Trent Taylor began his journey with Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana a little less than a year ago, looking for an employment opportunity that offered something less strenuous with more consistent hours than his previous position as a day laborer. As someone who fell into the 55 and older category though, Trent was unsure of what to expect and what Goodwill could offer him, especially as the pandemic was sweeping the nation. 

In honor of Women’s History Month, we sat down with a few of the women leaders in Goodwill’s Commercial Services division who positively impact their teams and Goodwill’s mission each and every day. To celebrate this month of recognition and the impact of powerful women throughout history, we asked them to share who they admire and what Women’s History Month means to them.  

Many people already know that Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana operates over 70 retail stores that each sell a wide variety of clothing, household items, furniture, books, electronics, toys and more – all at affordable prices. What people may not know is that, as a non-profit, Goodwill’s revenue supports individuals and families within our very own communities to become more economically self-sufficient. 

When you write an article about Riana Dozier, your hope is that you can accurately convey at least a small portion of the passion, positivity, and energy she exudes during the interview. (Somehow she makes algebra sound fun!) It almost feels like an injustice to only get to experience her personality through printed words.

Matthew Easterday joined the team at Goodwill more than 7 years ago, winning employee of the month several times in recognition of his outstanding work ethic over that period of time. He is punctual and always excited to see his coworkers and help in any way he can. 

When April Mattingly graduated from high school, she had no idea that one of the first places she worked would be her home away from home for the next 20 years.

In 2020, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, sponsored two doula certification courses in an effort to combat and reduce the Black morbidity and mortality rates of birthing people in Indiana; beginning with the community in Marion County. 

I met Audrey McPherson a little over four years ago when she was working as a textile producer at our retail location in Castleton. Audrey had recently been released from incarceration and felt her options were limited. She did not see a future for herself and was unable to visualize a path forward. 

Lakia Osborne recently became The Excel Center® Regional Director, responsible for the general school operation, performance, academic oversight and direction of our Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana adult high school network. Having worked at Goodwill for nearly a decade, Lakia is well-positioned for success in her new role, as she has a vast amount of expertise of The Excel Center model, previously serving in key positions including school director, project manager and life coach. Read on to learn more about this inspiring leader.