Goodwill of North Georgia Archives

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

July 27, 2022 by John Ray

North Fulton Studio

Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia

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Keith Parker, Goodwill of North Georgia (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 77)

Keith Parker, President and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, joined host Kali Boatright to share the tremendous work his organization performs for jobseekers securing employment. Keith shared Goodwill success stories, their specific work in North Fulton, his career journey, which includes a five year stint as CEO of MARTA, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Goodwill of North Georgia

At Goodwill of North Georgia, their mission is a simple one: they put people to work.

Every day, thousands of men and women face barriers that make it difficult for them to find work and earn a paycheck to support their families. Sometimes it’s lack of training or education, limited job skills, or a disability. But with the support of donors and shoppers like you, Goodwill overcomes those barriers.

At career centers throughout North Georgia, Goodwill offers job-search resources, helps with writing a professional résumé and cover letter, provides access to employment opportunities, delivers hands-on skill training, and so much more.

They provide access to important job search resources like computers, résumé writing tools, local job listings, telephones, and photocopiers. They also host regular recruiting events, employment seminars, and even offer software training. As an extension of their career center services, they launched Career Connector powered by Goodwill of North Georgia, a site that allows you to register online and access job search resources from anywhere.

Their training programs prepare people for careers in a wide array of fields such as retail, financial services, floor technology, healthcare, traditional and green construction, forklift operations, and more.

Think about Goodwill and the good they do the next time you’re deciding what to do with your gently used goods, or even when you’re about to go treasure hunting for a bargain. If you’d like to help them improve our communities, strengthen families, and energize the economy, they welcome your donations and invite you to visit their stores.

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Keith Parker, President and CEO, Goodwill of North Georgia

Keith T. Parker is president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Goodwill of North Georgia. One of the largest nonprofit organizations in the southeast, Goodwill spans a 45-county territory, operating 60 stores, 58 donation centers, and 13 career centers. Goodwill employs nearly 3,000 people, each of whom plays a direct or supporting role in the organization’s donated goods retail operations and its career services. Annually, Goodwill collects upwards of 2.5 million donations and serves more than 7 million shoppers. Through the revenue generated in its stores, the organization is able to connect tens of thousands of North Georgians to jobs each year. Parker took the helm at Goodwill of North Georgia in October 2017. Prior to transitioning into his leadership role at Goodwill, Parker has served as CEO of the largest transit systems in several cities, including San Antonio, Charlotte and most recently, Atlanta.

Throughout his career, Parker has received numerous awards and accolades for his work as an organizational leader and transportation visionary. He won Texas CEO of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012. He was recognized as the nation’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) in 2015. METRO Magazine named Parker as one of its 20 Most Influential People of the Decade. In 2016, Parker was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). In November the same year, he was named one of eight Public Officials of the Year by Governing magazine. In August 2017, Parker was selected as one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs by Atlanta Business Chronicle.

A native of Petersburg, Virginia, Parker was appointed to the Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors by Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2016. Parker received VCU’s Alumni Star Award in 2015.

Parker served on the board of directors for Goodwill of San Antonio and Goodwill of North Georgia. He remains active and engaged in civic and charitable organizations, including service on various national and local boards of directors – such as Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, National Infrastructure Advisory Council, The Eno Center for Transportation, Park Over Georgia 400 Steering Committee, Virginia Commonwealth University Board of Visitors, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems Board of Directors, Grande West Board of Directors and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Parker holds an MBA from the University of Richmond, as well as a Master of Urban and Regional Planning and a BA in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Workforce Development

October 14, 2021 by Mike

Giving Back To Gwinnett

Workforce Development

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Brian White, Jace Brooks, Alicia Battle and Heather Loveridge

Jace Brooks/Director, Better Work Gwinnett

Better Work Gwinnett began as part of the Gwinnett Cares initiative and the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s Hiring Well, Doing Good initiative. The goal is to foster a local solution that supports business efforts to find workers while doing good in the community.

Brian White/Director of Community Engagement, First Step Staffing

First Step Staffing is committed to providing its employees extensive training, meticulous support, and community reinvestment to provide you with the skilled and qualified employees you need. First Step Staffing strikes an expert balance between business success and giving back. In fact, they leverage their staffing savvy in order to create social change. That’s what earned them a reputation for high-quality service and dedicated, talented employees.

