the PDF file

NOVEMBER • 2015
GOODWILL TURNS 82
by Rita Crum
Welcome to the ClothesLine
- the monthly employee
newsletter! In each edition we
will be covering all corners of
the agency every month. Enjoy!
EMPLOYEE OF THE
MONTH!
Learn more about our
Employee of the Month,
Samantha Jones, and all the
hard work she does.
Page 4
GOODWILL OLYMPICS:
UPDATES
See what the Wellness
Committee has been up to
during the Goodwill
Olympic Games.
Page 9
O
n November 17,
our Goodwill will
be celebrating its 82nd
birthday. It was back in 1933
that we began serving the
Omaha community. Our first
headquarters was located at
16th and Cumming Streets.
Just three weeks later, on
December 8, our first retail
store was opened.
In honor of our agency’s
birthday, we’ll be giving away
prizes. But I’ll get to that later.
Our headquarters
moved multiple times in the
beginning. In the lates 30s,
ended up at the old Heinz
Pickle factory on north 16th
street and stayed there for
nearly 25 years.
The 40s were a decade of
new beginnings for Goodwill.
Telephone clerks were hired to
solicit material donations. For
every successful call the clerks
were paid five cents. We also
operated a laundry service
and had a paper recycling
program.
The first Good Turn for
Goodwill, a partnership with
the Girl Scouts, donation
drive took place in the 1950s.
The first Women’s Guild was
founded in 1954.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
1
THE RUNDOWN
NOVEMBER 2015
PUBLISHER: Frank McGree
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rita Crum
MANAGING EDITOR: Ann Woodford
STAFF WRITERS: Brent Koster, Elizabeth Donner,
Kris Pachunka, Rebecca Armstrong Langle, Erin
Swanson Russell and Colin Maloy
FAN CLUB PRESIDENT: Steve Andrews
THE CLOTHESLINE is published monthly and is
available at each Town Hall meeting. If you are
unable to attend Town Hall, you may also find
copies in the Marketing area at BPP, or request
to have a copy delivered to you by calling
402.231.1912.
You may also find ClothesLine articles and fullissue digital downloads on the Goodwill Omaha
website at http://www.goodwillomaha.org/
category/publications/the-clothes-line/.
by Brent Koster
Boo!dwill is Back! - Goodwill will be hosting
our online costume Boo!dwill contest for
customers who purchased their costumes in our
stores. The contest runs through Nov. 2, and
the winner receives a $50 Goodwill gift card.
Employees are not eligible to win, but tell your
friends and neighbors. They can learn more
by visiting our Facebook page or visiting our
website. Every year we get a heap of amazing
outfit entries, with all or most of the items
purchased at Goodwill. Follow us on Facebook
and join the fun!
Work Experience bursting at the seams,
hosts numerous open houses - Our Work
Experience program started the new school year
with the most enrollments ever – 95. Council
Bluffs is over capacity so one school is sending
their students to Blair. All seven work experience
sites hosted open houses in October.
Good month for putting people to work September was an exceptional month for job
placements – 90 people found work with the
help of Goodwill. This is the highest month for
placements since we managed the Employment
First contract in 2007.
CARF has come - This organization survived
yet another CARF survey last week. For those
who didn’t read about it in the October issue of
Clothesline, CARF is our accreditation body as
a nonprofit. They come every three years and
make sure our services and organization is up to
snuff. It was another successful survey, and we
will receive the complete results in the next few
months.
LOCATED INSIDE BENSON PARK PLAZA - 4805 NORTH 72 STREET
2 WELCOME
NEW EMPLOYEES!
WELCOME! Below is a list of all new employees that joined Goodwill in September. Please say hello and
make them feel welcome as they begin their new positions with Goodwill.
