Ambassador Winter 2015

Ambassador

MTSU Study: Local Goodwill Has Major Economic Impact

Goodwill Employee Receives Free Car

Goodwill Honors Outstanding Clients, Partners

MAKING FABRIC COLLAGE FUN, INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO LEARN

NASHVILLE MAN SHARES ‘ART OF GOODWILL’

WINTER 2015

AmbassadorWINTER 2015

President and CEO Matthew S. Bourlakas

Publisher Karl HoustonSenior Director of Marketing & Community Relations

Editor and Writer Chris FletcherPR & Communications Manager

Art Director EJ Kerr Manager of Creative Services

Ambassador is a quarterly magazine

published by Goodwill Industries of

Middle Tennessee, Inc., 1015 Herman

Street, Nashville, TN 37208.

For the nearest retail store, donation

center, or Career Solutions center,

please call 800.545.9231 or visit

www.giveit2goodwill.org.

Ambassador provides readers with

stories of the events, activities and

people who support the mission

of Goodwill Industries of Middle

Tennessee. We are pleased to provide

you this information and hope you

will share our publication with others.

Please note that the opinions expressed

in Ambassador do not necessarily

reflect the opinions or official

position of management or employees

of Goodwill Industries of Middle

Tennessee, Inc.

The Goodwill Mission

We sell donated goods to

provide employment and training

opportunities for people who have

disabilities and others who have

trouble finding and keeping jobs.

contentsI Got it at Goodwill

Goodwill Success Stories 2015

Goodwill Honors Outstanding Clients, Partners in Middle TN

Goodwill Honors Outstanding Clients, Partners in West TN

Goodwill Man Shares 'Art of Goodwill'

Competition A Learning Experience for Students, Goodwill MTSU Study: Local Goodwill Has Major Economic Impact

Goodwill Surpasses 2015 Mission Goals

Nashville Woman No Longer Has to Rely on Family for Transportation to Work

Jackson Store Opening Draws Big Crowds

Union City Goodwill Career Solutions Receives Honors Local Goodwill Holds First 'Blue Friday'

Goodwill Cares: Helping Homeless Vets Make a New Start

I Change Lives: Shelia Holt

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Ambassador WINTER 2015 2 Our mission is changing lives.

Do you have some

fabulous finds in your

home or closet that you

purchased at Goodwill?

Share them with us on

Facebook, Instagram or

Twitter, and we might

feature them in our

next edition!

GREAT FINDS AND DEALS FROM GOODWILL SHOPPERS

igotitat

Goodwill

#

Post your great finds:

#igotitatgoodwill

Betsy wrote: "This vintage Bonnie Boerer sweater from the 80s is my favorite

find from the @giveit2goodwill outlet,

and I paid less than $1!"

Lachelle wrote: "Goodwill dollar

days! Top and skirt only $2."

Kiya wrote: "My vanity is almost

done! I love it so far! A lot of work went into this

vanity. The vanity desk is from the Goodwill. I

got it for only $35 dollars! Originally it was a rich

brown color."

Jamie wrote: "Totally in love

with this red

CABI coat at

@giveit2goodwill."

3Ambassador WINTER 2015 giveit2goodwill.org

I AM CONFIDENT

IN MY ABILITIES

AGAIN Thank you!

I GET TO BE A

LEADER AGAIN

Thank you!

I HAVE RECLAIMED

MY INTEGRITY Thank you!

GOODWILL

SUCCESSSTORIESOCTOBER - DECEMBER 2015

For most of his life, Kevin wore his

unique ability to adapt like a superhero’s

cloak. Until it began to unravel.

Vision problems that began early in childhood brought

thick glasses and teasing from other kids. So, Kevin

disappeared into books and got contact lenses. As a

teenager, he worked at fast food restaurants and, for a

while, succeeded despite struggling to read food orders.

Later, Kevin worked as a meat-cutter. He avoided cutting

himself with the razor-sharp knives and learned all

about the packing business, but he had to hide his

inability to read numbers used to identify cuts of meat.

At age 27, he tested a career as a professional wrestler,

but that dream, too, was crushed by his disability.

“Each year as I got older, my vision got progressively

worse,” he recalled, noting that he is now legally blind. “I

was going through depression for a long time. I thought I

was worthless.”

Kevin turned to the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center,

where he learned he didn’t have to hide his disability.

Then, he went to Goodwill Career Solutions for help

finding the right job. Today, he is a greeter at the

Memorial Boulevard store in Murfreesboro and has

earned a reputation for stellar customer service. “I meet

some pretty interesting people from all walks of life,” he

said. “Amazing people, actually.”

Customers enjoy Kevin’s quick wit, his handwritten

notes on donation cards and learning about his many

skills (he is bilingual and a certified CPR instructor). This

superhero is no longer grounded by his disability. “I love

this job,” he said.

Kevin

– Kevin

– Ernest

– Bernice


Bernice, a production

associate at one of Goodwill’s

downtown Nashville

warehouses, exhibits many

traits that make her a valuable employee. She learns

quickly. Her attendance and attitude are outstanding.

Her supervisor says she is a pleasure to work with.

But for 25 years, those traits lay dormant. During that

quarter century, Bernice never held a conventional job.

She was addicted to drugs, and attempts to sell drugs

got her in trouble with the law.

Bernice eventually went through rehabilitation for her

addiction, but her outlook on life remained grim.

“I really didn’t think I could get a job, by me getting

two felonies,” she said. But in 2010, after two years of

sobriety, Bernice entered into job placement services

with the Goodwill Career Solutions center at Rivergate.

“Goodwill gave me the chance to be a responsible

citizen and a purpose to do things that I thought I could

not do,” she recalled. “It changed my life.”

Bernice began making up for lost time. She mastered

several different roles in different departments.

Her primary duty now is grading clothing, but she

frequently works in other departments as well. She

enjoys the variety. Her personal life has stabilized as

well. She has remained sober for six years.

