Marano Fellows Class of 2014
Name: Tony Calcagno
Title:

Chief Talent Development Officer

Organization:

Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids

Location: Grandville, MI
Industry Sector: Manufacturing

Organizational Background & Mission: Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving eight counties in west and central Michigan. Goodwill is dedicated to changing lives and communities through the power of work. Since 1966, the organization has offered a wide range of employment and training programs to assist those with disabilities and other barriers to employment in developing their marketable skills in order to find meaningful employment. Its efforts are supported by revenues from its 16 retail stores.

Interest in Sector Work: Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids has strong relationships with area manufacturers and we have been successful at filling their entry level positions with our program participants. With the economy recovering, manufacturing has returned in Michigan and employers are having trouble finding the talent they need to meet the demand, including higher skilled positions such as welding and CNC. We also have a strong relationship with our local community college, and have collaborated on a variety of projects including the recent Pathways Out of Poverty grant. With the demand for skilled labor increasing and quality skilled trade trainings available, Goodwill can facilitate a process to help people successfully complete training for a skilled trade, providing local employers the talent they need. Goodwill will recruit unemployed and underemployed individuals that are looking for a job with greater wages and will support them long term, both during skills training as well as after job placement.