Bart Alban
Israel Alvarez del Castillo
Arthur Cook
Jessica Fernandez Guzman
Elizabeth Foust
Cassandra Fouts
Patricia Jimenez
Tisha Jones
Shawn Kaea
Amber Korpua
Emmanuel Kuoue
Jeremy Lange
Kathleen McAcy-DeJohn
Atonier McGee
Ana Orellana
Taryn Oyster
Fermina Ranilla Taco
Lucy Rankin
Daniel Rouch
Clarissa Teal-Kincaid
Julian Torres
Elena Washington
Accounts Payable Specialist
Donation Door Attendant
Grounds Maintenance Worker
Clothing Processor Hanger
Cashier
Clothing Processor Hanger
Clothing Processor Hanger
Clothing Processor Hanger
Grounds Maintenance Worker
Clothing Processor Hanger
Donation Door Attendant
Grounds Maintenance Worker
Cashier
Adult Career Specialist
Clothing Processor Hanger
Cashier
Clothing Processor Hanger
Cashier
Grounds Maintenance Worker
Administrative Assistant
Cashier
Cashier
AWARDS
Benson Park Plaza
Papillion
Grand Island
Harris Center
156th & Maple
Gretna
156th & Maple
Benson Park Store
72ND & F
Benson Park Store
Papillion
Grand Island
Southwest
Ames Plaza
Southwest
180th & Q
Harris Center
Benson Park Store
Grand Island
Benson Park Plaza
West Center
West Center
SEPTEMBER 2015
Look around you... There are awesome people doing awesome things every day. Be the one
to brighten a co-worker or manager’s day with the Safety Smart, Lifesaver or Above & Beyond
Award. Go out and do awesome things and next month your name could be listed here.
ABOVE & BEYOND
Consuelo Orozco
LIFESAVERS
Keired McConico
Gabriel Herron
Ann Bailey
Billie Brooks
Christin Graff
SAFETY SMART
James Walsh
Wilfred Blood
Kenneth Good
Steve Hennessey
NEW HIRES • AWARDS 3
EMPLOYEE
MONTH
by Rebecca Armstrong Langle
She is now doing regular offsite orientations. This is helping
alleviate Holly’s workload while
allowing more participants to
enroll in our programs, helping
more people find jobs in the
community.
“Samantha has been so
procedures were being followed. great through all the changes
that have been going on,” said
Samantha took all of this upon
Holly, “I know we would not be
herself, taking initiative without
as far as we are today without all
having to be asked.
of her help.”
“My schedule has been nuts
When not at Goodwill,
with interviewing and training
new staff,” said Holly. “Samantha Samantha enjoys spending time
with her son, Lincoln. Holly
took over an off-site orientation
describes Samantha as a “super
appointment for me, has been
mom”.
helping review new forms and
Samantha lives and breathes
updating paperwork with WIOA
Goodwill’s
mission each and
transition.”
every day. Congrats on your
When there was need for
employee of the month win!
someone to work at a different
location, Samantha was there.
OF THE
During a time of staff and
program changes, Samantha
Jones has been a consistent
force at the One-Stop Career
Center and in the WorkOpps
program. Samantha is an
employee who always steps
up when extra help is needed
around the office. This is why she
was honored as our September
employee of the month.
“Samantha is amazing,” said
Holly McElhatton, Samantha’s
supervisor. “She has been
training our new staff on intakes,
doing outreach events,
updating forms and
helping out management.”
While these tasks
go above and beyond
her normal job duties,
Samantha completes
them without hesitating.
She takes the term “team
player” to another level.
When changes to the
Workforce Investment and
Opportunity Act (WIOA)
were coming, Samantha
took it upon herself to
make sure that all of the
forms were compliant
with the new rules and
regulations. She worked
with the career specialists
and the business outreach
specialists to ensure that Employee of the Month Samantha Jones (middle) with Coordinators Holly McElhatton and Tiffany Drieling.
4 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
STORE
OF THE
MONTH
SOUTH PAPIO
Angie, Kermit and staff
ended September with a 24%
increase over last year and
19% over budget.
Congratulations to South
Papillion staff!
Specialty
STORE
OF THE
MONTH
SHOPGOODWILL
Congratulations to
Andy, Conchita, Melissa
and Wendy on a much
deserved Specialty
Store of the Month win!
SEPTEMBER StoreS of the month 5
GOODWILL TURNS 82 CON’T.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
During the 1960s, we moved
our headquarters to 41st and
Pacific Streets and opened up
a store in downtown Fremont.
In 1965, we started the Work
Experience program with the
Omaha Public Schools.
The 70s and 80s were a time
of growth and prosperity. We
received our first accreditation
by the Commission on the
Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities(CARF).