“I can see where I’m going, and (I’m) doing personal

things for me and my grandbabies,” she said.

“(Goodwill) gave me integrity. … I’m normal, like

normal people that work and do things. It has helped

me so much.”

BerniceErnest served in the U.S. Army

for more than 18 years, and

though he left it in 1990, traces of

military bearing linger behind his ever-present smile.

Consider how he checks off the duties of his job as a

Donations Express Center lead attendant for Goodwill,

as if inspecting troops.

“My job is to go around making sure my DEC

attendants are treating customers properly, doing

the job properly, sorting everything like it should

be, wearing the proper uniform, wearing gloves and

keeping up with safety,” he explained. “Safety is my

biggest thing — safety and people.”

But Ernest’s life has not always been so tidy. His

military career ended unexpectedly because of a

reduction in forces. He received some disability

benefits due to on-duty injuries, but it wasn’t enough to

get by. After the military, Ernest worked for himself as

a mechanic in Alabama and Connecticut.

In 2003, he sold his tools and moved to Clarksville,

Tenn., hoping to make a new start. The local Veterans

Administration offered Ernest the chance to enter

Goodwill’s Transitional Employment Services Program.

There, he received job readiness training and was

introduced to the retail business at Clarksville’s

Goodwill store. He was eventually offered a part-time

job as a processor. After eight years at Goodwill, he

applied for his current, full-time position.

Ernest thrived in the job, which takes him across

north central Tennessee and allows him to exercise the

leadership skills he honed in the military.

“It’s all about people, and I enjoy myself some people,”

he said. “When you help a person out and give them

that smile, they want to smile, too."

Ernest


GOODWILL HONORS OUTSTANDING CLIENTS, PARTNERS IN MIDDLE TNSuccess Stories Celebrated at the Nashville Impact Luncheon

Goodwill honored five Career Solutions clients and six employer and non-profit partners at

its annual Impact Luncheon on Nov. 20 in Nashville.

News Channel 5 anchor Rhori Johnston emceed the event, held at the Millenium Maxwell

House Hotel, and motivational speaker Mike Veeck, author and part owner of several minor

league baseball teams and a consulting firm, gave an inspiring message.

NOVEMBER 20TH 2015

IMPACTLUNCHEON

2015

The National Council on Aging of Williamson County is a non-profit agency that provides low-income seniors age 55 and up with paid temporary work to help them gain experience and permanent employment. The organization encourages clients to participate in digital literacy classes and job fairs at the Franklin Goodwill Career Solutions center. Goodwill responds by directing its clients to NCOA whenever they may qualify for its services.

Workforce Essentials – Robertson County and Goodwill’s partnership took off in January when the two non-profits discovered how well their missions dovetailed. Both help people who are struggling to find employment, although their services differ. They now partner for hundreds of job fairs per year, promote each other’s events and conduct joint workshops. Workforce Essentials of Robertson County referred at least 2,000 people to Goodwill in 2015, and 400 of those were placed in jobs.

The recipients of these awards have developed great partnerships with Goodwill and greatly supported its mission in 2015.

DONOR, EMPLOYER AND COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARDS


DONOR PARTNER OF THE YEAR COMMUNITY PARTNERS OF THE YEARParks Realty was the first company to partner with Goodwill's Real Estate Donations Pickup program, which picks up used items from homes where people are moving or settling an estate. By telling their clients about the service, Parks Realtors boosted Goodwill’s donation receipts by an average of five pickups per month, filling about 16 box trucks to date.

EMPLOYER PARTNERS OF THE YEARSeveral businesses were recognized at the luncheon for their enthusiastic support of Goodwill’s mission. Administrative Resource Options, Amazon and Popeyes were honored for contributing to the success of Goodwill Career Solutions through their employment practices and hiring of clients.

Keynote speaker:Mike Veeck

Nashville partners: From left, are Alicia McClung of Administrative Resource Options, Gene Reeder with Amazon, Heather Orne with Parks Realty, Roosevelt Blake with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, JoAnn Miller with the National Council on Aging of Williamson County and Bob Reed and Alicia Pittman of Workforce Essentials of Robertson County.

GOODWILL HONORS OUTSTANDING CLIENTS, PARTNERS IN MIDDLE TNSuccess Stories Celebrated at the Nashville Impact Luncheon

Because of her autism and seizures, 20-year-old Torie Summers had never had a job, but she wanted to make her own money and be more independent. Her family brought her to Goodwill Career Solutions where she took job readiness, computer and online job search classes.

Goodwill learned that Joe Perricone, owner of Our Place Cafe in Hendersonville, hires people with disabilities and works hard to help them flourish in a work environment. He had a part-time support staff position available, and in April he hired Torie. She was thrilled. Goodwill job coach Randy Buchanan helped her settle into the job, and she now refills drinks for customers, cleans the dining room and performs other tasks like a pro. She is also a favorite of regulars. She loves the job and the tips she receives for providing great service.

This award is named in honor of two women who were loyal supporters of

Goodwill, Madaleine LaVoi and Elsine Katz. The award is given to a Career Solutions

client who has made outstanding progress in their program at Goodwill.LAVOI-KATZ AWARD

GRADUATES OF THE YEAR AWARD The recipients of this award have achieved great success since enrolling in Goodwill Career Solutions.

had been unemployed a long time. She lost her car, her residence and much of her self-esteem. In February, she visited the Goodwill Career Solutions Center on Foster Street in Nashville and entered Goodwill’s Health Care Initiatives program. Right away, her confidence began to improve. It was clear she had a passion for helping people. After graduating, Forbes fielded calls from several health care providers interested in interviewing her. She accepted a job as a technician at Saint Thomas West Hospital, and her life has been looking up ever since. She even recently bought herself a car.

