Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries is pleased to welcome two new team members who will help advance the organization's mission of empowering individuals and strengthening communities across the Mahoning Valley. Emily Wire has joined as Community Impact Program Manager, and Justin McCarthy has been named Success Coach. In her new role, Wire will focus on developing and supporting community partnerships, collaborating with local stakeholders, and helping expand initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for area residents. Her passion for community development and service-driven work made Goodwill Industries a natural fit. "I have spent the last year engaging with community service organizations across the Mahoning Valley, learning the ins and outs of funding impacts on programming," Wire said. "I saw the work that Goodwill was doing and the initiatives they are engaging in to help strengthen the community by critically listening to community stakeholders. I knew I wanted to be part of the Community Development department at Goodwill so that we can continue strengthening the Valley through constructive collaboration." Wire brings a unique professional background to the position. She spent a decade as a professional copywriter before discovering a deeper calling in community service. That realization led her to complete a Year of Service with AmeriCorps VISTA at Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning Valley. The experience helped her connect her skills and education with a purpose-driven career focused on community impact. "I am excited to work alongside the dedicated staff at Goodwill, learn more about existing partnerships and collaborations, and help forge new, meaningful connections to build a collaborative model of community development in the Valley," she said. McCarthy will work directly with program participants and employees, helping them overcome barriers, build skills, and achieve their personal and professional goals. "What attracted me to Goodwill is that they truly care about people and have always been focused on giving individuals opportunities to succeed," McCarthy said. "That's something that's really important to me because I believe everyone deserves a second chance. Organizations like Goodwill make that possible by helping people build confidence, gain experience, and work toward a better future." McCarthy's career path has prepared him well for the role. He began his professional journey working in the union trades before transitioning into the substance use and mental health field, where he served as a Clinical Manager. As Success Coach, McCarthy looks forward to making a positive impact on the lives of those he serves. "I'm most excited about helping people succeed by making sure they feel supported, treated with respect, and given every opportunity to grow," he said. "Whether it's helping someone gain confidence, develop new skills, or move toward long-term employment, I want to be someone they can rely on throughout the process." “Together, Wire and McCarthy bring a shared commitment to service, collaboration, and empowering others,” said Carol Holmles-Chambers, Goodwill’s Vice President of Community & Workforce Development. “Their experience and passion for helping people will strengthen Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries' ability to create opportunities, foster community partnerships, and support individuals on their path to success, and essentially that is what Goodwill is about.”

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries is pleased to announce two key leadership promotions that reflect the organization's continued growth, strategic direction, and deep commitment to community impact. Carol Holmes-Chambers — Goodwill has promoted Carol Holmes-Chambers to Vice President of Community and Workforce Development. Holmes-Chambers joined the organization in December 2024 as Community Solutions Director and has since played a pivotal role in strengthening Goodwill’s presence across the region. Through her leadership, the organization has expanded meaningful partnerships and advanced innovative, collaborative programming designed to create sustainable, long-term impact. Her work has emphasized co-collaboration and co-creation, bringing community partners together to address real needs and drive collective solutions. In her new role, Holmes-Chambers will lead the newly formed Community Impact Department, which integrates Goodwill’s Mission Services with broader community and workforce initiatives. This strategic alignment is designed to enhance outcomes, streamline services, and deepen the organization’s impact across the communities it serves. Celina Williams — Goodwill has also promoted Celina Williams to Vice President of Human Resources. Since joining the organization as HR Director in June 2025, Williams has been instrumental in strengthening and modernizing the Human Resources function. Her leadership has helped establish a stronger foundation for employee support, leadership development, and organizational consistency, while positioning HR as a strategic partner within the organization. Williams brings both expertise and a people-centered approach to her work, with a strong commitment to supporting Goodwill’s employees, strengthening culture, and advancing the organization’s mission. As Vice President of Human Resources, she will continue leading efforts to enhance HR processes, support leadership development, and ensure employees have the tools and resources they need to succeed. “These promotions reflect the strength of our leadership team and our commitment to continuous growth and innovation,” said Shelley Murray, CEO of Goodwill Industries. “Carol and Celina each bring a uni que blend of vision, integrity, and passion to their roles. I’m confident their leadership will guide our organization into its next chapter as we continue to deepen our impact and strengthen partnerships across the communities we serve.” About Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries Goodwill is a nonprofit social enterprise serving a five-county region throughout Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Through workforce development, education, and community-based programs, Goodwill helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and achieve economic independence.