Frank McGree
was hired as our
Executive Director,
and we were
awarded a federal
contract to provide
janitorial services at
Zorinsky.
In the late
90s, we opened
our Millard retail
location, our first
store constructed
specifically for
Goodwill use.
A year later, our
Frank McGree (center)
organization
partnered with Younkers for the
first Younkers Goodwill Sale
event, and in that same year the
inaugural Goodwill Golf Classic
took place.
Our very first website,
goodwillomaha.org, was launched
in 2000, and in 2007 we started
the computer recycling program.
Over the years, the Omaha
headquarters has relocated a
handful of times and countless
stores have opened. Today, we
are a $29 million agency and
6 cover story
have helped tens of thousands
of people. We oversee ten
employment programs, run 14
traditional retail stores and five
specialty stores, and manage
seven government contracts.
We also oversee a variety of
commercial services homes and
businesses.
A lot has changed since our
inception, but our mission to help
others and the essence of our
retail division has stayed the same.
We are still a great place to shop.
We continue to offer employment
and training programs that help
thousands overcome their work
barriers each year.
Now, back to the president
and CEO Frank McGree, in
celebration of our birthday, we
will be giving away prizes to
Goodwill employees starting on
Wednesday, November 18 at
Town Hall. An employee name
will be drawn every week leading
by Rita Crum
up to a grand prize drawing on
December 8. The gift card will
be hand-delivered to them at
their work location- Publisher’s
Clearing House style. You could
win anywhere between $50 and
$200 in gift cards. Employees
don’t need to be present to win.
As our agency continues
to grow and look forward to a
future of providing assistance
to those without work, a huge
thank you goes
out to all Goodwill
employees for 82
amazing years of
goodwill!
“Friends
of Goodwill,
be dissatisfied
with your work
until every
handicapped
and unfortunate
person in your
community has
an opportunity
to develop to his
fullest usefulness
and enjoy a
maximum of abundant living.”
- Edgar J. Helms
TOTAL ROUND IT UP TRANSACTIONS
121,636
OUT
OF
TOTAL STORE TRANSACTIONS
1,226,095
Excellent job retail! You have raised
$44,429.87
January 1, 2015 OCTOBER 25, 2015
to support Goodwill’s mission!
ROUND IT UP 7
THE BIG 10 WITH BRENT KOSTER
T
his month we have ten
special questions for
Goodwill’s Director of Planning
and Business Development Brent
Koster.
1. What do you do at
Goodwill?
I work on strategic planning
and business plans. I work in
Marketing, so I handle marketing
requests, but I also help support
business development and
commercial services.
2. What brought you to
Goodwill?
I was working in the mental
health field and I saw an ad
that Goodwill was hiring for the
Employment First program and so
I decided to do something a little
different.
3. What brought you to
Omaha?
I was living in Seattle, but my
grandma was sick. I was planning
on moving to Omaha briefly to
care for her, but she lived another
Brent Koster.
by Rebecca Armstrong Langle
ten years. Then I met my wife and
I decided not to leave.
4. If you weren’t doing your
current job, what would you be
doing?
I think I’d be a high school
teacher.
5. Describe a typical Brent
Koster lunch.
Very meat-oriented. Usually
some sort of processed meat
and processed cheese. I could
eat a piece of bologna wrapped
in a piece of American cheese
repeated about six times. Or half
of a summer sausage with spray
cheese on it.
6. What are you going to
be for Halloween?
I’m going to be a hot dog with
a cowboy hat and a sheriff badge.
The Lone Wiener.
7. What would be your
ideal day off work?
Probably doing a heap of
home improvement projects in the
house. When I turned 40 I did 40
home improvement projects.
8. Describe your current
feelings on sports.
I’m in the process of possibly
rescinding my football fandom in
favor of 100% NBA fandom. I like
the Cavs and I like the Clippers.
9. Tell us about the theory
of relativity.
The closer you get to the
speed of sound, time slows
down... or does it speed up?
Like it’s a time and speed? Uh,
the closer you, I wanna say that.
So, if I’m on the ground and you
take off and you get closer to the
speed of sound, you age much
slower than I will. So you’ll come
back I’d be 120 and you’d be like
30. I think that’s it. It’s like time in
a fourth dimension.
