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This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating the powerful impact of a mother’s encouragement and example – and how it helped shape her son’s future.

Rodney Bey II, now a Personal Banker I at Fifth Third Bank, had always had an interest in pursuing a career in banking, but he didn’t know how to get in from the outside or land an interview. That’s when he saw his mother, Cynthia Bey, step into something new with confidence and curiosity. Cynthia joined Goodwill’s BankWork$ training program after retirement, simply seeking a part-time job. Her ambition, even at a new stage in life, left a deep impression on Rodney.

“She ended up impressing them so much during the class that she was offered a permanent position,” Rodney said. “That was amazing to me.”

Seeing his mom – someone he had long admired for her professional accomplishments – embrace the challenge and learn something new inspired Rodney to follow her lead. Cynthia believed the program was a perfect fit for him, and encouraged him to enroll.

Rodney followed in her footsteps, joining BankWork$ himself. The tuition-free program, offered through Goodwill, equips participants with the tools they need for successful careers in banking, including customer service skills, bank regulations, financial products and cash handling. Cynthia’s support was more than a gentle push – it was the reason Rodney knew the opportunity existed. Her confidence in him gave him the courage to make a change.

“I’ve seen my mom accomplish a lot,” Rodney shared. “It was inspiring to see a woman retiring still be hungry to learn new things. It was even more awesome that she felt it was something suited for me.”

Just two weeks after graduating, both Rodney and Cynthia landed jobs in the banking industry. Now, they’re building financial stability for themselves and helping others do the same. And they’ve returned to the classroom as guest speakers, sharing their story to motivate new BankWork$ students. Rodney is thankful for the opportunity and feels the love this Mother’s Day.

“I’m just grateful to have a wonderful mom like her who is always keeping my best interest at heart and is willing to help me however she can. Her encouragement was very instrumental in seeking a new banking career,” Rodney shared.

Thanks to programs like BankWork$ – made possible by shopping and donating at Goodwill stores and generous financial contributions – families like the Beys are gaining access to new careers and building generational wealth. But this story is also a reminder: sometimes, the best example and cheerleader is Mom.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is centered on a clear purpose: connecting people to opportunities so they can find gainful employment and meaningful work. We believe in building pathways for individuals to enhance their skill sets and achieve more for themselves and their families. Whether it’s through job training programs, job search support services or volunteer and internship opportunities, we’re committed to workforce development that empowers people to grow.

Internships, in particular, offer hands-on experience and exposure to the real-world applications of classroom learning. Just ask Jack Halpern.

This past summer, Jack interned with our Business Intelligence & Data Analytics team while a student at Elon University. His time at Goodwill allowed him to develop professionally while contributing to work that supports our mission.

“My time interning at Goodwill has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the business side of the organization, gain a broader understanding of the impact of their mission, and see firsthand how my studies can align with my passion for nonprofit work,” Jack said.

Liana Humphrey, Director of Strategic Planning at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, has managed several interns, both over the summer months and during the school year, and enjoys coaching and mentoring young people as they figure out their future vocation.

“There are so many different career paths at Goodwill, and in the nonprofit sector more broadly, and many students don’t realize how their skills and education can be applied for the community’s good,” Liana said. “It was rewarding to see Jack make this connection during his time at Goodwill, and we are delighted to support him on his journey toward starting his own analytical consulting firm that serves small businesses and nonprofits.”

Following his internship, Jack shared more exciting news – he was accepted into multiple Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programs, including Florida State, Emory, Wake Forest, and Babson, with scholarships offered at several. He ultimately chose Wake Forest, drawn to its strong curriculum, hands-on learning experiences, and the opportunity to stay in North Carolina. He is grateful for the summer full of new and exciting opportunities that allowed him to further his academic and professional growth.

“I want to extend a big thank you to Liana and her team for having me over the summer and for their invaluable mentoring and support,” Jack said.

Jack’s journey is a powerful example of how internship opportunities at Goodwill can open doors and support individuals in taking meaningful steps toward their futures.