walked into the Mt. Juliet Goodwill Career Solutions center in January, she already had two part-time jobs and a bachelor’s degree in business administration. What she wanted was a career and the ability to move out of her parents' home. At Goodwill, she upgraded her computer skills and resume. She sharpened her job search and interview skills as well and soon landed an interview with Manheim Auctions. She was hired on part-time but within 90 days was promoted to a full-time position with more responsibility. Today, she has her own apartment and a bright future in a profession she loves.

was working as a dishwasher at a Nashville restaurant, but he wanted to improve his income. He needed help, however, so in August of 2014 he visited the Goodwill Career Solutions center in Nashville’s Berry Hill community. There, he completed courses in digital literacy, resume writing, job readiness and online job search. Within two months, he began working in Goodwill’s salvage department. In June of this year, Baker had leveraged his new skills and experience into a higher-paying job with Standard Functional Foods Group in Nashville. Along the way, Baker got married and welcomed a new baby.

worked in retail for many years but grew frustrated with never having weekends or holidays off. She left her job to take some planned time off but later found returning to the workforce difficult. After three months seeking a job, she went to Springfield’s Goodwill Career Solutions center. Her career counselor suggested she try Goodwill’s call center training. Cook initially refused but reconsidered and completed the course. Her new skills landed her a job as a customer service representative for All American Pest Control in Nashville. She loves the work, her new co-workers and having weekends free with her family.

Sharon Forbes Taryn Covington Akeem Baker Virginia Cook

Torie Summers


NOVEMBER 7TH 2014

GOODWILL HONORS OUTSTANDING CLIENTS, PARTNERS IN WEST TN Success Stories Celebrated at Jackson Impact Luncheon

IMPACTLUNCHEON

2015

Goodwill honored four Career Solutions clients, including one who became a Goodwill

employee, two employer partners, a community partner and a regional partner at its

annual Impact Luncheon on Nov. 5 in Jackson. WBBJ-TV anchor Bart Barker emceed the

well-attended event at the DoubleTree Hotel.

NOVEMBER 5TH 2015

REGIONAL, COMMUNITY AND EMPLOYER PARTNER AWARDS

The recipients of these awards developed great partnerships with Goodwill and greatly supported its mission in 2015.

City of Martin The City of Martin provided space for nine Goodwill Career Solutions-hosted job fairs at City Hall in 2015, drawing 248 job-seekers. Of those, 131 were placed into jobs. The city also helped promote the events, posting fliers online and reporting on the number of hires.

Hamilton-Ryker Hamilton-Ryker placed 172 Goodwill clients into jobs in 2015 in West Tennessee, in part as the result of several Goodwill-hosted job fairs. The staffing agency works closely with Goodwill career counselors and has demonstrated a willingness to hire those whose backgrounds are less than perfect.

Staff Management /SMX and KrystalTwo employers were honored during the awards luncheon. Staff Management / SMX and Krystal significantly contributed to the success of Goodwill Career Solutions by hiring many of its clients.


Jackson Partners: From left are Ronnie Phillips of Staff Management / SMX, Joyce Nowlin of Krystal, Brad Thompson of the City of Martin and Ronnie Cook of Hamilton-Ryker

The recipients of this award have achieved great success since enrolling in Goodwill Career Solutions.

Teresa & Jonathon HornTo Teresa Horn, it seemed like the straw that broke the camel’s back. Though she had been providing day care for friends’ children at her residence, she rarely got paid. Her husband was unemployed, and the young couple was at risk of losing their car and the home they shared with their daughter.

Teresa had applied for numerous retail jobs, but each time she was told she didn’t have the right experience and was turned away. After her last rejection, she sat in her car and cried and prayed.

On a whim, she decided to take a new route home. Along the way, she stopped in at the Goodwill Career Solutions Center on South Highland Avenue in Jackson. She took a job readiness class, then returned to the center every day to search for jobs online.

When a spot came open in a Goodwill retail training class, Teresa jumped at the chance. She never missed a class, even during a snowstorm, and after graduating she was hired on at the South Jackson Goodwill

store. Her supervisor says she is doing a great job, and she feels confident she will be promoted.

After seeing Teresa’s success, her husband Jonathan Horn decided to give Goodwill Career Solutions a try. He got help with his resume and his interviewing skills, and he got connected with potential employers at Goodwill-hosted job fairs. During one of those events, he applied for a job with Corrections Corporation of America. After going through CCA’s training program, the company offered him a job as a corrections officer at the Whiteville Correctional Facility.

Jonathan said a burden fell off his shoulders at that moment. He knew he could once again care for his family.

Teresa and Jonathan love their new jobs, and through their employment the family has been able to move into a nicer, roomier home.

Connie WigginsWhen Connie Wiggins’ husband died three years ago, the part-time Realtor’s only other means of support was a trucking company they had run together. But soon the trucking company’s sole client went out of business, and Wiggins was forced to close her company.

With real estate moving slowly in Union City, Connie knew she needed help. She went to Goodwill Career Solutions and got help with her resume and computer skills. She also completed a food safety training course.

With refreshed skills and renewed confidence, she started looking for work. From Hamilton-Ryker staffing agency, she learned about an opening at O’Neal’s Country Store, a gift shop in Union City. Wiggins applied and was quickly hired.

She recently celebrated her one-year anniversary, and the store’s owner calls her an “absolute godsend.” She greets customers, decorates gift baskets, works the cash register, restocks shelves and more. Wiggins enjoys her job and says Goodwill prepared her to succeed.

Gary CooperDespite his movie star name, Gary Cooper was not exactly living a Hollywood lifestyle.

The Jackson retiree wanted some spending money and longed to have funds for a vacation.

He had seen TV commercials for Goodwill about how the not-for-profit helps people with training and employment opportunities, and one day he popped into the North Jackson Goodwill Career Solutions center.

There, he completed job readiness training, got help updating his resume, received his forklift certification and got plenty of encouragement. Then, at a local job fair, Cooper met a representative of Home Instead Senior Care. Now, he’s an in-home caregiver.

