EMPOWERING HIS PEOPLE Twenty years ago, all Jerry Chamales needed to feel good was a bottle of Scotch and a thin line of cocaine. When he finally got clean, his friends were there to help. Now that he's president of the $30 million Omni Computer Products in Carson, Calif., which sells computer supplies and recycled printer cartridges, the 46-year-old CEO is a friend to the one-third of his workers who, like him, were formerly homeless, drug addicted or alcoholic. "I believe that work is the best therapy," says Chamales, who has placed many of these people in his telemarketing center. "If you can focus their energy, they're persistent people." With such an inspiring leader, it's no surprise that Chamales' staff is so motivated.