The Assembly for Workforce Solutions (AWS) committee gathered on Monday at Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries’ main offices in Liberty. We celebrated a significant milestone: one year of our Steering Committee! This past year has been marked by action, collaboration, and measurable progress. Our goal? To reduce barriers to workforce participation across the Mahoning Valley! A Year of Progress and Collaboration AWS was launched to strengthen alignment across workforce, health, and human service systems. In our first year, we moved beyond mere conversation. We focused on coordinated implementation. The anniversary of our Steering Committee highlights tangible outcomes driven by shared purpose and trust among our partners. “AWS was intentionally designed to be a coalition of action,” said Carol Holmes-Chambers, Goodwill’s Community Solutions Director. “This work is about solving real challenges for real people by working together differently.” Strategic Priorities and Focused Subcommittees AWS continues to advance several strategic priorities through focused subcommittees. These groups address key drivers of workforce participation and long-standing service fragmentation. We tackle issues like transportation access, childcare availability, behavioral health supports, and reentry services for individuals involved in the justice system. Each subcommittee brings together cross-sector partners to identify barriers, test solutions, and scale what works! Centering Community Voice A unique feature of AWS’s approach is our ongoing commitment to centering community voice and lived expertise. The Community Advisors group plays a critical role in shaping priorities. They inform our design and ensure that our initiatives reflect the realities of individuals and families most impacted by system barriers. Their insights keep our work grounded, responsive, and accountable. The Community Solutions Campus of the Valley Progress continues on the Community Solutions Campus of the Valley. This ambitious collaborative effort aims to better align workforce development, healthcare, and human services within one coordinated, place-based ecosystem. Our model is designed to reduce complexity for residents while improving system efficiency through intentional co-location and coordination. Expanding the Social Information Exchange Network In parallel, AWS partners are expanding the Social Information Exchange Network (SIEN) through the Unite Us platform. This expansion strengthens cross-sector coordination. It enables shared referrals, closed-loop feedback, and real-time collaboration among providers. This helps reduce duplication of effort and improve outcomes for individuals navigating multiple systems. A Shared Belief in Our Community Throughout the meeting, members reinforced a shared belief: the Mahoning Valley already possesses the resources, expertise, and innovative leadership needed to meet its workforce challenges. The work of AWS is about intentionally bringing those assets together. We aim to break down silos and move from parallel efforts to true alignment. After one year, AWS continues to demonstrate that when organizations work together rather than separately, new possibilities emerge! Individuals seeking employment, families striving for stability, and the region as a whole stand to benefit. “This isn’t just about workforce participation,” Holmes-Chambers said. “It’s about community well-being. When systems align and barriers are reduced, the entire Mahoning Valley benefits.” To learn more, visit goodwillyoungstown.org/aws. Looking Ahead As we reflect on our first year, we are excited about what lies ahead. The journey is just beginning! We will continue to engage with community members and stakeholders. Together, we will tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Empowering Individuals and Strengthening Communities Our mission is clear: we aim to empower individuals and strengthen communities in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. By providing education, training, and employment opportunities, we help people gain independence and transform their lives. Join Us in Making a Difference! We invite everyone to join us in this important work. Whether you are a community member, a job seeker, a shopper, or a donor, your involvement matters! Together, we can create a brighter future for the Mahoning Valley. Let’s keep this momentum going! Together, we can make a difference!

Community partners, business leaders, and nonprofit stakeholders gathered Wednesday at Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries for a collaborative meeting focused on strengthening access to regional resources and advancing a shared initiative to grow a Community Solutions Campus and satellite hubs across the Mahoning Valley and beyond.  The discussion highlighted the continued development of the Social Information Exchange Network (SIEN) using the Unite Us platform, a regional effort to better connect organizations through coordinated referrals and shared data, ensuring individuals can more easily access the services they need. The discussion also focused on Goodwill’s holistic approach to workforce development and outlined plans to expand services into new communities, including a future satellite hub at the organization’s upcoming East Liverpool retail and donation center later this year. The meeting brought together leaders from education, healthcare, economic development, social services, and the business community to align on local workforce needs and identify opportunities to better connect individuals to employment, training, and supportive services. Participants engaged in dialogue about how co-located resources can reduce barriers to employment while strengthening community partnerships. “This is about meeting people where they are and making opportunity more accessible,” said Shelley Murray, CEO of Goodwill Industries. “By working alongside our community and business partners, we can create hubs that not only provide retail and donation services, but also serve as gateways to job training, career pathways, and vital community resources. The collaboration we saw today reinforces that this work is most effective when it’s done together.” Besides the SIEN, another focus of the meeting was Goodwill’s initiative to grow a Community Solutions Campus in Liberty and satellite hubs across the region. These hubs may include access to workforce training, career coaching, digital skills development, and connections to wraparound supports such as transportation, childcare, or housing resources — tailored to the specific needs of each community. “Our goal is to listen first and then build solutions that reflect what each community truly needs,” said Carol Holmes-Chambers, Community Solutions Director at Goodwill. “The Social Information Exchange Network and satellite hub model allows us to be flexible and responsive. By incorporating a digital infrastructure and embedding services in places people already know and trust, we create more touchpoints for engagement and more pathways to success. The SIEN strengthens this work by ensuring that those connections don’t stop at the door but continue through coordinated referrals and real follow-through across partners.”   Together, the expansion of physical hubs and the SIEN represent a unified approach to building a more connected and responsive system of care and workforce support.  For more information about Goodwill’s programs, partnerships, or upcoming expansions, visit goodwillyoungstown.org.