Home Instead Senior Care’s general manager calls Cooper an exceptional employee who has a passion for what he does, giving his all for the clients he serves. Today, Cooper is more financially independent and able to do things he couldn’t before. He says Goodwill Career Solutions helped him reach that point.

GRADUATES OF THE YEAR AWARD


Jackson Graduates: From left are Teresa Horn, Connie Wiggins and Gary Cooper.

n a pretty autumn

afternoon, the

downtown

Nashville skyline

looks like a

scale model

when viewed from the 18th floor

observation deck of the Leah Rose

Residence for Senior Citizens.

Inside, retired cardiac nurse Marie

Falquet cuts thin strips of cloth from

a woman’s blouse and carefully arranges them side-by-side on

the back of a small picture frame. Each different-sized piece bears

the printed image of a building, and soon, a black-and-white

cityscape emerges with a street-level perspective. She

adds red flowers, beads and other splashes of color.

“I do other kinds of art, but this is fun because I’ve

never done it before,” the 73-year-old chirps as she

works. “It makes you want to go to your closet and get

some of your clothes and cut them up.”

That won’t be necessary. Falquet’s art instructor,

Jim Hornsby, has brought plenty of supplies for the

handful of students in his class. Should they run out,

he knows where there is an inexhaustible source of

inexpensive materials for the fabric collages he is teaching them to

make — Goodwill.

MAKING FABRIC COLLAGE FUN, INEXPENSIVE AND EASY TO LEARN

NASHVILLE MAN SHARES ‘ART OF GOODWILL’

“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, but you can put it together any way you want. That’s the joy of doing this kind of thing,”

O


It was at Goodwill where Hornsby, a retired attorney and

administrative judge, first struck upon the idea for the unique

brand of artwork that has become his passion. In the spring of

2015, the Nashville resident injured his knee, and after a few

days on the couch, he grew weary of watching TV. He started

cutting images from the magazines on his coffee table to make

collages. Hornsby had always dabbled in art and photography,

but he had never been fully satisfied with his efforts.

He enjoyed this new pastime, however, and once his knee

improved, he began traveling to Goodwill to buy frames for

his artwork. He found plenty of frames, often for as little as 99

cents, and they inspired him to create collages to match their

wide variety of shapes and sizes. Then, during one particular

visit to Goodwill, he noticed the store’s clothing and how it

was arranged by color.

“It’s like an artist’s palette, with all the reds and blues,” he

explains.

Upon closer inspection he saw that many of the garments —

especially women’s blouses — came in an amazing variety of

textures with beautiful patterns, ranging from abstract designs

to detailed figures or faces. He bought some of the blouses,

took them home and began creating collages from the fabric.

Hornsby was hooked. Before he knew it he was churning out

one or more fabric collages per day.

Hornsby’s wife, Lilly, and others loved his creations, and he

was amazed by how simple they were to make. In essence,

he cuts out pieces of fabric, moves them around until he

is satisfied with the composition — often giving them an

unexpected context, then frames the art. (See next page)

JIM HORNSBY’S ‘ART OF GOODWILL’SUPPLIES

1. Fabric and frames from Goodwill

2. Small “detail” scissors

3. All-purpose glue (not much is needed)

4. Toothpicks to handle the glue

FABRIC COLLAGE METHOD1. Select your fabrics from Goodwill. Look for repetitive patterns and striking images. Don’t forget to buy a frame!

2. Cut out the central object or image you wish to build your collage around.

3. Cut out a background fabric to fit the frame you will use. Drape the background across the backing of the frame. Ensure there is enough to fill the frame.

4. Place your central image on the background.

5. Cut out other shapes and colors to balance the composition. Add other media like paper or beads if you like.

6. Arrange all the cut-outs into different contexts until you are satisfied.

7. Glue down any items as needed.

8. Carefully place the glass over your collage and insert into the frame. Or, leave the glass out so the texture of the fabric can be touched and enjoyed.

9. Hang up your artwork and enjoy!


“It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, but you can put it together any way

you want. That’s the joy of doing this kind of thing,” he says.

“You really can’t make a mistake. If you can operate a pair of

scissors, you can create this artwork.”

Because most fabrics cling in place, a sharp pair of scissors and

a tiny bit of glue are the only tools required. All the rest can be

readily found at Goodwill.

Hornsby raves about his new art supply store. “Goodwill works

on so many levels … . It’s a very inspirational place for me,” he

says. “They have women’s wear that is very classic clothing

that could probably be found in an art museum somewhere. I

get all my frames and fabrics there. It’s very seldom that I walk

out without anything, because it’s just so plentiful.”

The price is certainly right, Hornsby adds. Most of his framed

art pieces are produced for under $10 — less than the cost of a

single tube of watercolor paint.

As an enthusiastic recycler, he appreciates that Goodwill

prevents the clothing he uses for art and other valuable items

from going to landfills. And as a former attorney and judge, he

likes that Goodwill sells its merchandise to improve people’s

lives through free job training and employment opportunities.

“The opportunity to participate in art classes gives our seniors an outlet to engage their minds. It

challenges them to think outside-the-box and delve into self-expression. And when you foster

someone's mind, you can also see his or her spirits rise. Keeping spirits up is an important factor in

helping seniors stay active and healthy, so the Leah Rose is grateful to Mr. Hornsby for donating his

time to this cause.” — Christy Moore, Activities Coordinator | Leah Rose Residence for Seniors


But best of all is the creative release he gets from doing his

artwork. Famed artist Pablo Picasso, a pioneer of collage,

once said embarking on a painting gave him the sensation of

“leaping into space.” Hornsby knows that feeling well, and he

wants to share it with others — especially the elderly.

Being 72, he says he empathizes with seniors who need to fill

space in their lives once occupied by jobs, parenting and other

practical obligations. So he decided to offer to teach free classes

in the "Art of Goodwill" at a few local retirement and assisted

living centers.

