Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana does far more than collect donations. A big part of what we do is provide opportunities for workforce development; giving employees the skills, training, and support they need to grow in their careers. By creating training programs built specifically for Goodwill Commercial Services staff, Goodwill helps team members turn into strong, confident leaders.

The need for this training arose when Goodwill Commercial Services restructured its division, turning line leads into team leads with more responsibility and greater decision-making power. Goodwill Commercial Services reached out to Samantha Martin, Director of Learning and Development, for help. In response, Samantha and her team built a tailored program that supports leaders current needs while creating a clear, consistent pathway for future leaders.

The two-month program brings employees together once a week for two hours. Participants receive professional portfolios and polo shirts on day one so they feel ready to work hard, and all sessions are recorded so leaders can review them later. The training covers key topics needed for commercial work. Participants start by learning Goodwill's goal of leading with "head and heart," focusing on manufacturing work. They learn technology tools to pull reports, as well as HR systems to handle attendance policies. Workplace safety is a top priority, so the program covers forklift rules, injury prevention and OSHA standards. Leaders also learn about basic finances to see how their daily work supports Goodwill's overall mission, while practicing soft skills like teamwork and writing professional emails.

“The current group,” Samantha says, “is taking this training seriously. They are invested in learning and it shows.”

This practical training brings real benefits to the workplace as supervisors work directly with their direct reports to help them use what they learn. Sebastian Ashley, Warehouse Supervisor at the Tremont location, sees these positive changes every day. By teaching team leads how to handle tasks like payroll, PTO requests, and system reports, supervisors have more time to focus on big-picture planning. At the same time, team leads gain confidence and take real ownership of their work.

A lot of this information is new and gives new team leaders a broader knowledge base to excel,” says Sebastian. “It’s exciting to see them taking what they learn in those sessions and applying it to their work immediately.”

By investing in workforce development for its Goodwill Commercial Services team, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana makes sure every employee has a clear path to step up and lead.

If you’re interested in building your career at Goodwill Commercial Services, visit our careers page at goodwillindy.org/careers.