When ShiAnn Toporski came to Goodwill’s Career Solutions Center in Jackson, Tenn., she was heading into her senior year after changing schools 12+ times in her young life. She couldn’t imagine starting over again, making new friends and meeting new teachers in yet another new...
The Superman belt buckle Chaz Gothard wears is a clue. Whether sweeping the aisles, vacuuming welcome mats or polishing windows, the 38-year-old housekeeping associate at the Cookeville Goodwill store works in an energetic, meticulous way. Pleasant but quiet, he mostly keeps to himself. He’s mild-mannered,...
With 32 years of tenure, Carolyn Franklin is the fourth-longest serving employee at Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Supervisors describe Carolyn as dependable, dedicated and productive. They say she cares deeply about her co-workers and is always on the lookout for ways to help her team. These...
Each year, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee names an Ambassador of the Year — someone for whom Goodwill is not just a store or a nonprofit organization, but more like a way of life. This year, nominations were accepted on social media, and the winner...
Eva Franklin stays so busy helping others, she sometimes fails to consider her own needs. That was the case in April of 2021, when she walked into Goodwill’s Career Solutions Center in Nashville. Over two decades, Eva served as a foster parent to more than 200...
A Goodwill program that prepares promising employees for career advancement did even more for one recent participant — it inspired her to go to college. Mandie Underwood always thought she wanted to be a nurse. But Mandie quit high school in her senior year. Though she...
