For over 20 years, Kris Deckard has had two passions: helping people reach their goals and helping businesses find the talent they need. When she joined Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, she was inspired by the organization taking time to develop, encourage and change the lives of its workforce with its own resources.
Kris became a single mother halfway through her college years; with the help of friends and public assistance, she could raise her daughter on campus and pursue her education. She had the personal experience of navigating social services and juggling a daily routine while earning a family-sustaining income. As she transitioned out of school and progressed in her career, she felt she could help others with the same experiences.
“Joining Goodwill helped me feel like I could learn from my experience, relate to the individuals we were serving and give back to them,” said Kris.
Now, as the director of Goodwill TalentSource™, Goodwill’s in-house talent agency, Kris’s role is twofold. She assists students and mission participants with their career goals, while interacting with businesses across the community, networking with employers and aligning Goodwill’s ever-present talent with their employment needs.
“We always want to offer more candidates to our employer partners and more opportunities for candidates to find rewarding careers that bring stability to their lives,” said Kris. “For me, it’s about matching candidates and employers.”
TalentSource is Goodwill’s employment agency, providing job placement, internship and externship opportunities as well as career advancement support to mission participants and education alumni. Her team connects with 16 Excel Center® locations, Indianapolis Metropolitan High School and several mission initiatives, such as Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership®.
“We have a presence in schools and communicate with education and mission alumni,” said Kris. “We serve the entire organization.”
As for Women’s History Month, Kris thinks it’s a time to be intentional and thoughtful.
“To me, it’s a time for everyone to stop and think about the women who paved the way and blazed a trail,” said Kris.
She thinks back on early predecessors and their character traits – how they must’ve had doubts or felt intimidated but didn’t let that stop them. Kris’s great-aunt paved the way for her. In the 1930s, she was the first person in her family to go to college, attending Indiana University.
“No one went to college again until my brother,” said Kris. “I am a first-generation college graduate. If it wasn’t for my brother and great-aunt, I don’t think I would’ve considered going to college.”
As a woman in a leadership position, Kris is committed to the Goodwill mission to help change lives.
“I want to help others get to where they want to be,” said Kris. “I believe that people are capable of almost anything if given encouragement and the opportunity.”
TalentSource is a service available to Goodwill employees, students and program participants. To explore opportunities at Goodwill, visit our website goodwillindy.org.