Success Stories

DJ Morris

DJ was referred to Goodwill Industries Career Training Center from Lively Technical Center through the GoodOpps program.  He began in the wares department where he helped on the sales floor by cleaning and stocking merchandise.

DJ, a wheelchair user, was evaluated on many work behaviors and found to be punctual, enthusiastic, courteous. Above all, he is a team player.  As a result of his good work habits and motivation to do his best, DJ was transferred to a position in the computer store where he learned to dissect computers.

While working at the computer store, DJ continued to excel and on April 12 he successfully completed the GoodOpps program. On Apr 16, he was hired as a full-time processor in the electronics department. He is responsible for inspecting donated electronics and preparing them for the sales floor. 

DJ continues to inspire us every day with his motivation, determination and infectious smile. To us, DJ exemplifies the word success and we are truly glad to have him as part of our Goodwill family.

Gala Andrews 

By Cece Richards, Chipley Employment Specialist/Lab Manager

 Recently out of jail after serving one year for a drug charge, Gala Andrew’s self esteem was at rock bottom. Her full sentence included two years of house arrest and three years of probation.  Also, she had been diagnosed as Bipolar and her husband had left her. 

Gala was referred to Goodwill’s career training center (CTC) in Chipley by her parole officer on June 25. She began by taking the Money Sense class and came to the computer lab on a regular basis. She attended Job Club and improved her computer skills as well as learning how to search for jobs. When a part time job came open in the Goodwill store, she applied along with 30 other people.  She aced her interview and started work on August 3.

I saw Gala sitting outside taking her break recently and asked how the new job was going.  She teared up and told me that if it wasn’t for the CTC, she doesn’t know where she’d be now.  She said she had felt hopeless and saw no way to improve her life.  “Of all things,” she said, “seeing my credit report let me know that I really wasn’t as worthless as everyone has been telling me.”   Because everyone at the CTC had treated her with respect and kindness, she started feeling better about herself. She was able to get up enough courage to apply for the job at Goodwill. Gala continued telling me how much the CTC and its people had changed her life.  This month will be the first time she is able to pay her light bill by herself and she is so proud of herself for that accomplishment.

Things continue to get better. Since our talk, Gala has received a promotion to full time cashier.  She is being trained in many aspects of the store operations so she can be utilized in several positions.  Gala has become a vital part of Goodwill – Big Bend and is especially a very valuable member of the Chipley store’s team.

Amber Cook

By Sheila Harmon, Training Lab Manager

 In my job as a Training Lab Manager, I often have the privilege of seeing people make changes in their lives through hard work and determination. Still, occasionally someone stands out, having made such dramatic strides in skill levels and personal growth that are particularly noteworthy. Amber Cook is such a person.

Amber is a 32 year-old mother of two, who was referred by a Workforce affiliate and was a recipient of public assistance. Committing to the program was not easy for Amber—she had child care issues and lived on the outskirts of town, which made transportation a challenge. Further, Amber had some medical concerns as the result of a car accident a few years ago, and had not completed high school.

However, Amber took the bull by the horns. She enthusiastically pursued life improvements by training to improve the skills needed for today’s job market. She enrolled in most of Goodwill’s training programs in Panama City. She completed our Money Sense program in July 2009 and went on to complete 14 modules of Computer and Office Skills training before year’s end. Amber was so proficient, that I coordinated with Workforce to allow her to become a volunteer lab assistant, where she has helped dozens of other students achieve their learning goals.

Finally, she saw the importance of getting her GED and enrolled in our GED program. After several months of concentrated study with David Gibson, Amber earned her GED in late January 2010.

Amber’s personal presentation, communication skills, office comportment, and self-confidence have improved significantly. She has changed her life and greatly bettered her opportunities through her efforts and partnership with Goodwill-Big Bend.

Jessie Boston -  Placement Achiever of the Year

 Jessie Boston, 58, moved to Thomasville about a year ago after being laid off from a job in Cartersville, GA. Although he had a career of good, stable employment, he was then living in a tent.

Through the staff’s guidance at Goodwill’s career training center in Thomasville, he was determined to pursue all career options. Eventually he got a job with a manufacturing company in Cairo and bicycled 15 miles to work each day until that job ended.

He then persuaded the company from which he was laid off in Cartersville to offer him employment in a Thomasville facility. He used his experience in that job to train and challenge new employees to endure a job in a facility with difficult working conditions.

When this position ended, the company agreed to keep him in a security position, because of his diligence and willingness to work. He is keeping his options open as he looks for the next opportunity and strives to make a better life for himself.

“Jessie Boston is an example to all who might be tempted to give up hope in difficult times,” Dee Austin, Director of Placement at Goodwill, said.

 Marsha Wilson – Training Achiever of the Year

When Marsha Wilson and her husband relocated to west Florida after he retired from the military, they were not able to find jobs. Marsha was referred to Goodwill through a Onestop center after attending a job fair in Crestview in the fall of 2008 and enrolled in Goodwill’s computer training classes.

Marsha eagerly began her classes in spite of a 45 minute commute, rising gas prices and children to take care of during summer vacation. She had to cut back to one or two days a week, but through determination and perseverance, she completed programs in computer basics, keyboarding, Windows XP, Word, spreadsheets, and Excel.

She attended several job clubs and learned employability skills including resume writing, employability skills and interviewing techniques.

As a result of her determination to complete her training, Marsha was hired at Okaloosa County School District in September 2009.