Kerrie Mallory-Thompson builds autism-focused jobs through ThelmaLou Creations and Empowered Prints

Kerrie Mallory-Thompson, co-founder and CEO of ThelmaLou Creations and co-founder of Empowered Prints in Surprise, Arizona, is using custom printing and workforce training to create employment pathways for adults on the autism spectrum. Her businesses combine design, mentorship, and advocacy to help people with disabilities gain skills, confidence, and independence.

Why it matters: - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson is tying business growth to workforce inclusion, with a focus on adults on the autism spectrum. - Empowered Prints is designed to give participants job skills, real work experience, and a path to longer-term employment. - The model links customer purchases to disability employment, turning each order into support for training and opportunity.

What happened: - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson serves as co-founder and CEO of ThelmaLou Creations, LLC, and co-founder of Empowered Prints in Surprise, Arizona. - ThelmaLou Creations launched in 2018 after more than 25 years of Kerrie Mallory-Thompson's experience in art, graphic design, production, and creative work. - The business began with custom apparel and product decorating for businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, and community groups. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson founded ThelmaLou Creations with longtime friend Pamela Lozada-Moore, who brought more than two decades of experience in special education and behavior analysis. - The name ThelmaLou reflects the friendship and shared mission behind the business. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson later created Empowered Prints to address unemployment among adults with disabilities, inspired in part by her son Conor, who is on the autism spectrum. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson also serves as board president of the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix.

The details: - Empowered Prints provides structured internships and supported employment for adults on the autism spectrum. - Participants can build skills in graphic design, marketing, e-commerce, social communication, purchasing, packaging, production, and other workplace tasks. - The program is built around practical job training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in a supportive environment. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson says her leadership is guided by purpose, integrity, and impact. - One career lesson that shaped her management style was simple advice to avoid impulsive decisions and think through consequences. - Her approach emphasizes planning, clear objectives, and preparation before execution. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson also encourages women in entrepreneurship, design, and marketing to trust their voices early, build real professional relationships, and keep learning through webinars and online training. - She says curiosity and adaptability are essential as industries change.

Between the lines: - The story is as much about family as business, with Conor's experience helping shape Kerrie Mallory-Thompson's sense of purpose. - ThelmaLou Creations and Empowered Prints are positioned as mission-driven businesses in a crowded custom printing market where quality and customer service matter more as competition rises. - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson sees demand growing for personalized products made from materials such as wood, acrylic, and metal, which expands the potential market beyond apparel. - The autism-focused employment model also helps address broader concerns about the high unemployment rate among adults with disabilities. - The combination of advocacy and entrepreneurship gives the businesses a clear identity that goes beyond products alone.

What's next: - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson plans to expand both ThelmaLou Creations and Empowered Prints. - She wants to create opportunities for a broader network of individuals on the autism spectrum. - Her longer-term goal is to help redefine inclusive employment by showing that people with autism can thrive when given proper support and training. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile and ThelmaLou Creations website.

The bottom line: - Kerrie Mallory-Thompson is using entrepreneurship to build a business and a social-purpose employment pipeline at the same time.