through? At both Crossroads and Shine A Light, we are able to relate to the people and help them climb out of the holes they are in. In doing that, we are not only giving more people a chance at success in life but in life itself. Too many people are out here dying because of this disease. Too many people are being incarcerated due to crimes committed because of addiction. If we can get them involved in a community of people who have not only survived but turned their lives around, we have done our jobs.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was one of the ones that everyone had given up on. I never had a “real” job or thought that I would amount to anything. I spent countless years in jails and prisons and rehabs. Now to be able to work in treatment and with the Criminal Justice system to show my clients that not only can you rise above all of that but live a life beyond your wildest dreams is what I have found to be my purpose. I can relate to my clients in ways that not a lot can’t. I am a voice for my clients in settings where they don’t think their voice matters. Walking someone through getting sober is very challenging but it’s also very rewarding. What my clients don’t realize is they help me stay sober every single day. They are my passion. Getting to where I’m at today wasn’t easy but I don’t think anything worthwhile in life is but it’s been an amazing journey and it’s only up from here.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I stay very far away from tourist attractions here in Las Vegas as most natives do but I can say the Haunted Museum is one of my favorites. I am a sucker for anything True Crime related or Horror theme. The Bodies exhibit is also really interesting and somewhere I would recommend. If I personally had to take someone somewhere, it would probably be downtown to Main St. to get some food at one of their cute little restaurants and then follow it up with a $20 tattoo at Koolsville just for the experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout would go to Robert Banghart who has taken me under his wing for the last 3 years and molded me into the woman I am today. Not only is he my boss, which has expanded over several companies in the last 3 years, but he is my friend. He has taken the time to learn how I react and help me grow not only professionally but personally. I have so much respect for that man and I am so grateful for him.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.hatfield.520562?mibextid=JRoKGi

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