10. How is Goodwill doing?
Goodwill is doing fine. This is an
exciting era for us. There are a lot
of new things happening and it’s
cool to see it all playing out.
Rita Crum as ketchup, Brent Koster as a hot dog and former employee Dani McPherson as mustard.
8 THE BIG 10 • BRENT KOSTER
GOODWILL OLYMPICS UPDATE
O
n September 30, the
Wellness Team kicked off
the 2015 Goodwill Olympics in
place of the Fall Fitness Challenge.
The first event, the Desk Chair
Sprint, consisted of team members
pushing each other through an
obstacle course.
Team F.I.S.T took first place
with a whopping 25.44 seconds,
followed by Average Will in second
place with 27.61 seconds and
Superheroes in Training in third
place with 29.43 seconds.
Over the last few weeks, the
competition became intense with
teams pushing for the top spots.
Team Average Will took the
lead during event number two,
the Mental Challenge Trivia with
a perfect score of 10 points and
Team Unicorn!!! came in second
with 10 points also, while team
First Class or No Class trailed in in
third place with 8.5 points.
Event number three, Rubber
Band Archery was a little tougher
however, Average Will maintained
the top spot with a score of 18
points, followed by The GoodWheels in second place with 14
points, and First Class or No Class
in third place with 11 points.
The teams are finishing up
week four with the Pedometer
Challenge where team members
are counting their steps for a week.
The Olympics will conclude on
October 28 right before Town Hall
with the final event, the Coffee
Mug Relay. The winning team will
be announced during Town Hall.
Stay tuned in and help us celebrate
our Olympics champions!
by Benane Akurkuch
Thanks to olympians Derek Fiala and Miriam Blair, this action shot shows the level of intensity during the
chair relay held at Benson Park after the September Town Hall.
Team Dodge Street Ninjas gathers for a group photo after the chair relay.
WELLNESS 9
NEWS FROM SHOPGOODWILL.COM
L
ast month, the e-commerce
department earned
specialty store of the month
honors on the strength and quality
of the items delivered to us by our
retail stores. We’re proud of the
achievement and equally proud
of the great relationship
that we have with the
retail staff at our stores.
Inside the ROC, our
GoodBytes, recycling
and Wearhouse staff
are also keenly aware of
the items of significant
value they encounter.
September’s top item
from ShopGoodwill
came from James
Coggins, manager
of GoodBytes. He
approached me one day with
a Rockman Sustainor equalizer
he came across, knowing that
it would be of greater value to
the agency listed on our website
versus being put on the shelf in
his retail store. It was an expensive
piece of electronic musical
equipment that he researched
online before learning of its
general market value.
“When you see something
like that you just know that it’s
something,” he explained. “If
you take the time to research
something like that and see what
people are actually paying for
it instead of what they’re simply
asking for it, it’s easy to see where
THANKS FOR A “HAPPY” TEN YEARS
F
or more than 10 years Hal “Happy” Miller has hauled,
delivered and transported donations for Goodwill. As
a CDL driver for the Retail Operations Division, Happy has
become a staple here at the organization. He can change
out a cab in record time, he can navigate donation cages
like a wiz and he can back into a loading dock with his
eyes closed. (Not that he does that or anything). And his
nickname, Happy, says it all. He’s always got a smile on his
face with thoughts of his motorcycle on his mind. At the end
of October, Happy will be retiring from Goodwill. He and
his wife plan on packing up and moving down south after
the first of the year. We’ll miss his infectious laugh and no
nonsense attitude. Good luck Happy!
10 SHOPGOODWILL • SPECIAL THANKS
by Andy Glenn
it should go and where it would
have the best chance of selling for
its full value.”
The equipment sold for $301
(even more than what similar
pieces were selling for on eBay)
and is a great example of being
a good steward with
the donations that
we receive from the
communities we serve.
Of course, not
every donation will
sell for hundreds of
dollars but it’s fantastic
to see the knowledge
and experience that
our staff have used
to translate sales into
greater revenue for
the agency. We’re
thankful for James’ extra effort
and his selfless contribution to
e-commerce. Congratulations to
the GoodBytes team – we hope
to see your name at the top of our
list again soon!
YEARS OF SERVICE
NOVEMBER 2015
CONGRATULATIONS! Thank you for your years of service, we look forward to many more!
