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In Brief By Keith Mason
Welcome to the Summer Edition of Goodwill's E-Formant newsletter. It's getting hot here in Central Arizona, but as you'll see in this edition, the heat hasn't slowed us down. We've been busy serving the community in our various programs for youth, adults, students, job seekers, and of course - thrift store shoppers. We are proud of the accomplishments of our program graduates and all of our staff who help fulfill Goodwill of Central Arizona's mission in the community everyday - to create Hope, Jobs and Futures! I hope you enjoy these stories of our success and we look forward to sharing more with you again soon. Save the Date Now For the fifth annual “Evening of Goodwill”! Presented by:
Career Center Success Story By Monika Nathan
Needing to find employment, Sara turned to the Goodwill Career Center at the Northern & 35th Avenue location for help. She showed a sincere interest in locating a job and in enrolling in the Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) program for one-on-one career advice and assistance. Sara soon located a job in a temporary position, but knew she needed additional clerical skills to obtain the type of long-term employment she was seeking. Learning of the opportunity to gain these skills through Goodwill, she signed up to take the Computer and Customer Service Training class offered at the 16th Street Main Campus to improve her computer skills. She began the 3-week program on April 4th and by April 22, 2005, Sara had a certificate of Graduation in her hand and three college credits through Gateway Community College! Sara now types 60 words per minute, operates Microsoft Office programs and she has successfully located full-time employment at a Graphic Design firm. With the assistance of Goodwill’s programs, Sara took a chance and obtained her employment goals. Instructor LouAnn D'Elosua stated “Sara had several obstacles to overcome and she was very positive about her ability to press on and attain her goal. I'm so excited to hear she's secured permanent employment.” Goodwill Hosts Phoenix and Peoria Job Fairs By Tim Lachat
Goodwill’s Business Advisory Council (BAC) provided their support to the Workforce Development Division in hosting two successful job fairs on April 16th at the main campus location (417 N. 16th Street) and on May 5th at the Peoria location (8515 N.W. Grand Avenue). The Main Campus location drew over 29 different valley employers and over 90 enthusiastic job seekers were in attendance to meet with companies to discuss current job openings. A portion of the Peoria retail store was transformed to accommodate the 27 employers and over 70 job seekers for the April event.
The Retail Division provided business outfits to educate job seekers on how to dress-for-success on a budget. The Goodwill Career Center, on site at both locations, provided their no-cost services to attendees for additional employment opportunities, job search assistance and guidance, and information about programs and services. Attending employers included companies such as Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, Kelly Services, U-Haul International, Circle K, and Best Western International who were very excited with the quality of candidates that attended. Many filled their open positions with applicants from the job fair. Thank you to the Business Advisory Council and the staff volunteers who helped make both events a success! Did you know? Goodwill’s job fairs provide Business Advisory Council members a no-cost opportunity to recruit quality candidates to fill open positions! For more information on becoming a BAC member, call: 602-416-6200. Employee Receives Six Sigma Green Belt Award
On February 18, 2005, Loren Fodness, Director of Continuous Improvement received Motorola University’s prestigious Six Sigma Green Belt Award. Motorola University in San Diego, California is a highly respected corporate university that offers cutting edge methodology as it relates to business process improvement. In 1986, Motorola, Inc. initially introduced Six Sigma as a new method for standardizing how defects are counted in the manufacturing process. It has evolved to where it is today, a fully integrated management system to execute business strategy. Loren received the Green Belt Award for participating and successfully completing the five-day program course that takes candidates through an intensive training on step-by-step problem solving using the DMAIC model, which is a systematic method for analyzing and improving business processes. It consists of five phases: Define opportunity, Measure performance, Analyze opportunity; brainstorm, select and implement the best Improvement solution, Control and sustain improvements through monitoring, accountability and proven tools. The Six Sigma training has allowed Loren to bring this knowledge back to Goodwill’s leadership team and facilitate this rigorous process to each area of responsibility within Goodwill, ensuring success for our commitment to continuous process improvement. Youth Participant of the Month By Regina Mitzel
Roxanne has been involved with the Goodwill Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) Youth program through Child & Family Resources/Maricopa Center for Adolescent Parents (MCAP) since January 2005. Being the mother of two small children ages 4 and 2, Roxanne is not letting motherhood become an obstacle, she still intends on obtaining her education.
In the short time that she has been involved in the program, she has greatly increased her T.A.B.E scores (Test of Adult Basic Education) and is already taking practice tests in preparation for taking the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) test.
Roxanne attends class every day and even attends the optional tutoring sessions on Fridays. She has accomplished a great deal in the past few months through her persistence and dedication.
In addition to GED classes, she is involved in parenting and life skills classes, where she sets and attains goals each month, earning incentives along the way. Roxanne is anxious to earn her GED and to attend college with her ultimate goal being to become a criminal investigator.
