Anymore it can be rare to find an employee with decades of working for one employer, but at Goodwill we have had the honor of a few of these gem employees. Dennis Schneider is one of them. He began his tenure with Goodwill in July 1975, when the programs and services we offered were different than today’s. First, he was in the Evaluation program and later hired by Industrial Services (now called Commercial Services). Originally from southern Indiana, Dennis initially lived in the organization’s dormitory (which was where The Excel Center Michigan St. is now) and then moved into the group home operated by Goodwill back then. After several years of group-home and supported-living services, he achieved the skills and support to live independently for most of his life.

The list of Dennis’ roles at Goodwill in the past 40 years is long. A few examples include janitorial work at Naval Avionics from 1994 to 1998; when that contract ended, he moved to the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse where he worked until 2010. When not working in janitorial, Dennis has been an assembler for Commercial Services. Currently, he works in the Covance area.

Dennis lives at Crestwood Village. He has made friends and enjoys the offered activities. He especially likes Wii games and participates in Wii bowling, baseball, golf and tennis tournaments. He also loves watching baseball, specifically the St. Louis Cardinals, and football, the Green Bay Packers. One of Dennis’ fond memories is when “his Cardinals” beat the Los Angeles Dodgers -- who happen to be the favorite team of Jim Humphrey, Vice President of Commercial Services -- several times. Dennis and Jim enjoy a playful sports rivalry, jokingly relishing in the defeat of the other’s teams.

Dennis plans to retire on his birthday, January 27, 2017, and hopes to move back to southern Indiana to be closer to his family.

Watch Dennis on the job, speaking with Kent A. Kramer, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana.