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Administrative Professionals day was April 25^th,, so we’d like to take a moment to celebrate one of our own administrative professionals.

Brian Selby, has worked behind the scenes in our Accounting Department for over 30 years. His Goodwill journey began in January 1988 when he was hired as an Accounting Clerk.  He has worked his way up to Senior Accounting Clerk, where he works diligently to process payroll, new hires and employee changes. Most would say that Brian has one of the most important jobs in the organization; afterall, he is the person that makes certain our employees get their paychecks!  He is also responsible for other accounting duties, including accounts receivable and accounts payable.

Thirty years is a long time with one employer.  When asked what keeps him with Horizon Goodwill Industries (HGI), Brian said, “All of the values at HGI align with the values I have in my own life: passion, character, celebration, service, and compassion. It is great to work for an organization that share those same values.”

Brian has enjoyed watching HGI go through a positive transformation over the years. When he joined the team in 1988, there were less than 100 employees. At that time, all processes were manual and there were no computers. Fast forward to today: HGI has had upwards of 700 individuals on payroll at a time, we have streamlined many processes, and have expanded our utilization of technology.

Brian takes a moment to reminisce:

It is amazing to think about the amount of lives that have been impacted by Goodwill throughout the years. 

I used to hand out the pay checks to our clients downtown and I would always look forward to it. The smiles and high fives that I would get from these individuals just for simply handing them their check made me feel really proud that we are able to provide them with sustainable and meaningful employment.

 The opportunity I’ve been given to serve others, has been very rewarding.  It’s something I enjoy and have experienced personal growth from doing so. Goodwill has been there for me during different times in my life. Goodwill has helped me recognize my own barriers and find ways to overcome them.”

Aside from having a passion for what he does here at Goodwill, Brian has many different hobbies and interests. Born and raised in Hagerstown, MD, Brian has a passion for all sports: baseball, football, hockey, you name it! He enjoys hunting and fishing, and likes to visit different baseball stadiums across the country.  He also enjoys the vacation time that he uses in the summertime to hang out with his 16-year-old son, which is a great perk!

His plans for the future include continuing to grow and adapt in his role with HGI. He is also looking forward to watching his son graduate from high school and college.

Horizon Goodwill Industries would like to recognize Brian for his 30 years of service. We appreciate his dedication, hard work and passion for Goodwill, and we are looking forward to celebrating his continued success in the future!

 

Frank started his journey with Goodwill in October of 2016. He was hired as a Unit Processor and helped prepare for the grand opening of our new South End Goodwill store on Maryland Avenue in Hagerstown, MD. He was promoted to Lead Unit Processor in September of 2017 and learned the Sales Clerk role.

As a Lead Unit Processor, Frank assists the management team in their absence by overseeing store operations.  He takes pride in making sure that the store is presentable and items are restocked and plentiful.

When asked what he likes about Goodwill, Frank said “I work with employees who have gone through the Goodwill job training program, and I get to see how the program has helped them better their lives.”  Having witnessed firsthand how our mission of removing barriers and creating opportunities has helped co-workers, Frank regularly shares the Horizon Goodwill mission with his customers and how their purchases support our mission.

Born and raised in Hagerstown, MD, Frank’s hobbies include playing pool and bowling, watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play football, and shopping at Goodwill.   Frank values the importance of service and giving back to the community, which he has been doing since the age of 16 as a volunteer firefighter. “I enjoy working for Goodwill because they serve individuals in the community and that is very important to me. I also enjoy the flexibility and getting to know the customers who shop in our store.”

Frank is proud that he helped open the South End store and worked his way up to a lead position. He hopes to continue his professional growth by gaining more responsibility in the store and eventually becoming a manager one day. Horizon Goodwill Industries is proud of Frank’s service to Goodwill and to his community.  With his usual smile, Frank says, “Come check out the amazing deals and steals at our South End store on Maryland Avenue in Hagerstown.  It would be my pleasure to serve you!”

“Character” is one of Horizon Goodwill’s core values.  Ricky Listman, a Baler at our processing center in Cumberland, Maryland, has a lot of it to share.

Ricky’s path to success began by attending an open enrollment meeting in Cumberland. He was determined to find a way to achieve his employment goals and was certain that the Goodwill training program could help him break down his reported barriers. Ricky’s made ends meet as a self-employed laborer completing odd jobs as opportunities arose. This type of work presented gaps in employment, so he was unable to build an effective resume.  Additionally, sporadic jobs didn’t allow him the means to obtain reliable transportation. Following his completion of the “Get, On Board!” class, Ricky was offered a temporary training position as a truck helper in October of 2017.

Most of Ricky’s previous work was completed alone.  His new position helped Ricky to obtain on-the-job training in a work environment where he could be an active member of a team. Ricky quickly started to shine in this position and managers from other departments quickly took notice.