Goodwill offers both volunteer and internship opportunities for those looking to build experience while contributing to a mission-driven organization. Contact us if you’re interested in more information.

The Charlotte region is home to more than 100,000 financial services jobs, and it is the second-largest banking center in the nation. With no other workforce development programs dedicated to the finance industry in the greater Charlotte region, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, in partnership with The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and CareerWork$, expanded its training division to offer the BankWork$® program in Fall 2023.

Since its launch, the nonprofit has helped 42 participants from four cohorts achieve employment, 30 of those jobs in the banking industry. Financial institutions such as Bank OZK are helping the nonprofit work toward its bold vision of providing meaningful employment to 15,000 individuals by 2029, and together the organizations are creating a new talent pipeline to address the critical issue of economic mobility in the Charlotte region.

“In today’s employment landscape, staffing continues to pose challenges for employers. Our partnership with Goodwill has been very beneficial to Bank OZK as Goodwill trains participants on essential skills like relationship building, problem solving, identifying customer needs, developing the ability to engage customers effectively, as well as promoting and selling bank products and services,” said Cathy Bonner, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Outreach Programs at Bank OZK.

BankWork$ is an eight-week intensive workforce services program delivered by Goodwill that gives people the skills, access and coaching needed to succeed and grow in banking careers—from understanding the financial services workplace to bank regulations, bank products, cash handling, and processing customer transactions. Graduates are prepared for roles such as: Associate Banker, Branch Banker, Client Services Representative, Lead Teller, Member Service Consultant, Personal Banker, Relationship Banker, Teller, and Call Center Representative.

“BankWork$ and our great relationship with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has played an instrumental role in helping us identify diverse, qualified talent in our North Carolina Retail Division led by Division President Shirley Edmond. BankWork$ prepares students well, making them immediately ready for a career in banking,” Bonner explained.

To date, four BankWork$ graduates have been hired by Bank OZK and work at their Belmont, Bessemer City, Cornelius and Landis banking centers. The bank anticipates hiring more graduates and is already eyeing participants from the fifth cohort, which ended in early November.

While the priority is to help community members access meaningful jobs, the partnership goes far beyond employment. Bank OZK has become an intricate part of the curriculum in the classroom and lends their industry insight to participants as needed.

“Bank OZK provides our expertise by facilitating classroom instruction and participating in mock interviews for each cohort class,” Bonner said. “Each completed cohort produces participants that are ready and prepared for careers in banking. Bank OZK prides itself on delivering exceptional customer service, and the talent we have sourced through Goodwill has certainly strengthened our team.”

Kenya Cunningham works as a Customer Banking Relationship Specialist for Bank OZK, a job she was able to land less than two months after graduating from the inaugural BankWork$ program.

“Goodwill is the place where you can turn your life around in a few weeks. You can go from, like myself, below poverty level to now middle-class income,” Cunningham stated during her graduation speech in January 2024 after starting with Bank OZK.

Tuition-free training programs like BankWork$ are available to the community, thanks to shopping and donating at Goodwill’s 36 retail locations and more than 40 donation sites, in addition to critical philanthropic contributions from corporations and community members. Success isn’t achieved alone, which is why Goodwill encourages partnership and collaboration to help community members advance their careers, and improve their lives.  

“We envision a community where equitable access to career opportunities is available for all,” said Chris Jackson, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “We recognize that skilled training is an essential part of helping to build our growing city, and we cannot achieve this work alone. Bank OZK’s partnership is critical in supporting our mission and providing economic stability to individuals in the Charlotte region.”

Bonner echoes that sentiment and encourages other financial institutions to learn about the BankWork$ program and find a way to get involved.

“Banks can support Goodwill’s mission by participating in Goodwill programs, offering job training and placement services for Goodwill participants through partnerships, promoting Goodwill’s programs to their customers, and hiring Goodwill graduates. This ultimately contributes to a more inclusive and thriving local economy by helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and achieve financial stability,” she said.