21
William Fenner
Offutt
4
Kathleen Parr
Offutt
20
Robert May, Jr.
Papillion
4
Nicole Raymer
72nd & F
14
Manuel Santiago
Offutt
4
Drew Stoller
78th & Dodge
13
Rockie Smith
Papillion
4
Tanner Veik
Reserve99
11
Brent Koster
Stratcom
3
Leticia Geran
Bellevue
10
Zinhoue Legonou
Bellevue
3
Desiree Juelfs
Bellevue
8
Natalie Sieben
78th & Dodge
3
Sandra Romero
Zorinsky
7
Michael Browning
Lincoln
3
Michael Slayden
Benson Park Plaza
7
Levorn Murphy
72nd & F
2
Amy Burk
Lincoln
7
Bradly Nelson
Benson Park Store
2
Raven Conley
72nd & F
6
Jennifer Croudy
Benson Park Store
2
Sheri Hirsh
72nd & F
6
Myles Grefe
West Center
1
Christine Butler
72nd & F
6
Derek Zbylut
Bellevue
1
Rayven Foster
Fremont
5
Matthew Estabrook
West Center
1
Karl Hansen
Southwest
4
Andra Bender
Fremont
1
William Kuhl
180th & Q
4
Joseph Carver II
VA
1
Miles Martin
Benson Park Plaza
4
Kirk Judds
78th & Dodge
1
Feliciana Martinez
Benson Park Plaza
4
John Klauschie
Stratcom
1
De'Shaun Morrison
Postal 2
4
Katherine MacDonald
Lincoln
1
Wayne Van Eperen
Offutt
4
Benny Marks IV
78th & Dodge
1
Roy Williams
Harris Center
4
Donald McPherson
78th & Dodge
YEARS OF SERVICE 11
MEET YOUTHBUILD USA TEACHER FELLOW MICHAEL ANDERSON
G
oodwill’s YouthBuild Omaha the information from the past and
is proud to recognize
applies it to the resources of the
Michael Anderson as one of the
future.
newest member of the
YouthBuild USA 2015-16
Teacher Fellows program.
YouthBuild USA
Teacher Fellows initiative
is a one-year learning
community of YouthBuild
classroom teachers.
The initiative is
dedicated to supporting
teachers in the broader
YouthBuild network while
improving their own
practice through peerto-peer feedback and
professional development.
Each year, Fellows
Michael Anderson looking for the correct answer from YouthBuilders.
attend retreats to
learn new instructional
approaches while
documenting lesson plans
and classroom activities
which are featured on
the Education Resource
Hub. Fellows also plan
and lead the Instructional
Leadership Institute,
YouthBuild USA’s annual
education conference.
Michael Anderson is a
great educational leader.
He knows how to reach a
variety of people in many
different ways. Michael is
resourceful and open to
Michael Anderson
new ideas.
Teachers also need to know
Everyone benefits from this
how to use the resources they
type of leadership mentality. The
have to the best of their ability.
best teachers make it a point to
A good teacher does not get set
lead by example, Michael does
in his or her own way, but takes
this, and not simply by words. It is
12 YOUTHBUILD
by Norman Barnes
easy to spell out rules and dictate
them from an ivory tower. More
than likely, however, this type of
teacher will not have a
large impact on their
students.
If a teacher wants
everyone to speak kindly
to one another in the
classroom, the teacher
has to make an effort to
always speak kindly as
well. If a teacher wants
students to show one
another respect, then he
or she must show them
what being respectful is
all about.
Michael is very good
with this method. It is
effective, powerful, and
helps to teach students
an important life lesson.
Above all, you must have
a belief in the system
and the students they are
teaching. If a teacher
does not believe the
students can do it, then
everyone is doomed to
failure.
There has to be an
inherent belief in what the
educational program is
trying to accomplish every
day. Without a teacher
who is also a believer, the
students will likely suffer
from low morale. People
will not be motivated to make the
change.