“I wanted a hobby that keeps me busy intellectually and

physically,” Hornsby says, explaining that his treasure-hunting

expeditions at Goodwill get him out of the house. “I think

anybody can use this method of collage, but it’s especially

attractive to seniors because (unlike other types of art) it

doesn’t take so much time and effort to get into.”

He’s found some eager students at Leah Rose who share his

perspective.

“I can hardly wait until class on Fridays,” Falquet says. “I wish

even more people would come. You’re never too old to learn

something new.”

COMPETITION A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS AND GOODWILL

he three sharp-

dressed consultants

clearly knew

their stuff — the

organization’s

background,

its financials and trajectory. Their

multimedia presentation focused on

the critical need to win millennials over

to the brand, and their research on that

up-and-coming consumer demographic

was persuasive.

Then, they unveiled three ready-

to-implement proposals: the retailer

should restructure its shopper rewards

program to increase engagement; it

should launch a cutting-edge mobile

phone app to ensure its messages are

reaching young adults; and it should

launch new boutique stores with

trendy brands to woo key influencers.

To conclude, they revealed that the

outfits they were wearing came

from one of the retailer’s stores, and

they explained how their shopping

experiences informed their proposals.

In the end, they won the day and the

“contract.”

It was a scene that could have played

out in a Wall Street or Silicon Valley

boardroom. But these consultants were

college seniors, and the setting was

a classroom at the Middle Tennessee

State University’s Jones College of

Business. Their audience was a group

of representatives from Goodwill

Industries of Middle Tennessee.

As the winners of MTSU’s second

Strategic Management Case

Competition, Lindsey Ryner, Lucas

Tidwell and Emily Benavides took

home $1,800 in prize money and an

eye-catching entry for their resumes.

A total of 205 students participated

in the eight-week competition, but

only 35 students comprising nine class

champion teams made it to the Dec. 2

final round. There, Goodwill judged

them on the quality of their research,

recommendations and presentations.

Other teams’ proposals ranged from

revamping Goodwill’s online auction

site to expanding its social media

presence to creating college campus

“closets” where free business attire is

available to students who need it.

“The business strategy case competition

provides students an opportunity

to do real world work with business

professionals,” said M. Jill Austin, who

chairs the Department of Management

in the Jones College of Business. “The

experience helps students

T

Members of the winning

team in MTSU's Strategic

Management Case

Competition are, from left,

Lindsey Ryner, Lucas Tidwell

and Emily Benavides. They

wore business attire purchased

from Goodwill to make their

presentation before judges

from the not-for-profit during

the competition's final round

Dec. 2 at MTSU's Jones School

of Business.


“It was really exciting to hear presentations from these sharp young minds and future business

leaders. Many of their recommendations deserve and will receive Goodwill’s serious consideration.” — Karl Houston, Senior Director of Marketing and Community Relations | Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee

Continued on page 23

very dollar spent by

Goodwill Industries

of Middle Tennessee

creates an additional

$3.30 in benefits

to the 48 counties it serves, and total

economic impact of the not-for-profit is

approaching a half-billion dollars.

These are among the findings of a new

study by the Business and Economic

Research Center at Middle Tennessee

State University, which also predicts

a 66 percent growth in the local

Goodwill’s employment impact. Within

a decade, the organization is forecast

to be responsible for the presence in

the workforce of 21,000 people per

year, largely through the efforts of its

Goodwill Career Solutions centers and

thousands of employer partners.

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee

President and CEO Matthew Bourlakas

joined the author of the economic impact

assessment, Dr. Murat Arik, director of

MTSU’s Business and Economic Research

Center, in releasing the results on Oct. 28

at Goodwill’s Nashville headquarters.

“This study validates what we have long

suspected — that Goodwill is much more

than a non-profit and social enterprise.

It’s an economic engine that propels

businesses and communities forward

while giving a hand up, rather than a

handout, to those individuals who need

it most,” Bourlakas said.

The 58-year-old organization serves half

of Tennessee’s counties in a territory

stretching from Cookeville to Union City.

It is one of five independently operated

Goodwills in the state.

The local Goodwill provides free training

and employment opportunities for

people struggling to find and keep jobs

for a wide variety of reasons, such as

disabilities, criminal records or lack of

computer skills, and to others simply

wanting to advance their careers. This

mission is funded through the sale of

donated goods in Goodwill’s retail stores.

In 2014, the agency helped 9,558 people

find jobs. The vast majority went to work

with other employers in Middle and

MTSU STUDY: LOCAL GOODWILL HAS MAJOR ECONOMIC IMPACT

E


West Tennessee. The effect of those job

placements — including salaries earned

by formerly unemployed people, the

impact of their spending and resulting

sales taxes collected by the state — were

included in MTSU’s calculations, along

with Goodwill’s direct hires and salaries.

“Our research efforts clearly show that

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee

is an important player in the regional

economy. A half-billion dollar economic

impact through its operations and

Goodwill Career Solutions was a real

eye-opener for us,” Arik said.

The assessment did not attempt to

measure Goodwill’s many welfare

benefits to taxpayers, such as reductions

in unemployment compensation

payments, decreases in the prison

population through prevention of

recidivism or curbed landfill use

through resale of used goods, salvage

and recycling. The BERC may attempt to

gauge those benefits in a future study,

Arik said.

In 2013, the BERC and the Center for

Nonprofit Management conducted

an assessment of the entire Nashville

MSA nonprofit sector, and in August,

the MTSU facility partnered with the

Nashville Health Care Council to release

a study of the impact of Nashville’s

health care industry.

The complete, 65-page economic impact assessment of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee can be viewed at:

giveit2goodwill.org/accountabilityClick on Economic Impact Report in the sidebar.

$476 millionAmount Goodwill accounts for in

business revenue across Middle and

West Tennessee.

13,400Number of jobs Goodwill is

responsible for across its territory,

including external job placements and

its own employees, which number

more than 2,100.

