Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas Honored as Small Employer of the Year at Texas Workforce Conference
Date: Dec. 5, 2019
Media Contact: Cisco Gamez
Phone: 512-463-8556
AUSTIN – Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas (Goodwill) was named Small Employer of the Year at the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) 23rd Annual Texas Workforce Conference held December 4–6 in Dallas. Goodwill was nominated by Workforce Solutions South Plains (South Plains) and chosen as the Small Employer of the Year from among three exemplary finalists, out of 21 small employers nominated. All nominees were recognized for contributions to their community’s workforce through innovation and collaboration with their Texas Workforce Solutions partner.
Goodwill employs individuals who may have given up the hope of attaining a job. Goodwill addresses unemployment in the area’s workforce by hiring individuals with barriers to employment and providing opportunities for its employees to master basic job skills, refine their work ethic, and develop opportunities for advancement. Goodwill is also a second-chance employer of individuals with nonviolent criminal backgrounds, a poor work history, or a long absence from the workforce.
“Small Businesses, like Goodwill, Industries of North Texas, play a major role in developing a quality workforce that’s eager and willing to contribute to the community,” said TWC Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public Bryan Daniel. “I congratulate Goodwill for their exemplary work among their peers, and for strengthening the community by creating opportunities for Texas workers to obtain and maintain good jobs.
Goodwill uses the Training, Placement and Life Skills program (T-PALS) to fulfill its mission of “Creating job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.” The T-PALS program is offered to the community at no cost to participants and provides computer skills and other employment-related training such as development of soft skills and job retention coaching.
“Goodwill understands that many life circumstances can lead to barriers to employment,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “By offering training and employment opportunities, Goodwill helps move individuals from being unemployable to employable.”
By assisting individuals who are unemployed, employed and receiving poverty-level wages, or no longer seeking employment and receiving government assistance, Goodwill and T-PALS create opportunities for Texas workers to improve their lives by obtaining the means to obtain and maintain living-wage jobs. The Texas workforce gains workers trained to compete in a technologically driven workforce without dependence on government subsidies.
“Congratulations to Goodwill on receiving this award and for their dedication to diversity and inclusion within the business community,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Employers Aaron Demerson. “I commend them on their strong community partnerships, and their investment in the development of skilled workers.”
In addition to providing a positive work environment with ongoing training and job development, Goodwill also implemented a mission integration strategy (MIS). MIS is designed to improve employee retention by providing employees with a better work environment where they can grow their skill sets in preparation for higher-wage jobs.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Texas Workforce Commission as the Texas Small Employer of the Year,” said Goodwill Industries of Northwest Texas’ CEO Robin Raney. “As a second chance employer, job opportunity creator and preferred employer for people with disabilities, we are gratified to be able to expand our services further into the community through a strong partnership with Workforce Solutions South Plains. Working together we are offering opportunity and hope to the chronically unemployed and under-skilled individuals in the South Plains by equipping them with the job skills needed to enter the workforce.”
Additionally, two other exemplary employers were finalists for Texas Workforce Solutions Small Employer of the Year. BWJ Metalworks LLC was nominated by Workforce Solutions West Central Texas. BWJ Metalworks LLC has 100 employees and is committed to developing a passion for careers in fabrication and welding in youth. Hobbs Bonded Fibers (Hobbs) was nominated by Workforce Solutions Heart of Texas. Hobbs employs 185 Texans and supports the community by helping students explore the advanced manufacturing industry and related targeted occupations.
Each of the 28 local workforce development boards recognized a Local Employer of Excellence at the conference. The award honors an employer that is actively involved with Texas Workforce Solutions and has made a positive impact on employers, workers and the community.
Awards also were granted to local workforce development boards that provided outstanding services to Texas employers, workers, job-seekers and local communities. Additionally, monetary awards were given to the boards that were recognized for outstanding performance. Monetary awards will be used to enhance board service programs during the next year. The primary goal of TWC and its Workforce Solutions board partners is to respond to the needs of Texas employers through locally-designed, market-driven workforce development initiatives and services. All employers, workers and job seekers are eligible to take advantage of these services.
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The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.