Michael Anderson strives to be
the best leader of his classrooms,
and he teaches students how to
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1
Nolan Windom
Madison
14
Frank McGree
Benson Park Plaza
1
Tashana Barrios
Benson Park Plaza
14
Jeani Craft
Blair
1
Finness Myers
Harris Center
15
Robert Popejoy
72nd & F
4
Irmgard Uhlenkamp
Stratcom
15
Ivory Brown
72nd & F
4
Daniel Abels
156th & Maple
15
Cheryl Czerwinski
Ames Plaza
5
Jeremy Lange
Grand Island
15
Andre Miller Jr
Benson Park Store
7
Brett Gulbrandson
156th & Maple
16
Dulce Flores Espinoza
Offutt
8
Paul Fischbach
VA
16
Aaron Kastl
Lincoln
8
Ramon Garibay
Lincoln
16
Rita Crum
Benson Park Plaza
9
Steven Hembree
Madison
19
Kevin Brown
VA
9
Kara Horrell
180th & Q
20
Bobby Marion
72nd & F
10
Shanita Dixon
Ames Plaza
20
Patricia Jimenez
156th & Maple
10
Scott Ragle
156th & Maple
21
John Hurley
72nd & F
10
Paw Moo
78th & Dodge
22
Rebecka Munoz
South Papio
10
Maryann Slack
Ames Plaza
24
Tammy Quick
Ames Plaza
11
Michael Beaver
Lincoln
25
Richard Hansen
72nd & F
12
Holly McElhatton
Ames Plaza
25
Ronald Nocita
Bellevue
12
Andra Bender
78th & Dodge
26
Claude Mathews
78th & Dodge
12
Jana Dye
Ames Plaza
29
Kenneth Holloway Sr
72nd & F
12
Terri Gibilisco
West Center
29
Carolyn Hardin
South Papio
13
Edgar Romero Oropeza Papillion
30
Thelma Pugh
Papillion
13
Noemi Mendoza
Madison
30
Anita Nelson
Harris Center
13
Sonja Troutman-Biller
West Center
30
John Herman
Lincoln
14
Justin McDowell
Stratcom
30
Nichala Lenczowski
Harris Center
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS 13
MANAGER
QUARTER
OF THE
In the past few months, the
Zorinsky building contract has
undergone major changes. The
biggest of these changes has
been transitioning Contract
Manager Diane Cich to the
AbilityOne senior project
manager position. During this
time, there has been extra
work and duties for all Zorinsky
workers. No one has hesitated
to pick up these duties, but one
employee has really shined.
Loutissia Yarbrough is always
up for helping Diane and the
whole Zorinsky crew. This is why
she was named the manager of
the quarter in September.
“Her flexibility and humor
at work keeps our team positive
and bonds the staff together
when things are tough,” says
Diane.
Loutissia says she enjoys
working at Goodwill because
of the people she gets to work
with and the customers she
serves. As an example, in March,
Loutissia was laying ice melt on
the sidewalks at the Zorinsky
building. As she was working,
Loutissia noticed a tenant from
the building was having a lot of
trouble traversing the icy walk
way, even with his cane.
Loutissia asked the man
if she could help him. He
immediately accepted her
offer. She let the tenant use her
shoulder for more balance and
walked him across the street, all
the way to his car.
The man told Loutissia
that she was an angel, and he
continues to thank her every day.
This is just one instance of how
Loutissia cares for employees
and customers each and every
day.
“She has a smile and laugh
that many employees find
comfort in, making their work
environment one of support and
positivity,” says Diane.
“The relationships she holds
by Rebecca Armstrong Langle
with our employees and tenants
are truly magnificent and meets
our mission not only within our
staff but to the public.”
Loutissia is always hard
working, even surprising her
manager with taking the initiative
to learn the complicated
floor care machines. Tenants,
staff, and General Service
Administration(GSA) (who
administers our contract)
love her. She has consistently
demonstrated a commitment
to excellence in her dedication
to Goodwill and in her work
providing high quality custodial
services to GSA and tenants.
When not at Goodwill,
Loutissia enjoys shopping
and fishing. You can find
her catching bass at Lake
Cunningham, Carter Lake, and
N.P. Dodge Park.
Thanks for your hard work,
Loutissia. Congratulations!
Manager of the Quarter, Loutissia Yarbrough (left) and Project Manager Diane Cich.
14 MANAGER OF THE QUARTER
PARTICIPANT
OF THE
QUARTER
Michael Graham’s
teenage years were not easy.
He experienced bouts of
homelessness and was a high
school dropout.