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries is pleased to announce the appointment of Kriss Richey‑Wolford and Heather McCowin to its Board of Directors. Richey‑Wolford brings more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and behavioral health. She spent 22 years in radiology and X‑ray services at Akron Children’s Hospital and currently serves with Alta Behavioral Healthcare. Since 2016, she has also been a dedicated family advocate for children with mental health and developmental disabilities, working to improve access to resources and support for families across the region. McCowin serves as Chief Nursing Officer at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, where she provides executive leadership for nursing operations and patient care strategy. She began her career as a registered nurse in emergency services and has advanced into senior leadership roles overseeing complex systems and large clinical teams. Both new board members share a strong commitment to service and to Goodwill’s mission of empowering individuals and strengthening communities. “We are honored to welcome Kriss and Heather to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Shelley Murray, CEO of Goodwill. “Each brings valuable experience, thoughtful leadership, and a deep commitment to helping individuals and communities move forward. Their service will help us continue building pathways to opportunity and expand the impact of our work across the communities we serve.”

Community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered Thursday morning as Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries hosted its 3rd Annual Mission Breakfast at Tippecanoe Country Club, celebrating the organization’s mission and the life-changing impact of its programs throughout the Mahoning Valley. The annual event is designed to share stories that demonstrate how Goodwill’s mission services empower individuals, strengthen families, and support the region’s workforce. More than 200 attendees heard remarks from CEO Dr. Shelley Murray and Board Director HaSheen Wilson, who highlighted the importance of community collaboration in creating opportunities for local residents. One of the most moving moments of the morning came during an in-person testimonial from Gary Vandetti, who shared his journey alongside his sister, Deborah Duffy. Vandetti has been employed with Goodwill for 42 years, and his story served as a powerful reminder of the organization’s commitment to providing meaningful employment and support for individuals of all abilities. The breakfast also featured two video testimonials, highlighting Goodwill’s partnerships and impact across the community. The first recognized the 50th anniversary of the Youngstown Radio Reading Service, celebrating the organization’s continued support of local programming and community initiatives for the blind and visually impaired. The second video shared the success story of Andrea Chapman, assistant manager at Goodwill’s Austintown store, and Goodwill’s partnership with the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Through job training and support, Chapman was able to build a career and regain stability, illustrating how collaborative community partnerships can create lasting change. During her keynote address, Murray also outlined the future vision for Youngstown Area Goodwill, emphasizing the importance of strengthening partnerships across the region. She highlighted new and expanding initiatives, including the Assembly for Workforce Solutions and WorkOhio. The Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition is serving as the Eastern Ohio hub for WorkOhio. “Our mission is only possible because of the partnerships we build across this community,” Murray said. “Together, we are creating opportunities that help individuals achieve their goals, while strengthening the workforce and the future of the Mahoning Valley.” The Mission Breakfast continues to serve as an important opportunity for Goodwill to share its work, celebrate partnerships, and inspire continued support for programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment. If you missed the event but still want to support Goodwill, please consider donating your used goods to any of our 10 stores, or give a financial donation by clicking here. Together, we make a difference! 💙 You can view the videos from our Mission Breakfast here:

Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries and Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley come together to highlight the power of community partnership in the Mahoning Valley. By working collaboratively, both organizations are able to extend their impact — providing support, opportunity, and hope to individuals and families facing challenging circumstances.

We are incredibly honored to receive a Letter of Commendation from the Austintown Township Trustees . This recognition of our relief efforts following the Austintown Studio Apartments explosion truly means the world to us. In moments like these, it’s not about recognition — it’s about coming together as a community and supporting neighbors when they need it most. At Youngstown Area Goodwill Industries, we believe in standing strong with our community during challenging times, and we are proud to be part of such a resilient and compassionate region. Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and partnered with us to make a difference.

Vehicle Donation Supports Local Law Enforcement This week, Goodwill was proud to donate one of our former Motive transportation vehicles —– an old command center squat unit —– to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department . What once helped support our mission on the road will now serve a new purpose in helping local law enforcement better respond to the needs of our community. Over the years, this vehicle played a role in supporting transportation and outreach efforts tied to Goodwill’s programs. Rather than letting it sit unused, we saw an opportunity to give it a second life —– continuing to serve the Mahoning Valley in a new and meaningful way. Partnerships like this reflect the power of collaboration and resourcefulness. By working together, nonprofit organizations and public safety agencies can maximize resources, reduce waste, and strengthen the services available to our community.  We’re grateful to the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department for their partnership and for the work they do every day to keep our community safe. It’s an honor to see this vehicle continue making an impact —– just in a different uniform.

Youngstown Area Goodwill CEO Shelley Murray spoke at Monday's WorkOhio kickoff tour. With her are (from left): Alex Hertzer, Executive Director of the Mahoning Valley Manufactures Coalition; Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel; and Mark Lamoncha, CEO of Humtown.

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