Roxanne likes the Goodwill PWC Youth program because it allows her to attend school with other teen moms. The individual help she has received with her studies has been very beneficial, and her test scores prove it! She encourages any teen moms who want to earn their GED to join the program, and to not let anything hold them back. They can reach their goals, too! Featured Article in GoodwillTODAY
Goodwill of Central Arizona was featured in an article on May 4, 2005 in the Goodwill Industries International GoodwillTODAY online publication. Titled “AZ Agency Builds Commercial Services Contracts”, the article highlighted the growing state contract portfolio that our Commercial Services is building with the State of Arizona. Within eight months, Goodwill has obtained eight new janitorial service agreements and is looking to secure more. This change came about after Paul Brown, Vice President of Commercial Services and staff met with the newly appointed state officials who possess past experience with set-aside programs and working with non-profit agencies and understand their capabilities. “It just seems that the state facility managers had some misperceptions of who we are and what we can do,” said Operations Manager Gary Blackwell. “Once they experienced our level of quality, service and management expertise, it was easy for them to continue doing business with us,” he said. Brown said Goodwill can compete with any commercial company in the field of janitorial and grounds maintenance. “Once we get the opportunity to work with a new customer, they quickly realize that their quality of service and management response has reached a new level,” he said. The Commercial Services Department also operates eight NISH contracts and more than a dozen contracts for light-assembly projects. Paul Brown and staff are looking to expand on the expertise in laundry services and outside catering in addition to its document destruction capability. For more information on how Goodwill’s Commercial Services can provide your business with quality services, call: 602-416-6205. A Day in the Life of an Operations Manager By Karin Johnson
As the Operations Manager for Goodwill’s Commercial Services, Gary Blackwell has his hands full with the diverse functions required of his position. Although, he’ll tell you that diversity is one of the most enjoyable parts of his job. Gary has extensive management experience in the commercial janitorial field. His daily responsibilities include being the supervisor to several crews for various janitorial projects. One such crew keeps Goodwill’s main campus location, its offices and the e-cademie High School spotless. Tornado Blanco is Goodwill’s mobile cleaning service that takes to the road at night to care for the floor stripping and waxing needs at all of the Goodwill retail store locations. Another crew has individuals stationed at eight of the Department of Economic Security locations for nightly cleaning. If one of these crews happens to be short-handed, Gary gladly fills in, day or night. Gary also educates trainees in Goodwill’s Work Adjustment Training (WAT) program. Currently seven trainees are learning the janitorial trade and the valuable work behaviors that help them keep employment in the community. “The relationships that I make and the opportunity to work with people is the most rewarding part of my job” states Gary, “in my past I’ve seen people leave a job without concern, but at Goodwill we train and place people who need the work, who want to work, who are trained to be successful and are very reliable”. Among the many facets of his daily responsibilities, Gary is also in charge of submitting proposals and the management of light assembly projects and janitorial set-a-side projects through the county and state government. These projects provide needed jobs and work experience for workforce development trainees and high school students who require flexibility to keep earning an income while completing their training or education. In addition to his already full schedule, Gary is also taking courses to receive his state contractors license for landscaping and irrigation! “A day in my life is very worthwhile” says Gary,“ I have a great relationship with my supervisor Paul Brown, who trusts in my ability to do my job.” “I work with great people, and I know that I make a difference in people's lives everyday with the training that we offer to individuals and the services to the community.” A Star in the Midst By Karin Johnson
Sparkling lights, cool brisk air, stars at every turn. Sounds a little like heaven doesn’t it?! It was a whole lot of heaven for Goodwill’s Youth Services Career Advisor, Malcolm Carter! In April, Malcolm was extended an invitation to attend the 5th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) because of a screenplay he had submitted to the event. He was one of eight nominees out of thousands of entries for the Best Screenplay award.
Malcolm has had a hobby of writing since grade school and six years ago he decided to learn how to write screenplays, spending an entire year researching in libraries, borrowing books from friends and any other information he could find. A year and a half ago his first screenplay was complete. After getting sidetracked with helping some friends produce short films, his focus returned to his screenplay. In February he entered his writings to the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
On Sunday night April 17, 2005, the awards gala took place at the Beverly Hills Hotel with the glitz and glamour of leading independent filmmakers and actors. The Golden Palm Screenplay award went to “How to love a man”, a drama about a family in its third generation of abuse, written by (drum role please) Malcolm Carter! His acceptance speech began “Wow, I haven’t won anything since receiving an award for perfect attendance in the 10th grade…”
This award is an open door for Malcolm and future contracts in Hollywood, and it gave him the opportunity to make many new contacts. When asked how he felt about winning this very prestigious award, he replied “I was honored just to be chosen as one of the eight”. We congratulate Malcolm and look forward to seeing this potential Hollywood writer’s name in lights! Goodwill Partnership Program Graduation By Regina Mitzel
Twelve Students obtained their General Equivalency Diploma (GED) on April 18th, from Maricopa Center for Adolescent Parents (MCAP), operated by our partner agency Child & Family Resources. Goodwill partners with Child & Family Resources to operate the Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) for at-risk youth.
The program serves pregnant and parenting teen moms ages 16-21. MCAP offers free GED classes with on-site child care. Participants also receive parenting, life skills, and work readiness classes while working towards their GED.
The Graduation celebration, held at Encanto Park, was a delightful evening filled with tears and laughter. The students entered to the traditional Pomp & Circumstance and wore maroon or royal blue caps and gowns. Representative David Bradley delivered an inspirational address to the graduates, and some of the students elected to share words of thanks with those gathered. It was a joyful event that included enthusiastic staff, proud families, and elated students! Annual Awards Banquet
Goodwill celebrated its Annual Awards Banquet on March 30th at the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden. It was an evening to recognize the outstanding achievements of our clients, staff, and volunteers, and to thank individuals, and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the mission of Goodwill. Award recipients:
Congratulations to all of the award winners! |
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