Alicia Battle/Director of Workforce Development, Goodwill of North Georgia

At Goodwill of North Georgia, the mission is a simple one: put people to work. Every day, thousands of men and women face barriers that make it difficult for them to find work and earn a paycheck to support their families. Sometimes it’s lack of training or education, limited job skills, or a disability. But with the support of donors and shoppers like you, Goodwill of North Georgia overcomes those barriers.

Think about Goodwill and the good they do the next time you’re deciding what to do with your gently used goods, or even when you’re about to go treasure hunting for a bargain. If you’d like to help them improve communities, strengthen families, and energize the economy, they welcome your donations and invite you to visit their stores.

Host: Heather Loveridge/Magnolia Media Group

At the heart of marketing is great storytelling – and that’s what they do at Magnolia Media Group. Whether it’s through social media, e-newsletters, websites, brochures or complete marketing services, they help organizations tell their story.

Giving Back to Gwinnett is presented by:

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: “Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places”

June 18, 2020 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum: "Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places"

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GNFCC North Fulton HR Forum – Pandemic: Changing People, Changing Places (“GNFCC 400 Insider,” Episode 43)

How should human resources professionals re-engage their workforce as the economy reopens? What’s the current pool of available talent look like? Those question and more were addressed in this Forum. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here. This Economic Recovery Forum was jointly presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and Roswell Inc.. The PowerPoint deck associated with this webinar can be found here.

The host of “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is GNFCC CEO Kali Boatright, and the show is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®. Business RadioX is the Media Sponsor for this series of Economic Recovery Forums.

Felton Anderson, Southern Company

Felton Anderson is a coordinator for labor relations for Georgia Power Company, headquartered in Atlanta. In this position, Felton provides strategic consulting and effective solutions to senior management of Georgia Power and leadership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 84 concerning labor and employment issues and plays an integral role in negotiations between the parties.

Felton joined Southern Company in 1994. Felton started her career with Alabama Power Company where her positions in corporate marketing included her Alabama Power United Way campaign roles of chair for marketing and co-chair for Alabama Power’s leadership giving. After leaving Birmingham in 1999, she led the implementation of a Southern Company system-wide uniform program on behalf of human resources for Southern Company Services in Atlanta.

Since 2002, Felton has held various positions of increasing responsibility at Georgia Power in corporate services, marketing, customer service, distribution, and human resources. Felton has been active in leadership development and mentoring programs for Southern Company and in the community. As an alumna of Leadership North Fulton, Felton is currently serving as a 2019-2020 program co-chair for Leadership North Fulton, a program of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce. Felton also serves on the board of directors for the Children’s Development Academy in Roswell.

Felton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama. Felton and her husband, Johnny Herbert, have four sons and live in Milton, Georgia.

Forum Panelists

Matthew S. Harrison, Ph.D., VP of HR, Jackson Healthcare

Matthew S. Harrison, Ph.D. currently works at Jackson Healthcare as Vice President, Human Resources. In this role he is responsible for planning, directing, and overseeing all human resources and administrative service functions for various Jackson Healthcare companies, and leads delivery in the areas of: talent management/acquisition, learning & development, employee relations, performance management, organizational development, change management, job & compensation analysis, HR metrics & reporting, and diversity & inclusion.

Previously, Dr. Harrison served in leadership roles at Mannheim, McKesson, The Weather Channel, and Comcast focusing on talent management/acquisition, learning & development, organizational effectiveness, diversity & inclusion, and HR business partner work.

Dr. Harrison also currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology at The University of Georgia. He is a published diversity researcher, and is renowned for his research on the topic of colorism. His master’s thesis received wide publicity–being featured on websites such as CNN, CNBC, ABC News, was reported in various newspapers and media outlets across the US (and United Kingdom), and received an initial inquiry from an executive producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Dr. Harrison is a graduate of Emory University (B.A.) and The University of Georgia (M.S. & Ph.D.).

