Horizon Goodwill Industries Announces Leadership Promotion

January 15, 2024

Horizon Goodwill Industries Announces Leadership Promotion

[Hagerstown, January 15, 2024] – Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI), a leading non-profit organization committed to community development and empowerment, proudly announces the promotion of Steve Bledsoe to the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Steve previously served as the Controller and brings over 35 years of valuable experience in accounting and finance to his new role.

Serving as the Controller for the past five years, Steve’s promotion is a testament to HGI’s dedication to fostering internal talent and promoting professional development within the organization. His extensive background, including serving as Chief Financial Officer for Primary Capital Mortgage before joining HGI, uniquely positions him for success in this expanded capacity.

David Shuster, Ed.D., CEO of Horizon Goodwill, expresses his enthusiasm for Steve’s promotion: “We are delighted to announce Steve as our new CFO. His wealth of experience in financial services, coupled with his integral role at HGI, makes him the perfect fit for this position. This promotion exemplifies our commitment to recognizing and cultivating exceptional leadership within our team.”

As Steve takes on the role of CFO, Horizon Goodwill Industries anticipates continued growth, innovation, and success under his financial stewardship. This strategic move reinforces the organization’s confidence in its talented team members and underscores its commitment to building a strong leadership foundation from within.

About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact the marketing department at 301-733-7330 x1630 or marketing@goodwill-hgi.org.

Horizon Goodwill Industries Announces Strategic Leadership Promotions

November 1, 2023

Horizon Goodwill Industries Announces Strategic Leadership Promotions

[Hagerstown, October 1, 2023] – Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is proud to announce the promotion of three dedicated individuals to new leadership positions within the organization. These strategic advancements underscore HGI’s commitment to fostering growth and development from within its talented team.

Debra Carbaugh, a seasoned professional with an impressive 19-year tenure at HGI, has been appointed Chief of Staff and Assistant VP of Strategic Initiatives. In her previous role as Director of Training and Development, Debra demonstrated reliable leadership and her years of dedication to the organization bring unparalleled experience to the position. Leveraging that experience alongside a deep understanding of the local community and broader Goodwill network, Debra will now play a crucial role in supporting Board of Directors activities, leading strategic initiatives, and extending executive-level capacity.

Tammy Elrick, who started at HGI in 2016 as a Vocational Case Manager, has been promoted to the position of Interim Director of Training and Development. Tammy has served the last two years as a Workforce Development Instructor, playing a pivotal role in shaping the skills and capabilities of HGI’s workforce. Her hands-on experience not only showcases her commitment to the organization’s mission but also positions her uniquely to lead the Training and Development department.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce the promotion of Kenneth Winebrenner to the role of Interim Director of Human Resources. Kenneth, who joined HGI as an Employment Specialist in 2016, brings valuable experience within the organization. He has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

These promotions reflect HGI’s confidence in the exceptional talents of its team members and the organization’s dedication to nurturing leadership from within. As Debra, Tammy, and Kenneth take on their new roles, Horizon Goodwill Industries looks forward to continued growth, innovation, and success.

About Horizon Goodwill: About Horizon Goodwill: Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI) is a future-focused nonprofit workforce development organization headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, responsible for serving communities in 17 counties across MD, PA, WV, and VA. Operating numerous social enterprises and human services programs, HGI helps thousands of individuals each year pursue economic mobility through its mission of removing barriers to social mobility for meaningful and sustainable employment. Through this work, Goodwill is committed to advancing equitable opportunities for employment and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Learn more at www.horizongoodwill.org. For media inquiries, contact Craig Foster, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, at 301-733-7330 x1630 or cfoster@goodwill-hgi.org.

Horizon Goodwill Awards Mission Partner of Year to Employee Benefits Services

May 11, 2023

Horizon Goodwill Awards Mission Partner of Year to Employee Benefits Services

(Hagerstown, Maryland, May 2023) Employee Benefits Services was named “Mission Partner of the Year” at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ (HGI) 68th Annual Power of Work Awards. The event in Hagerstown on May 3, 2023, is scheduled annually to coincide with National Goodwill Week.

