Meet Adrian Whiteside | Founder and C.E.O of Rugged Past Righteous Future Inc. and R.P.R.F Logistics LLC

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

Hi Adrian, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
I would say, I decided to be more conscious about who I put myself around or who I discussed my ideas with. My grandfather told that if you’re around four broke people you would become the Fifth. That goes with their mind set as well. I removed a lot of negative pieces out of my life and I believe you have to first decide to do that. It has to be a conscious decision if not you will fall back into the same circles and continue to get the same results. Now I work hard to put myself into rooms and conversations of people who can make change. I believe that decision has contributed the most to the success I have now.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am the Founder and CEO of a 501c3 Non profit organization named Rugged Past Righteous Future and I also own a Logistics Company R.P.R.F Logistics. Rugged Past Righteous future is a Organization that helps individuals that has been recently released from prison or any form of incarceration with Resources and services they need when they return home. We help them with our 3 Programs. One of them is Career development/Job Placement. We have a curriculum written to help them with interview etiquette, Resume writing, etc. We have relationships with local and big businesses that believe people deserve a second chance for job placement . With two trades in CDL training and Dispatch and Barbering and Cosmetology. I also have a Logistics company that does local and over the road Hauling. I give the individuals that come through my organization a Opportunity with work through my logistic company as well. What separates me I believe is my story. I was Charge and convicted of a crime for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was sentenced to 10 years suspended to 18 months 5 years probation! To top it off I had to register as a sex offender for the rest of my life. I had to fight for almost 15 years to clear my and have my case looked at again. I went years trying to get employment and no one would hire me because I had been to prison. I know those struggles personally and I had to deal with them undeservingly. The truth will always out run a lie and I was on the side of truth. I stayed fighting for my case after my release and I also came up with the name Rugged Past Righteous Future, because I always knew when I get cleared I didn’t want anyone else to have to go through that. So I wanted to help. I started out working at restaurants, wishing cars whatever I could do until my day would come. I worked my way up in the car industry to a general manager despite all the obstacles of a ex-felon. Until February 21 2021 a judge in the state of Georgia heard my case and ruled in my favor. Taking me off the registry and he gave my name back. 2 days later I started Rugged Past Righteous Future . Now we have Clients every month who we help find work, mentor and counsel giving them a different path. I also have hired a 2 drivers from my CLD program to my Logistics company giving them a Opportunity that might not have came without Rugged Past Righteous Future. My biggest lesson during all this is learning to accept the little wins. Because you will have a lot of big loses. You will hear no so much that you learn the power of the word no. I built myself up on all my little victories, every time I got a job or finished a program, got a promotion. I used all that to propel me to take the risk to bet on myself. If I wanted the world to know one thing about me, it would-be that; I do what I do because I want to help. I honestly want to help. And if I can help someone stay out of prison and have a better life than I have done my job.

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 love the Gypsy Kitchen in bulkhead, they have a Ros’e sangria that will sneak up on you and a very nice atmosphere. I have a friend that owns the best Smoothie Shop in Metro Atlanta called The Awkward Cup. Nice food selection to go with your smoothie and tables to take your time and enjoy your time out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Great-grandparents I would say is the reason why I am, who I am. My mother had me at a very young age of 13 yes 13. So Great-grandparents not only took me, but also my mothers youngest brother at the same time and raised us as brothers. Imagine taking on the responsibility of babies when you’re about to retire. They sacrificed everything for us not to go without. My Great-grandfather was a Entrepreneur with only a 3rd education! He couldn’t read, but you wouldn’t be able to hustle him out of anything! He built his own lounge behind our home. Pool table, kitchen and all. It was the Neighborhood spot. I watched him cook food, serve the food , break up fights, I mean everything in that place. But it was his, and he was showing me how to run your own business and he didn’t even know it. He also started a trash company, with his old pickup truck when he got to old handle the lounge. That man got up to almost 300 houses before he couldn’t do it. That’s when I got my first taste of business. I tried to run his trash route, it wasn’t for me. However, I learned that I didn’t have to be a trash man to own a trash company. Which helped me down the line to today, to where I don’t drive or have a CDL but I own a Logistics Company. I owe it all to them and now my own family.

Website: www.ruggedpastrighteousfuture.com, www.rprflogitics.com

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Image Credits
Brandon Green BKG Media