JOHNSTON — Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa recently announced that Jackie Norris will become president and CEO-elect of the organization effective Oct. 3.
Norris succeeds Marlyn McKeen, who has served in the role of CEO for more than 30 years and will retire at the end of 2016. McKeen guided Goodwill through unprecedented success, starting with a small organization with one location in 1986, to the multi-faceted service company it is today with an annual revenue of more than $20 million, 19 retail locations and 400 employees serving a 22-county area.
With extensive experience in guiding growth for companies and organizations, Norris returns to Iowa to continue to strengthen the focus and outreach through customer shopping and donating while simultaneously providing more services to Goodwill of Central Iowa’s clients, raising awareness and elevating the profile of Goodwill Industries as a whole.
Norris will continue to engage Goodwill Industries and its board, staff and clients in a variety of ways, while also evolving the organization’s strategy, market presence and retail emphasis. Norris takes over an organization that has a history of year-over-year successes.
In early 2016, Goodwill Industries relocated its corporate headquarters to Johnston, which allowed for a retail store, Career Connection Center, Shopgoodwill, and training and employment programs to all be housed under one corporate roof. Additionally, the organization released 2015 numbers announcing it had provided services for more than 7,500 people as well as 914 job placements among 439 central Iowa businesses. Goodwill Industries began serving Central Iowa in 1955, providing citizens of all abilities with job training, skills support and employment placement.