$277 millionAmount of wages and salaries

associated with Goodwill’s jobs and

external job placements each year.

Goodwill spends about $77 million

annually. This means each dollar

spent by Goodwill creates $3.30 in

benefits to local communities.

$21 millionAmount of taxes and fees for state

and local governments generated by

Goodwill.

$100 millionAmount of wages and salaries

generated by Goodwill in Davidson

County alone. Goodwill also creates

business revenues of about $162

million and is involved in the

employment of 4,200 people in

the county.

11 percentGoodwill’s share of employment

impact in the non-profit sector of the

Nashville Metropolitan Statistical

Area. Goodwill accounts for 5 percent

of business revenue impact in that

sector.

21,659 The number of jobs Goodwill is

expected to contribute to annually by

2024, including direct employment

and external placements. That

number is a 62 percent increase over

current employment impact.

Economic Impact Study Highlights

$717 millionTotal annual business revenue forecast to be created or stimulated by Goodwill by 2024.



AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2015

TOGETHER, WE CHANGED LIVES

GOODWILL SURPASSES2015 MISSION GOALS

oodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee,

Inc., strives to find effective ways to help as

many people as possible achieve meaningful

employment.

By the end of November our Goodwill, which serves 48

counties in Middle and West Tennessee, had placed 14,099

people into new, meaningful jobs, breaking its own record

and far surpassing its 2015 placements goal. This goal was

nearly 18 percent more than last year’s 9,558 job placements.

Furthermore, we had assisted 34,552 people, a nearly 23 percent

rise over last year’s total — with a month still left to go.

At the local Goodwill, 90 cents of every dollar goes toward

the mission of helping end unemployment and putting people

to work via 29 no-cost career centers. Surpassing these goals

would not have been possible without Goodwill's partnerships

with other community-based organizations and nonprofits.

These partnerships allow for increased access to Goodwill

Career Solutions centers and services, extending Goodwill’s

reach into communities in need.

Partnerships with more than 1,800 employers were also key.

Through these partnerships, Goodwill hosts job fairs and on-

site career center hiring events, connecting job candidates to

companies seeking employees.

An economic impact assessment by the Business and Economic

Research Center of Middle Tennessee State University found

business revenues associated with Goodwill’s 2014 job

placements totaled nearly $298 million. That means Goodwill

is having a major impact on the health of the local economy.

We are all affected by the economy, so when you donate to

Goodwill or shop at your local Goodwill store, you are not

only helping your neighbors and community, you are helping

yourself as well.

Thanks for supporting Goodwill!

Betty J. Johnson, Vice President and Chief People Officer

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

G

very morning for the past few years, Charisse Haddox’s family members have given her a ride to work at Goodwill

in downtown Nashville. Then, after a full shift, one of them has picked her up and driven her to a second job. Finally, at the end of a 13- or 14-hour workday, Haddox has waited for someone to come get her and drive her home. “It's a struggle when you have to depend on someone else,” the 42-year-old Nashville resident explained. “Especially when you were used to being independent for so long.” Haddox held down a job as a certified teacher’s assistant for two decades. But when she lost that job about four years ago, she had to start from scratch. She searched for another job without success for six months. A friend told her Goodwill helps people who are struggling to find employment. Haddox visited the Goodwill Career Solutions Center in downtown Nashville. After attending two Job Jams — meetings at which Goodwill career counselors share resources and job leads

with clients, Haddox was hired as an associate in Goodwill’s garment hanging department. Things were looking up, but then, after eight months on the job, the transmission failed on her old Pontiac Grand Prix. After that, she had to rely on others for transportation to work or to go grocery shopping for herself and her two nephews, whom she is raising. Though she would have loved to buy a car, she has struggled to keep everyone fed and housed — even after getting a promotion to assistant supervisor of Goodwill’s garment hanging department. The lack of a car seemed like a roadblock to progress, Haddox said. On Nov. 24, Goodwill removed those limitations by giving her a free car. At a special ceremony held at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee headquarters in downtown Nashville, the not-for-profit’s President and CEO Matthew Bourlakas presented Haddox with a pre-owned 2002 GMC Envoy in good running condition through Goodwill’s Wheels-to-Work program. The car was donated to Goodwill by a Brentwood couple.

The Wheels-to-Work program helps Goodwill employees and clients who need reliable transportation to get to work. To qualify, participants must meet certain qualifications such as being employed at least 30 hours, having a valid driver’s license and good driving record. After being notified of acceptance into the program, participants must complete training classes on budgeting, defensive driving and car maintenance.

“So many people take for granted that when you walk out of your house there’s a car there that’s going to take you where you need to go. But for many individuals who come to Goodwill seeking an opportunity for a better life (that’s not the case), ” Bourlakas said. He added that the Wheels-to-Work program gives Goodwill an opportunity to help hard-working employees like Haddox overcome that barrier.

Haddox thanked numerous supervisors, co-workers and family members during the ceremony. “This car is truly a blessing,” she said. “I feel like I’ve got my freedom back.”

E

GOODWILL EMPLOYEE RECEIVES FREE CAR: Nashville Woman No Longer Has to Rely on Family for Transportation to Work


JACKSON STORE OPENING DRAWS HUGE CROWDS

When 70-year-old Shirley Clark of Jackson

tells friends about taking a Goodwill tour

around the state, she means it.

Clark, her 74-year-old sister, 50-year-old

daughter and 25-year-old granddaughter have taken several

vacations in which the primary activity is driving from one

Goodwill store to the next.

“We stay gone three or four days. My daughter plans the trip

out according to where the stores are,” she said. “We have more

fun. After shopping, we get back in the car and compare what

we all bought.”

On Oct. 20, Clark and her sister took what might be best

described as a “staycation,” attending the Grand Opening of

Goodwill’s newest store in one of Jackson’s premiere shopping

areas.