The Power of Work Awards recognizes HGI’s participants’ and community partners’ hard work, dedication, and mission support each year. These individuals and businesses embody the HGI Mission of Removing Barriers to Social Mobility for employment throughout their four-state territory.

This year, nearly 150 people were in attendance, including local officials, program participants, staff, representatives from partnering organizations, and community members.

The Mission Partner of the Year award recognizes a business or organization that provides aid or has otherwise supported Horizon Goodwill in its efforts to assist individuals with overcoming barriers to employment, helping Goodwill fulfill its mission.

Horizon Goodwill’s leadership team has committed to integrating its mission of removing barriers to social mobility into its daily business practices. This includes recognizing the need to support their employees with the same compassion and creativity used to support program participants. Like many of the individuals served by HGI’s mission team, access to affordable healthcare presents a challenge to its employees. Employee Benefits Services Solutions (EBS) was an early adopter of the mission integration philosophy and quickly helped HGI find affordable healthcare solutions that met their employees’ needs. EBS has been on the front lines advocating for HGI, removing barriers to access to quality care, and creating opportunities for HGI employees to manage their health while keeping overall program costs lower than more traditional solutions.

Ben Bohonowicz, Director of Client Services for EBS, stated, “We are honored to be named Horizon Goodwill’s 2022 Mission Partner of The Year. This recognition means a lot to us, as we’ve long admired the incredible work this organization does to empower individuals and strengthen our community.”

“As a Mission Partner, we have had the privilege of collaborating with Horizon Goodwill on various healthcare initiatives that align with our shared goal of helping to improve better access to care, putting people first, and putting money back into members’ pockets.” He added.

Horizon Goodwill Awards Employer of the Year to Meritus Health

May 5, 2023

Horizon Goodwill Awards Employer of the Year to Meritus Health

(Hagerstown, Maryland, May 2023) Meritus Health was named “Employer of the Year” at Horizon Goodwill Industries’ (HGI) 68th Annual Power of Work Awards. The event in Hagerstown on May 3, 2023, is scheduled annually to coincide with National Goodwill Week.

The Power of Work Awards recognizes HGI’s participants’ and community partners’ hard work, dedication, and mission support each year. These individuals and businesses embody the HGI Mission of Removing Barriers to Social Mobillty for employment throughout their four-state territory.

This year, nearly 150 people were in attendance, including local officials, program participants, staff, representatives from partnering organizations, and community members.

The Employer of the Year Award recognizes an employer who has demonstrated outstanding support for assisting individuals by hiring program graduates or otherwise contributing to greater outplacement of program participants through their partnering with Horizon Goodwill Industries.

Meritus Health was selected because of its community support and work connecting people with sustainable employment opportunities. A team consisting of members representing Meritus Health, HGI, and Maryland Physicians Care (MPC) developed an innovative pilot program called “Pathways to Healthcare Careers,” which places low/moderate income candidates directly into living wage positions in one of five identified divisions at Meritus with support from HGI and MPC.

In addition to partnering on this innovative employment program, Meritus Health has also worked with HGI on several other health and community development initiatives. The two organizations successfully obtained funding from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) SEED fund. The SEED Community Development Anchor Institution Fund will aid in creating a full-service grocery store operated by HGI in the Hagerstown downtown core on Prospect St. This project aims to improve community economic and health outcomes by offering affordable healthy food options in the city.

Further collaborative efforts to improve access to healthcare resulted in the award of funds from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission’s “Pathways to Health Equity” program. This resulting project is known as the Hagerstown Health HUB. The two-year grant supports a primary care office at HGI’s downtown Hagerstown location. Meritus Health will provide a full-time nurse practitioner to staff the site. Patients will not be turned away based on insurance status; they will be seen and then connected to a healthcare navigator to assist them in obtaining health insurance.

“At Meritus, we are passionate about our community, and when we find team members who share that passion, it’s a natural fit. We’ve been so fortunate to find team members through this program who want to make a positive impact on their community,” said Dave Lehr, chief strategy officer for Meritus Health. “We’re honored to receive this award from Horizon Goodwill, but we’re even more honored to be able to share the outcomes of our initiatives that demonstrate not only the power of work but the power of working together,” he said.