Former Horizon Goodwill Executive Director/CEO Passes After Illness
(Hagerstown, Maryland, November 2021) Horizon Goodwill Industries shares news of the recent death of former Executive Director and CEO, Craig M. MacLean.
Mr. MacLean retired from Horizon Goodwill in 2015, after a remarkable 35 years of service. In 1980 Craig joined Horizon Goodwill Industries as a Branch Manager at our Cumberland, Maryland location. At that time, only three retail stores existed in the area, with annual revenues hovering around $500,000. Within four years, based on his dedication to the community, hard work, leadership, and vision, Craig was appointed Executive Director & CEO of our organization. Under his leadership Horizon Goodwill Industries rapidly expanded; Craig grew the organization from 3 to 17 stores, adding donation processing, training, and resource centers in western Maryland and West Virginia. At the time of his retirement, annual revenues had grown to over $18M.
Craig was most proud of his efforts to partner with other service providers and employers to ensure that those who came to Goodwill for assistance received skills training and vocational services and a network of opportunities to connect with the resources each person might need. A strong advocate for women, Craig provided encouragement, training, mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for women throughout the agency. As a result, several have moved on to manage their own non-profit agencies.
Current CEO and President David Shuster said, “Much of the foundation upon which our current success has been built was laid during his tenure, and communities across our territory are better for his having served here. I owe him a personal debt of gratitude as he took a chance and hired me for my first position here in 2013 and I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from him during his final two years at HGI.”
Ron Bowers, Chairman of the Board for Horizon Goodwill remembers Craig, “Throughout his time at Horizon Goodwill, Craig reached out to the unemployed and underrepresented individuals throughout our territory. His business model was well thought out and implemented with precision at the most appropriate time in our history. Extremely proud to have known him over these many years, as an elected official and as a board member
Before joining Horizon Goodwill Industries, Mr. Maclean was an Assistant Professor at Oberlin College in Ohio. He attended Brooklyn College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He then attended Princeton University, earned a Master of Arts, and pursued a graduate degree in Politics and Government. Prior to his academic pursuits, he served in the U.S. Army.
In recognition of his stewardship, the Horizon Goodwill Board of Directors honored Craig at his retirement by naming the Corporate Headquarters in Hagerstown the “Craig M. MacLean Career Development Center.”
We extend our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Craig Martin MacLean.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Community Foundation of Washington County, Maryland, specifying the donation to go to the Craig M. MacLean-HGI Scholarship Fund.
Click here for his official obituary.