“My life was horrible,” said
Graham. “I was just sitting
around wasting time. I couldn’t
Participant of the Quarter Michael Graham.
keep a job.”
It was a radio ad for
Goodwill’s YouthBuild program
that encouraged him to apply.
While he wasn’t completely
convinced the program would
be a good fit, Graham enrolled
anyway. After two weeks of
by Rita Crum
probationary mental toughness
exercises, Graham knew
YouthBuild was for him. He was
finally going to receive the help
and support he needed to find a
better place in his life.
Shortly afterwards, Graham
made some bad decisions. He
was convicted of a felony and
was incarcerated. For the next
two months, Graham sat in
his cell, thinking about how he
ruined his chance of changing
his life. But the YouthBuild staff
didn’t give up on him. They
helped Graham work through
the corrections system, keeping
him on track to be released
on time. Graham was able to
re-enroll in YouthBuild, and in
just one month he passed his
required GED tests.
According to YouthBuild
Manager Norman Barnes,
Graham continues to strive for
success. “Michael has served as
a role model to other Youthbuild
participants in the current
class. He continues to provide
leadership while involved in the
follow-up process.”
Currently, Graham is taking
classes at Metro Community
College and working a full-time
job that Goodwill helped him
secure. He hopes to become a
counselor and work with atrisk youth. Without Goodwill,
Graham doesn’t know where
he’d be.
“I wish every person who is
struggling like I did could have
Goodwill. They made a big
impact in my life,” said Graham.
PARTICIPANT OF THE QUARTER 15
THERMOSTAT OR THERMOMETER?
A
by Miriam Blair
re you a thermostat or are
you a thermometer?
Let’s define them both.
Thermostats are used to regulate
the environment. If the room is
too cold we turn the thermostat
up, if the room is too hot we
turn the thermostat down.
Now let’s turn our attention to
thermometers. Thermometers
measure the temperature; a
thermometer placed in a room
would go up and down according
to the temperature set by the
thermostat, it has no choice but to
adjust. How does that translate to
the workplace?
Everyone has arrived to work,
at one time or another, with a
‘happy to be here’ attitude. No
surprises on the way to work, the
stoplights seemed to cooperate;
you caught a quick glance at a
smiling face that was pleased
to see you as you darted to the
timeclock; you’ve got pep in
your step. You’re all settled at
your work space “humming right
along” and then
(cue scary music)
Negative Nancy
enters the room.
“These
customers are
so rude! Why is
he so slow? The
manager never
listens to us! I hate
working with her!
Why is the weather
man always wrong!
The grass isn’t
green; it’s emerald
what a moron!”
Ten minutes later you realize
you’ve been ZAPPED! Nancy’s
barrage of complaints has taken
hold. You hear yourself first
agreeing then adding to her
endless list of grievances. What
just happened? Nancy acted as a
thermostat and when she entered
your workspace you became a
thermometer. You allowed your
attitude to adjust to Nancy’s
poor attitude. Nancy came to
work miserable and now you’re
miserable.
We’ve also had the same
experience work quite the
opposite. You drag yourself out
of bed, grasping for the meaning
of life, everything that could go
wrong, does! The dog decided
to be overly adventurous this
morning making you late leaving
for work, you move at a snail’s
pace due to a traffic accident and
first thing you hear when you enter
the store is “we’re going to be
short again today”.
To which you respond (in your
Photo Credit: Google Images
16 ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Eeyore voice) “short again”.
Then Cheerful Charlie walks
in. “Isn’t it a beautiful day? I
heard there are a couple of
interviews today; we’ll be fully
staffed in no time. This is going
to be a record-breaking day I can
feel it, store of the month is ours!”
Without warning, your hands
are moving faster, your mind is
thinking up new ideas for the
jewelry counter and you can’t wait
to greet the next customer! You’ve
been ZAPPED!
Charlie’s positive attitude
acted as a thermostat and when
he entered the workspace you
became a thermometer. Your
attitude adjusted to Charlie’s
positive attitude.
In both of these scenarios you
were the thermometer. Imagine
the impact we would have on our
co-workers, customers, managers
and the bottom line, if we were all
POSITIVE thermostats!