They weren’t alone. By the 8 a.m. ribbon-cutting, a line

of customers stretched from the front doors of the new

23,000-square-foot building at 1495 Vann Drive, around to the

back.

There were so many cars arriving during the ceremony, Ryan

Porter, chief operating officer for the Jackson Chamber, noted, “I

love that we’ve got a parking lot full and a traffic jam here in the

presence of so many Goodwill fans.”

Matthew Bourlakas, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries

of Middle Tennessee, also addressed the hundreds of shoppers

waiting for the store to open. He called the event a “great

celebration” of Goodwill’s mission of providing job training and

employment opportunities to people struggling to find work.

“This mission started over 100 years ago by a Methodist

minister who believed that … by giving someone a hand up and

not a handout, he could change their life through the power of

work,” Bourlakas said.

There are two Goodwill Career Solutions centers in Jackson,

which as of Nov. 30 had assisted 1,846 people and helped 963

land jobs in 2015. These mostly free services are funded by sales

of donated items in Goodwill’s retail stores.

Goodwill has two stores in Jackson. The new store, which also

includes a covered, drive-through Donations Express Center,

replaced one at 53 Carriage House Drive.

After checking out, shopper Cori Ceja paused to admire the new

facility, with its skylights, well-organized shelves and “super

clean” bathrooms. Within an hour of the store’s opening, the

frequent Goodwill shopper had filled a cart to overflowing with

merchandise — a metal model car, a vintage lamp, copper pots,

a Rock City birdhouse and more.

“I came to look for treasure for myself,” Ceja said “You never

W


know what you’re gonna find. That’s what’s so exciting and

keeps me coming back.”

That wasn’t the Jackson resident’s only motivation, however.

“Not only can you find things that were made in the U.S., but

you are helping the community and people who work here at

Goodwill,” she said.

One of those people is Stephie, who was entering her third

month of employment with Goodwill. During the grand

opening, the donations processor was in the heavily crowded

furniture area, helping customers. Despite being wedged in

place by customers’ carts, she was grinning from ear-to-ear.

“When you’ve been out of work as long as I have, it’s just a

blessing to have a job,” she explained.

Stephie said she looked for a job without success for about a

year before a friend told her about Goodwill Career Solutions.

She visited one of the Jackson centers and got job readiness and

computer training before being hired on part-time at the new

store.

“It has changed my whole life,” she said. “Goodwill gave me

another chance when nobody else would.”

Outside and to the rear of the building, Carla Richardson

of Henderson was taking advantage of another convenient

Goodwill service. After buying a Halloween costume, dress

pants and jeans at the store, she was dropping off a bag of items

she no longer needed at the Donations Express Center.

“I always try to get rid of something I don’t need when I come to

shop,” she said. “Out with the old, in with the new.”

I came to look

for treasure for

myself. You never

know what you’re

gonna find. That’s

what’s so exciting

and keeps me

coming back.”

Cori CejaGrand Opening Shopper

“

This mission started over 100 years ago by a Methodist minister who believed that … by giving someone a hand up and not a handout, he could change their life through the power of work.”— Matthew Bourlakas, Goodwill CEO

“


oodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee recently

observed the first-ever Blue Friday, a day to

shop thrift stores for environmentally and

socially conscious gifts while taking advantage

of incredible discounts.

The Nov. 20 event gave shoppers a way to avoid Black Friday

crowds while kicking off the holiday shopping season early

with a treasure hunt for gently used, brand-name goods.

On Blue Friday, Goodwill offered shoppers half off Christmas-

themed merchandise and infant clothes; numerous giveaways,

including two iPad minis; and other perks such as double

MyGoodwillRewards points and a Black Friday coupon.

The promotions pointed out that by purchasing gifts at

Goodwill, shoppers contribute to Goodwill’s mission of

providing job training and employment opportunities while

helping save the environment by extending the life of

valuable used items. By Nov. 30 of 2015, Goodwill Industries of

Middle Tennessee had far surpassed its annual goal, assisting

more than 34,000 people with training and employment

opportunities and placing more than 14,000 into jobs.

Goodwill annually diverts more 28 million pounds of salvage

and recyclable material from landfills — making it one of

Tennessee’s greenest organizations.

LOCAL GOODWILL HOLDS FIRST EVER ‘BLUE FRIDAY’

G


he Goodwill Career Solutions center in Union

City was honored by the Obion County

Chamber of Commerce as its 2015 Business

Partner of the Year.

The criteria for the award offers a glimpse as to why the center

is worthy of the recognition. The qualifications for the award

include a commitment to good and ethical business practices,

demonstration of innovation in products or services and

community leadership and involvement.

As of Nov. 30, the center had assisted 1,623 people, and 884 of

those found work through services received. Career Solutions

District Manager Sandra Hickey has seen firsthand how

much work the center has put into training and educating the

community for employment opportunities.

“This award is an achievement our team worked very hard to accomplish,” she said. “The partnerships in the community and outstanding services that we provide to Obion and surrounding counties have been recognized by our peers.”

On Nov. 17, State Rep. Andy Holt presented Goodwill Career

Counselor Mikki Leary with a proclamation approved by the

Tennessee House of Representatives honoring her work in the

community. He also toured the Union City Goodwill Career

Solutions center, retail store and Donation Express Center.

T

UNION CITY GOODWILL CAREER SOLUTIONS RECEIVES HONORS

GOODWILL CARES: HELPING HOMELESS VETS MAKE A NEW START

ddressing the physical needs of homeless veterans

is one of the goals of Operation Stand Down

Tennessee, but it’s not the only priority.

The nonprofit’s Nashville center provides a wide variety of

services to honorably discharged veterans, such as help finding

housing, employment and addiction treatment if needed and

assistance navigating the Veterans Administration system. It

also runs a thrift store that can provide veterans with clothing.

Much of the agency’s funding comes from government grants,

though it also receives private donations.