Jay Litton, RUMC Job Networking

Jay Litton is an Enterprise Account Executive for Sumo Logic (www.sumologic.com) which is headquartered in Redwood City, CA. Sumo Logic helps large companies proactively find problems in real time with their IT applications, operations and security. The solution is a SaaS, Cloud Native service which helps prevent customer facing mission critical issues and data breaches via machine learning.

Jay has over 35 years of sales/sales management experience working at both start-up and multi-billion dollar companies primarily in the software IT industry.

Jay began his leadership 23 years ago at RUMC Job Networking (www.RUMCjobnetworking.com) in 1997 which was 9 years after the founding of the ministry. Since this time RUMC Job Networking has grown to become one of the largest ministries of its kind in the United States. Hundreds of people are typically on-site and now job seekers attend virtually every second and fourth Mondays through their 11-hour virtual workshop and one-on-one sessions. Jay is also the creator of the WoW! Interview (www.WowInterview.com) and has presented his method in person to over 10,000 people in career transition. RUMC Job Networking has been showcased by ABC’s World News Tonight by Diane Sawyer, The Economist, Atlanta Journal Constitution, WSB-TV, The Wall Street Journal and many other media sources.

Jay has been married to his wife Donna for 37 years and they have three adult children. Jay and Donna have lived in Roswell for 26 years.

Jenny Taylor, VP Career Services, Goodwill of North Georgia

Jenny Taylor is a sought after public speaker on the topics of successful large-scale public/private partnerships, employer engagement, workforce development, and employment outcomes for people with significant barriers. She is Vice President of Career Services at the second largest Goodwill in the nation, leading evidence-based programs with outcomes in the top 10% of the industry, as measured by the National Benchmarking Project.

Her agency has a $175 million dollar budget and operates programs that placed 25,688 people in competitive employment last year.

She holds a Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is a member of the National and Georgia Rehabilitation Associations, and Mensa.

About GNFCC and “The GNFCC 400 Insider”

“The GNFCC 400 Insider” is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806.

For the complete show archive of “The GNFCC 400 Insider,” go to GNFCC400Insider.com. “The GNFCC 400 Insider” is produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

ASTD Special on Nonprofit Training and Community Involvement with Jennifer Williams, Lanous Wright and Cindy Smith

March 22, 2012 by angishields

Atlanta Business Radio

ASTD Special on Nonprofit Training and Community Involvement with Jennifer Williams, Lanous Wright and Cindy Smith

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Today’s show focused on the partnerships that ASTD has developed between Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Goodwill of North Georgia. Nonprofit training and community involvement are two of the missions of the ASTD.

Jennifer Williams/Greater Atlanta Chapter of ASTD

Jennifer is the Vice President of Community Involvement at the Greater Atlanta Chapter of ASTD, American Society for Training and Development. ASTD is the world’s largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. There are 130 U.S. Chapters and members of the ASTD come from over 100 different countries. The Atlanta Chapter is one of the largest in the Country and is thought to be one of the thought leaders with multiple awards.

The Community Involvement group is apart of the ASTD Chapter and is designed to give members the opportunity participate in community involvement activities around the city. The group supports metro Atlanta non-profits with Training & Development resources to increase the workplace readiness skills of their staffs and clients. They have developed partnerships with Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Jennifer is also a Sales Force Effectiveness Trainer at Georgia Pacific. She is responsible for managing the entry-level sales professional new hire onboarding program as well as designing and developing e-learning platforms for external, distributor sales teams.

Lanous Wright/Georgia Center for Nonprofits

Lanous is the Nonprofit University Director at Georgia Center for Nonprofits. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits’ mission is to improve the quality of life by making nonprofits more successful and their vision is to build the country’s highest performing state-focused resource center as well as to position Georgia as a national model for nonprofit excellence and achievement.

Cindy Smith/Designs to Perform

Cindy has been volunteering with the Goodwill of North Georgia for several years now teaching a basic computer skills course. Recently she has helped to join Goodwill of North Georgia and ASTD. She describes their working together as a partnership, seeing as GoodWill’s mission is putting people back to work and ASTD Atlanta’s is about workplace learning and performance, the partnership has worked out very well. Their project is to create more courses for the Goodwill centers. She and her team are currently developing new courses for the Goodwill centers. Looking to sign up and help Cindy go here and check out their project.

In addition to her volunteer work she does instructional design