COOLING OFF WITH ECREAMMERY
O
n October 1, we kicked
off our eCreamery Ice
Cream and Gelato partnership
with an ice cream social. All day,
10 percent of sales were given
back to Goodwill, supporting
our YouthBuild program. For
two hours, employees were
invited to eCreamery to hang out
with coworkers and enjoy some
delicious ice cream.
by Elizabeth Donner
Goodwill’s marketing
department set up a booth and
made bags out of old tshirts
for employees and eCreamery
customers. These bags help to
show off our recycling efforts,
and demonstrate how something
that’s no longer wanted can be
repurposed into an entirely new
use.
Throughout the month of
October, Goodwill Crunching
(sea salt caramel ice cream
with caramel swirls and heath
bard pieces) was available for
purchase. With each pint sold,
YouthBuild’s program received
another dollar towards their
operating budget.
Thank you for all the support
during this partnership. We
couldn’t do it without you!
Left to Right: Kay Hilgenkamp, Shannon McGree, Rose Sloderbeck and Janelle
Ellis stop in to support the mission.
Work Experience staff gather around to chat about how delicious Goodwill
Crunching is.
Alyssa Beebe and Cadice Brown join Mr. & Mrs. Goodwill Crunching at a table
inside of eCreammery.
Marketing & Development had a table at the event to share information about
Goodwill’s mission to the eCreammery visitors.
eCreammery 17
Work Experience Trainer Jake Pedersen thinks Bellevue’s Goodwill is #1 with his students, Cassie
Parriott, John Adkins & Trevor O’Neill.
At the ROC, Work Experience Trainer Patricia Oltman hosted State Senator Heath Mello, Federal
Contracts Director Tobi Mathouser, OPS Transition Coordinator Shana Frodyma, Vice President of
Education & Training Linda Kizzier, and City Councilman Garry Gernandt.
Mayor Jim Realph enjoyed the food and conversation with Blair’s Work Experience teachers, parents
and students.
Blair Work Experience participants Terri Points & Evan Fowler were all smiles.
Ability One Project Manager Diane Cich, OPS Superintendent Mark Evans, Work Experience
Manager Holly Schwietz, Benson Park Plaza production staff Keired McConico & Work Experience
trainer Steve Andrews entertained at Benson Park Plaza.
Work Experience Trainer Andrea Ray with two of her students at the Fremont Goodwill, Jon Hancock
and Sophie Dowty.
18 WHAT' S HAPPENING
Vice President of Federal Contracts Todd Milbrandt serves as the Board Chair for Uta Halle. They
recently planted trees with the young women who reside there. Just one more way that Goodwill
employees are involved in the community around us.
Happy Miller, Jon Druskis and Mike Browning stop for a group photo while trying to
stay dry at the October 23 Drive for Drives.
Work Experience Manager Holly Schwietz, Senior HR & QA Director LaRonda Birch and President &
CEO Frank McGree hold up a celebratroy cake for completing this years CARF survey. Our CARF
accredidation is reviewed every three years.
VA Grounds crew members Paul Fischbach, Bobby Lucero, Jr. and Hal Perry take a
break for a group photo.
Clothing Processor Terri Gibilisco is honored at Town Hall by manager Desiree Juelfs.
Terri has worked with Goodwill for 30 years. They work at the West Center retail store.
Goodwill President & CEO Frank McGree talks about Goodwill during our volunteer
appreciation event at Think Primary Care.
WHAT' S HAPPENING 19
1
8
SUNDAY
15
22
29
2
9
16
23
30
MONDAY
3
WEDNESDAY
4
8:30 Leadership
Meeting
THURSDAY
6
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
7
14
7:00 First Friday
Breakfast
13
12:00 Toastmasters
12
8:30 Executive Staff
Meeting
21
28
20
4:00 Team BLUE
Happy Hour
26
19
8:30 Retail Monthly
Managers Meeting
18
8:30 Leadership
Meeting
9:30 Town Hall at
Benson Park
25
27
Headquarters
Closed
11
5
NOVEMBER 2015
TUESDAY
10
7:30 Council
Bluffs Chamber
Coffee and
Contacts –
Madison Store
12:00 Retail Job
Fair at Benson
Park
17
12:00 Board
Meeting
24
Happy
Thanksgiving
Stores Closed
8:30 Executive Staff
Meeting
Retail Stores Close
@ 5 p.m.
20