If you would like to support the BankWork$ program, or other career services and programs offered by Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont, you can email Clarence Scott, director of GoodWork Staffing & Employer Engagement at Clarence.Scott@goodwillsp.org.

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont has relocated its Gastonia Career and Employment Center. The new location, in downtown Gastonia at 359 W Main Ave., is a one-stop opportunity for job seekers to access stability services, resume writing and job search support; engage in tuition-free job training programs; and access local employment opportunities through the organization’s nonprofit staffing company, GoodWork Staffing. Moving downtown from its previous location on Armstrong Street will provide Gaston County residents easier access to Goodwill’s impactful services. 

“Through everything we do at Goodwill, we aim to help people see possibilities, seize opportunities and prosper,” said Chris Jackson, President & CEO, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “In 2023, we helped more than 950 people advance their lives in Gaston County through our career center services and GoodWork Staffing. That’s why we’re happy to invest in this community by providing a larger and more accessible space, with more resources and services for people to advance their careers and improve their lives.”  

The nonprofit will formally announce the relocation of its Gastonia Career and Employment Center during a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 9 a.m. Attendees of the grand opening event will have the option to tour the new facility, take advantage of resume building and job search services, learn about upcoming workshops, watch a live demonstration of virtual reality software used in construction career training, and enter a raffle to win a laptop.  

Many people know Goodwill for its stores, but it’s the nonprofit’s mission to help people build pathways to pursue the life they want to achieve. Services offered at Career and Employment Centers (in Gastonia and Charlotte) are provided free of charge, thanks to donations and shopping at its 36 retail stores and more than 40 donation sites in the region. 

The new and larger space allows the nonprofit to expand its course offerings and services to the Gaston County community. The Gastonia Career and Employment Center also allows more space and convenient access for Goodwill to bring together nonprofits, government agencies, hiring businesses and the community to support workforce development and continue to work together to increase access to opportunity in Gaston County. 

“Expanding our training courses in Gaston County will not only allow us to serve more people but provide new career opportunities to the people in the Gaston community,” said Liz Romero, Director of Regional Services, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “This larger space provides a place for partners to be on site, host hiring events, enroll more people in classes and meet the needs of our participants in this community by providing more resources to them through our Goodwill offerings and partnering with established and trusted organizations within the county.” 

The new Career and Employment Center will create a more open and flexible environment, where innovation and learning can thrive, and participants can experience a modern and welcoming workspace, reminiscent of today’s work environment. Features include: 

Starting 2025, the Gastonia Career and Employment Center will begin offering:  

Additionally, every Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., DSS will be on-site at the Gastonia Career and Employment Center to help with applications for assistance with food, childcare, Medicaid, utilities, and unemployment.

At the Goodwill Construction & Skills Training Center, thousands of participants have taken tuition-free courses in Construction Basics, HVAC, Electrical, Commercial Carpentry, Blueprint Reading & Estimating and more. In 2023, 537 participants graduated from the program. 

The training center, lovingly nicknamed the “Trade School,” has built up an alumni network that envies those of schools or universities. After finishing training programs, former participants stay connected with each other, their Career Navigators and the team at the training center. 

Several alumni have had a special opportunity to pour back into participants by becoming teaching assistants (TAs) for the Construction Basics course. This idea formed from the growth the construction center has experienced over the last year. 

“Our numbers were growing last year, and we needed to find a better pipeline of talent,” explains Marvin Kelley, Director of Construction & Trade Training. “We came up with the idea to reach back into our talent pool and train up graduates who completed the program, were working, and were doing well.” 

Employing previous graduates has provided a unique perspective that allows Goodwill participants to gain knowledge from someone who has already taken the course and see what avenues they can take after finishing their coursework. 

“It makes a difference with the students, because you can see a professional that went through the same classes you’re going through and see the progress in real form,” shares Destiney, a residential maintenance technician. “Me being there is like a daily reminder [that] you can be successful after this.” 

