Christina has been with Goodwill since 2020. Thanks to donations and purchases at our retail stores, Goodwill is able to provide team members with services and developmental resources like Pathways, an internal coaching program designed to help team members achieve personal and professional goals. As a Pathways coach, Christina works one-on-one with team members to help them reach their goals – from buying a car or house to finding a career or preparing for retirement.
“We might work on a budget, or we look for scholarships or grants,” she explained. “Then I get to help them impact their careers, just like my career has been impacted at Goodwill.”
Like many team members, Christina started her Goodwill journey in retail. She worked in retail for 25 years before joining Goodwill as a Store Manager.
“I’ve always shopped at Goodwill; always loved what they did,” Christina shared. “So, I happened to be in the store one day and saw that they were looking for a new Store Manager. I interviewed, and they offered me the job at the Franklin Square store.”
“I loved managing the store, but I really wanted to make more of an impact in Goodwill. Once I found out about Pathways, I said, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s exactly what I want to do.'”
Christina interviewed for the Pathways position, and the rest is history. She began working on the Pathways team in February 2022. Her retail experience helps her bond with Pathways participants and allows her to assist in stores when needed.
“I have been in retail trying to figure out what the next point in my career needs to be,” she emphasized. “I help team members with changes to their schedule; what impact they can make to hit their numbers. I help them write action plans. All kinds of stuff that I used to do as a manager, I’ve helped them do in the Pathways program.”
Christina has helped over 100 people in her tenure as a Pathways Career Navigator. But even though she’s helped so many, she doesn’t take all the credit.
“A lot of times, I feel like I don’t do anything. I get to be their biggest cheerleader or their drill sergeant,” she laughs. “They’re the ones that do the work.”
Christina is happy where she is in her career and with the people she’s encountered at Goodwill.
“Since coming on to Pathways, my teammates have been awesome. Then any of our participants, they impact my life in ways that I can’t ever put into words.”
“What makes me stay is the people. Not just the people I work with, or participants. People that need services, our customers, people who donate their items,” she said. “I just love what Goodwill does and I love sharing Goodwill’s story with everybody that I come in contact with.”
If you would like to help fund Goodwill’s programs and services that are offered free-of-charge to thousands of community members and team members annually, consider dropping off your gently used donations at one of our locations or making a financial contribution.