In December of 2017, Ricky’s vocational case manager informed him of an opening for a Baler in the Processing department. This position would offer Ricky many new opportunities including, a transition from part-time to full-time. Ricky applied for the position and was hired as a permanent core employee!

Ricky is a Maryland native.  He was born in Anne Arundel County but spent most of his childhood on the eastern shore in Caroline County. When he is not working, he loves spending time with his grandmother and working with his uncle on houses. When he is not enjoying family time, he loves building computers, playing music, and shooting pool.

When asked what he likes about Goodwill the most, he said “They provide help to those who want to try to change their lives.” He loves his job, and the people he works with. He is very enthusiastic about full-time employment as he says it’s very difficult to find, especially when you have barriers.

Ricky is appreciative and very proud of his accomplishments at work.  His success in the training program, his desire to work, and his new job has afforded him many opportunities.  It has opened doors he never expected, like becoming a home owner in the upcoming month.  Ricky Listman is the true definition of “continuous improvement.”

Because “CELEBRATION” is one of our core values here at Horizon Goodwill Industries, we would like to take a moment to celebrate one of our own, Olivia Bowens, E-Commerce Agent.

Olivia has been with Horizon Goodwill since December of 2016. Before her Goodwill journey began, Olivia dealt with barriers that were keeping her from achieving her goals. Born and raised in Frederick, MD, Olivia’s family tree was poisoned with addiction throughout her childhood. She then faced her own battles with addiction and crime, ultimately leading to her incarceration in 2014. Olivia reached her breaking point and knew she needed to get back on the road to sobriety and success.

Olivia entered “Project 103” through the Frederick County Detention Center, which is a sobriety and substance abuse program. Before her release from incarceration in 2015, Olivia was offered a spot in the “Lasting Change” program to help her transition out of incarceration and her old patterns of addiction.

During this transitional phase, Olivia struggled to find employment because of her past. Her friend recommended that she stop by the Goodwill in downtown Hagerstown. She took her friends advice and met with the Mission Services team. Olivia was placed in the Goodwill job training program as a Wares Worker. After working in processing for six months, Olivia caught word that the E-Commerce department had an opening on their team. Through the support of her case management team, she applied, interviewed, and was hired on with Goodwill as a part time E-Commerce employee. Olivia says, “I like that Goodwill is willing to stand behind their employees and help them better their lives.”

Fast forward to 2018: Olivia is in the last phase of the “Lasting Change” program; has been sober for over two years and counting; has obtained her own apartment; has recently started cosmetology school; and has been promoted from part time to full time.

When asked where she sees herself in five years, Olivia said, “I hope to be done with school, still working for Goodwill and practicing cosmetology on the side. I also hope to have a family of my own.” Aside from working for Goodwill and pursuing her cosmetology degree, Olivia enjoys cheerleading, shopping, swimming, going to the beach, traveling, and riding rollercoasters.

Olivia came to Hagerstown with no license and no desire to change her situation. She didn’t have a vehicle, lacked confidence in herself and was reluctant to smile. She now has a driver’s license, a vehicle, a new smile with a million reasons to flash it! She is very excited to see where the road of life takes her, and we at Horizon Goodwill Industries look forward to celebrating her successes in the future.

Her advice to others who are struggling is, “NEVER GIVE UP! Things might not always be sunshine and roses. You’re going to have bad days but keep trying! Never give up on yourself.”

Let’s CELEBRATE one of our own!

Let’s take a moment to celebrate one of our own, Christa Cash, Horizon Goodwill’s new store manager in Woodstock, Virginia.

Christa says, “What I love most about Goodwill is making a difference in the lives of people; whether that is a trainee, staff, customer, or donor.”   Christa started her journey with Horizon Goodwill as a PT Sales Clerk in July 2012 and has since worked her way up through a FT position. Christa was promoted to Store Manager in November of 2017. Christa loves her new position and says what keeps her motivated is “all the wonderful customers I meet and the individuals I work with. My team is amazing.  They make everyday enjoyable.”

Born in Fairfax, Virginia and raised in Spotsylvania County, Christa has a passion for competitive baking. When she is not baking in her spare time or managing her store, she has a love for animals and enjoys spending time with her husband of 25 years and their daughter.

When asked to share her most memorable moment, Christa stated, “it’s not just one moment, it’s moments. Over the past 5 years I have seen so many acts of kindness and caring.” She is most proud of her team for covering shifts, helping where needed, and working hard every day to achieve their goals.

We at Horizon Goodwill are extremely proud of her promotion and success. We look forward to celebrating her growth as a Store Manager, and watching her lead the Woodstock retail team in accomplishing their goals.