Good Vibes
Goodwill Columbus employee newsletter
Helping people build lives of possibility and purpose
Updates from Ryan
Happy July! At our June Management Meeting, we talked again about our ICARE values. We spent time on one big change: we updated the “E” from Excellence to Entrepreneurial. I’d like to explain why this change matters so much.
An entrepreneur is someone who sees a problem and builds a way to solve it. The best entrepreneurs put the customer at the center of everything. As Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said, “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job to make the customer experience better.” That is the mindset we want to bring to Goodwill every single day.
Everyone we serve is a customer. We might not always use that word, but each person who comes through our doors or receives our services is one. Whether we are helping someone find a job, supporting individuals with disabilities, welcoming retail shoppers and donors, or providing cleaning and security services, they are all our customers. They deserve our very best.
When we put our customers first, we make our mission stronger: helping people build lives of possibility and purpose.
Thank you for the entrepreneurial spirit you bring to Goodwill Columbus every day.
Ryan Burgess
President & CEO
Good News
Clean Tech Accelerator Launch & Community Panel
On June 4, Goodwill hosted our first community panel to celebrate the launch of our Clean Tech Accelerator Program! Thank you to everyone who made this event a success.
Feel Good Stuff
Manager Spotlight
Michelle Scott-Reed
Human Resources,
Benefits/Leave of Absence Manager
Customer Service Spotlight
Patrick
Retail, Donation Attendant
“Patrick is so friendly and helpful. He is an asset to Goodwill.”
Keep up the amazing work, Patrick! 😃
Natasha & ADS! 🛼
At Goodwill, true community integration means stepping back and letting the individuals we serve take the wheel. When Natasha, a participant in our Adult Day Services (ADS) program, approached the team with the idea for a group outing, Goodwill provided funding from a community grant—but the rest of the magic belonged entirely to her.
2026 Columbus Pride! 🌈
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Stonewall Columbus Pride March! And a special shoutout to our first Pride committee for your help with organizing!
Integrity
Veronica R.
Nominated by Don M.
Veronica consistently goes above and beyond for the people she serves. She sits in class alongside her Career Fundamentals students, offering support and encouragement every step of the way.
Respect
Kathy R.
Nominated by Amy O.
The presentation you led at the management meeting with your panel of those served was SO well done! It was powerful, organized, mission-focused, and really captivated the audience. Congrats – I am really proud of you!
Entrepreneurial
Jerome D.
Nominated by Jamie K.
When we encountered significant setbacks, Jerome stepped in proactively, demonstrating true ownership and commitment to finding a solution.
ICARE Awards roundup
Each month we are celebrating members of the Goodwill Columbus team for their participation in the ICARE Awards. The June “See Something, Say Something” winners nominated multiple coworkers for an ICARE Award!
Note: Gift cards will be placed in department mailboxes at Grange.
Amy Wassmuth – See Something, Say Something
Jennifer Meadows – See Something, Say Something
Amy Ogden – See Something, Say Something
Chase More
Jim Allen
Paige Porter
Sumaya Abdi
Wayne Davis
Mashala Sheward
Matthew Hall
Georgia Woodland
Samuel Ruiz
Veronica Riley
Anthony Hawkins
Shannon Hill
Wellness
WellWorks
July is National Park and Recreation Month!
Click here to learn more ways you can get involved with the local greens spaces in our community.
Benefits
Do you have questions about Sidecar Health? Ask our Benefits Specialist, Angie Alvera!
For Angie’s contact information and additional Sidecar tips, click here.
Opportunities
Training opportunities
Looking to grow your career? Check out Goodwill’s free job training opportunities.
Job openings
Check out the latest job openings from around Goodwill. Learn more and apply, or refer a coworker.
Events
July 10
Art Showcase at ADS West 🎨
Be sure to support our Goodwill Columbus Art Studio & Gallery artists at their upcoming showcase at ADS West!
July 30
Ohio State Fair Sensory Friendly Day 🎡
Ohioans of all ages can enjoy the rides with no flashing lights or music, visit sensory-friendly educational attractions, and explore many activities in the shade of the Natural Resources Park during Sensory Friendly Day!
When: Thursday, July 30 from 9am – 2pm.
Summer 2026
Summer perks with COTA! ☀️🚌
Summer has arrived! COTA is here to help you get to popular summer destinations at a great price!
This summer, when you ride COTA to the Zoo, enjoy $5 admission to the Zoo or get $10 off at Zoombezi Bay!
Check out more summer perks from COTA below!
Share good news or a shoutout!
Have exciting news or life updates to share? Notice a coworker demonstrating an ICARE value? We want to hear from you! Share good news or nominate a coworker for an ICARE Award so we can feature it in an upcoming Good Vibes.