During the meeting, Mayor Emily Keller presented the proclamation and stated; “The people of Hagerstown, Maryland, value hard work and support the right of individuals to provide for themselves and their families. Some members of our community require additional education, job preparation, skills training, and support services to aid them in reaching the goal of self-sufficiency. Among those most in need of opportunity include people with disabilities or disadvantages, people who need education or job experience, people with limited financial meetings, people who are reintegrating back into society, older workers, veterans, and military families, youth, and young adults. Horizon Goodwill Industries® has a rich history of providing these services since 1902.”
Horizon Goodwill Names 2021 Officers and Addition of Two New Board Members
Horizon Goodwill Names 2021 Officers and Addition of Two New Board Members
April 21, 2021, by Craig Foster
Horizon Goodwill Industries announces that their 2021-2022 Board Officers are Ron Bowers, Chairman; Dustin Watson, Vice-Chair; Bonnie Winders, Secretary; and Michael Zampelli, Treasurer. Also, two new members have joined the Board of Directors, Marion Mitchell, and Sarah Barnes.
Marion Mitchell is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She is a graduate of California University in Pennsylvania, where she received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Now retired, in her professional career, she has accrued over 30 years of experience in teaching and childcare management. She has served on various committees and currently services on the Deaconess Board at Zion Baptist Church. Marion has been married to her husband for 47 years. They have 2 children and 2 grandchildren.
“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Recognize that every interaction you have is an opportunity to make a positive impact on others by Shep Hyken’. I truly believe this and look forward to interacting with many people within and outside of Horizon Goodwill to make that positive impact.” Marion stated.
A native to the tri-state area, Sarah Barnes joins the Horizon Goodwill Industries Board of Directors with over 15 years of financial and business management experience. She is a graduate of the American Bankers Association and the School of Bank Marketing and Management.
Ms. Barnes is currently employed as a Branch Manager of United Bank in Washington County, MD and she has owned the Razor’s Edge barber shop in Hagerstown, MD for the past 8 years. Ms. Barnes is an Executive Board Member for Habitat for Humanity in Washington County, MD, and is actively involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County, MD. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two children, traveling, gardening, and cooking.
“I am eager to be part of the Horizon Goodwill Industries Board of Directors. Together we will focus on removing barriers and creating opportunities in the communities we serve.” Ms. Barnes stated.
Ron Bowers, new Board Chairman said “a warm welcome to our talented and enthusiastic new board members, Marion Mitchell and Sarah Barnes.” He also added, “I look forward to challenging the board and staff to craft a vision that continues to strengthen our organization’s ability to ‘remove barriers and create opportunities’ while ensuring financial stability for the many programs helping people in the four-state region.”
Horizon Goodwill’s CEO, Dr. David Shuster, is also enthused about the additions to the Board of Directors. “I am excited to have Marion and Sarah join Horizon Goodwill Industries. The breadth and diversity of their experiences bring additional talent to our Board that will help inform our community, economic, and workforce development activities across the region. I look forward to working with them and our entire Board of Directors as we look to create brighter futures for the communities we serve.”
Horizon Goodwill Industries would like to thank departing Board member Mary Ann Keyser for her six years of service, most recently as Board Secretary and Chair of the Governance and Compliance Committee.
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About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries, whose mission is “Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities,” is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to sustaining and meaningful employment. Ninety cents of every dollar earned by Horizon Goodwill is invested in putting people to work and strengthening communities across a 17-county region throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. For more information, please visit https://www.horizongoodwill.org.
Marvin’s story is not just one of success but of inspiration.
By Jessica Martz, Vocational Case Manager, and Troy Brant, Workforce Development Coordinator
Marvin began his journey with Horizon Goodwill in May of 2018. After successfully completing our GET ONBOARD! job-readiness program, Marvin was offered a paid training position at the Hagerstown Processing Center.
He struggled off and on to overcome addiction and finally left the program and the Hagerstown area to pursue a new way of living “a fresh start” as he refers to it.
Marvin’s drive and perseverance brought him back to us in January 2020. After overcoming addiction and “making peace with his past” Marvin was ready to continue his job readiness training and seek gainful employment. He reached out to Goodwill’s Workforce Development Team in Cumberland, MD where he relocated to a sober living facility. Marvin’s previous experience with Goodwill left him with a feeling of acceptance and understanding. “I was always treated as an equal.”
Troy Brant, the Work Force Development Coordinator met with Marvin and immediately supported his return to the program. After meeting with a vocational case manager for assessment, a job development plan was created, and Marvin was offered a paid training position in the Cumberland Processing Center.
Over the next month, Marvin excelled at reaching his job skill milestones including attendance, competitive work pace, and motivation all while attending GED courses, weekly case management meetings, and daily recovery meetings! He left sober living and secured his own personal housing. When a paid training opportunity became available at the LaVale Goodwill Store, Marvin’s hard work and determination made him a top candidate for the position.
During a recent case management meeting, Marvin was asked to provide feedback on his experience with Goodwill’s Job Readiness Program. He expressed that “working at goodwill showed me that there are people out there that care, people that are here for you” and “ Now I look forward to coming to work.”
Today Marvin is continuing his education with GED classes and attending his recovery and case management meetings while finishing his paid training at the Goodwill Store. Dwayne Olden, the Store Manager has offered him a permanent position on his team stating that “Marvin is a team player and goes above and beyond to keep himself busy.”