“I love watching the growth from day one to the final day,” adds Charlie, a foreman in training who assists with Construction Basics and Carpentry courses. 

In addition to the knowledge of the training courses, some TAs are able to pay it forward by being an advocate for Goodwill participants at their own companies. 

“I tell them, ‘My company that Goodwill hooked me up with is hiring soon. I’ve worked with you for the last eight weeks; I know you work really hard and you’re eager to learn. Send me your resumes, and I’ll forward them up the chain,’” Charlie explains. 

The TAs are helping develop future professionals in construction, while also developing themselves at the same time. 

“This is a big step for me,” states Andre, a maintenance technician who received a promotion to supervisor after completing his courses at Goodwill. “[At work], I was seeing it in real life and then bringing it back and sharing new ways on how to problem solve. I guess I stood out from that.” 

“It helped me become a better professional,” Destiney emphasizes. “I gave it a try, and I enjoy it more than I thought I would.” 

At Goodwill, our mission is to help people build pathways that help people pursue the life they want to achieve. The Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center is helping build pathways both in class and beyond. 

“It’s really a full circle moment,” says Marvin. “[Just a few years ago], Destiney came through the program and was excited to go to her first job. In class, she was shy, and now, to see the energy around her ability to communicate with the students, it’s super fulfilling.” 

If you’d like to contribute to funding Goodwill’s tuition-free programs and services, consider dropping off your gently used donations at one of our locations or making a financial contribution. 

ABOUT THE CENTER

We’re opening a new Career & Employment Center in Gastonia! The new center, which is located at 359 W. Main Avenue, will open to the public on Monday, November 4.

Goodwill’s new Gastonia Career & Employment Center not only supports economic growth detailed in Gaston County’s 2040 vision, but the new and larger space will allow us to expand our program and service offerings. Here are just a few things job seekers can expect when visiting the new center:

If you need help finding a job, learning new skills or figuring out your next career move, we hope you’ll stop by our new location! Our former Gastonia Career & Employment Center, located at 116 Armstrong Street, closed permanently on Thursday, October 31.

SNEAK PEEK

The Messer Construction Co. Foundation has awarded Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont $25,000 to support the construction of a new model home at Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training Center. Once construction is complete, the model home will become a regular tool to provide hands-on training throughout the Construction & Trade Skills Training program. As a sustainable structure, the model home will be vital in meeting the needs of program curriculum as the construction industry evolves over time.

“It’s really gratifying to support an organization that is committed to creating pathways to careers in the construction industry,” said Chris Malinowski, vice president, Charlotte region leader at Messer Construction Co. “High-quality, hands-on training provides a sense of what it’s like to work in the skilled trades: It’s rewarding, collaborative, and offers ample opportunities for advancement. We can’t wait to see the model home be constructed and for Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training Center to continue making an impact in the Charlotte community.”

As October is Careers in Construction Month, this investment is especially timely. With the construction industry facing a significant shortage of skilled workers, hands-on training programs like Goodwill’s are more critical than ever. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, 91% of construction firms in North Carolina are struggling to find skilled labor. This model home, once completed, will play a pivotal role in preparing the next generation of skilled craft professionals who can help close that gap in the greater Charlotte region.

“Careers in Construction Month serves as a reminder of the vital role the construction industry plays in our economy and communities,” said Marvin Kelley, Director of Construction & Trade Skills Training at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “This generous support from the Messer Construction Co. Foundation will provide our participants with hands-on training that closely simulates the real-world work they’ll do onsite upon program completion. We’re excited to strengthen our program and continue preparing the next generation of skilled workers for success.”

Goodwill’s Construction Skills Training program, along with the addition of this new model home, will help train local residents for rewarding careers in construction—a sector that offers stability, growth opportunities, and a chance to build a lasting legacy. Through this partnership with Messer Construction Co., Goodwill will continue to support economic mobility and provide essential skills training to individuals in the Charlotte area.