“Many of these veterans served in combat. There are often a lot

of underlying issues affecting them, like PTSD (post-traumatic

stress disorder) and drug and alcohol abuse,” said Bruce Bailey,

support services coordinator for Operation Stand Down

Tennessee. “Anything we can do to rebuild their confidence back

to where it was when they served — that’s our main goal.”

Helping these once proud men and women regain control of

their lives starts with small steps.

One step occurs after a homeless veteran has found housing.

Operation Stand Down screens the veteran to identify their

challenges and ensure they are eligible for assistance. Then, they

contact Goodwill to request a gift card through its community

assistance program — Goodwill Cares.

In 2014, Goodwill Cares provided families and individuals

in need with 922 gift cards worth more than $20,000 in

merchandise, often through partner agencies like Operation

Stand Down Tennessee.

Using the cards, veterans are able to purchase home goods such

as pots and pans, couches and dressers. Bailey said Operation

Stand Down employees coach veterans on using the gift cards

wisely, such as shopping on the first Saturday when all Goodwill

merchandise is half-off.

“We try to establish the hand-up-not-handout thing,” he said.

“We want them to do the legwork. … It teaches them to be smart

with their resources and learn how to budget.” The veterans are

always appreciative, he said.

“A lot of them are working off fixed income and any little bit

helps. Making a place their own is a huge deal.”

“Many of these veterans served in combat. There are often a lot of underlying issues

affecting them, like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and drug and alcohol abuse.

Anything we can do to rebuild their confidence back to where it was when they

served — that’s our main goal.” — Bruce Bailey, support services coordinator for Operation Stand Down TN.

A


What brought you to Goodwill?An opportunity to expand my skills,

knowledge and experience in HR.

Goodwill gave me an opportunity to

grow and learn as a Human Resources

professional.

What has surprised you most in your time with Goodwill? What surprises me the most is how

quickly the years have flown by and

our growth as an organization. When

I started working here in 2000 we had

approximately 600 employees, and we

have more than tripled in size.

How do you change lives? I change lives through providing

service and support to our employees.

What do you enjoy most about your job?I enjoy the people I work with at

Goodwill. The HR Department is

comprised of a lot of great people

who have wonderful personalities,

great work ethic, and compassion. I

also enjoy assisting our employees

and supporting our talented staff of

managers and supervisors.

Why is your job important to Goodwill’s mission? I believe my job is important to

Goodwill’s mission because I am

responsible for ensuring that all of our

employees are treated with respect in

accordance with our core values.

Shelia Holt Human Resources Manager

Shelia Holt’s primary duty is to assist employees

with concerns while providing a work

atmosphere in which they feel safe to report

them. She ensures that everyone, employees and

supervisors, adheres to and administers Goodwill

policies and procedures consistently. She leads

a team of six Human Resources consultants and

one assistant.

CHANGE LIVESi

Shelia was a teen mom long before

there was a reality show on the

topic on MTV. She delivered her

oldest son when she was a senior

in high school. Four years later,

Shelia’s mother died and she assumed

responsibility for her brother

William, who was then 13. So, at 22,

Shelia was a single mother raising

two boys and working part-time

to put herself through college. But

she graduated from Tennessee State

University and was hired as a Human

Resources assistant at SunTrust Bank

where she stayed for three years.

In 2000, she joined Goodwill as a

Human Resources recruiter and has

since been promoted several times.

She also has obtained her master’s

degree in public administration

and Professional Human Resources

certification. The Lebanon resident is

now married to William Holt and has

three sons: Anthony, 23; William, 13;

and Sherman, 9.


CORRECTION Melvin Copeland, an employee in Goodwill’s garment hanging department, was misidentified in a

Fall 2015 Ambassador story about an acapella singing contest held at Goodwill’s headquarters.

Shelia Holt Human Resources Manager

Board of Directors

Chairperson: Fred McLaughlin

Vice Chairperson: Julie F. Wilson

Secretary: Chad M. Grout

Treasurer: Dave M. Fentress

Legal Counsel: Christopher S. Dunn, Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP

Goodwill President and CEO: Matthew S. Bourlakas

Goodwill VP & Chief People Officer: Betty J. Johnson

Goodwill VP of Finance Mary La Haie

Goodwill VP of Retail David Jenkins

OFFICERS

Woodretta Allen

J. B. Baker

Bryan L. Bean

Steele Clayton

Andrew Davidson

Chris Dunn

Robert W. Duthie

Dave M. Fentress

James B. Foley

Kathryn S. Gibson

Chad M. Grout

Philip G. Hull

Robert B. Kennedy

R. Craig Laine

Ryan R. Loyd

Ty H. Osman

Christine E. Skold

Todd A. Spaanstra

Grant Starrett**

John W. Stone, III

Kathryn I. Thompson

John C. Tishler

John Van Mol

Jeff Young

Donna Yurdin

** Intern

DIRECTORS

Chairperson: Robert W. Duthie

Robert McNeilly, III

Robert B. Kennedy

TRUSTEES


Continued from: Page 13

develop critical thinking and teamwork skills, and they gain

confidence in their abilities to be successful in their careers.”

Ryner, a 23-year-old accounting major from Spring Hill, said

her team’s research into Goodwill gave her insight into the

challenges facing nonprofits and a holistic perspective on

business.

“I’m so used to doing accounting and the numbers side of it —

being able to see all aspects combined to create an organization

was most helpful to me,” she said.

Karl Houston, Goodwill’s senior director of marketing

and community relations was one of the judges for the

competition. He said he was extremely impressed with the

students’ efforts and insights.

“It was really exciting to hear presentations from these sharp

young minds and future business leaders,” he said. “Many of

their recommendations deserve and will receive Goodwill’s

serious consideration.”

OUR MISSION

We sell donated goods to

provide employment and

training opportunities for people

who have disabilities and others

who have trouble finding and

keeping jobs.

Documents

Ambassador Winter 2015