About Us

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves people across 10 counties in West Central Florida.

Each year, Goodwill-Suncoast places thousands of people in jobs throughout the communities we serve, including placements through Goodwill Temporary Staffing, and provides services to thousands more across our local communities.

Our Mission

Transforming lives through lifelong learning and the power of work while seeking ways to enhance our communities’ environmental resources.

Our Mission Services help create jobs, advance childhood literacy, promote sustainability, empower women to successfully return to society, provide job training for people facing barriers to employment, and offer affordable housing for seniors and people with disabilities.

And those are just a few of the ways you help make a difference for people in our local communities when you shop at and donate to Goodwill-Suncoast.

On average, between 85% and 90% of Goodwill-Suncoast’s operating budget is devoted to programs and services that support our mission.

Thank you for helping make it all possible!

Our Service Area

Headquartered in St. Petersburg, we provide services to people in 10 counties – Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Polk, Hernando, Marion, Citrus, Sumter, Levy and Highlands counties.

Our History

For over 70 Years, we’ve been helping people!

Goodwill-Suncoast was founded in October 1954 in downtown St. Petersburg. We began by assisting a handful of people with disabilities to gain work skills and paychecks. Now we help thousands of people overcome a variety of barriers to employment through training and employment programs, low-cost apartment buildings for seniors and people with disabilities, as well as rehabilitative community corrections programs. To support these services, Goodwill-Suncoast operates 20 retail stores and two outlet stores.

Leadership

The Goodwill-Suncoast Board of Directors is composed of volunteers who help guide policy for the organization.

Board Members:

  • Lee Bell – Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund
  • Steven Bivens – Cavotec – Airport Market Unit
  • Shauna Burkes, Esq. – Qurate Retail Group – HSN
  • Heather Ceresoli – Taylor White
  • Bob Dobkowski – Mr. & Mrs. Blindmaster
  • Christina Elam – Steward Partners
  • Louise R. Lopez –Salute Mission Critical
  • Dominic Macrone– McMahon Truck Centers
  • Melissa Mora, Esq. – Advent Health
  • Kimberly Perez – Welbilt
  • Mark Pichowski – Marsh & McLennan Agency – Bouchard Division
  • Carole Philipson– Health Care Consultant
  • Ed Rader – Kmart (Retired)
  • Scott Rutz – The Norther Trust Company
  • Bob Wabbersen – Publix Super Markets
  • Deborah A. Passerini – Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, Inc., Ex-Officio

Board Officers:

  • Dominic Macrone, Chair
  • Mark Pichowski, Sr. Vice Chair
  • Heather Ceresoli, Board Secretary
  • Louise Lopez, Vice Chair
  • Carole Philipson, Vice Chair
  • Ed Rader, Vice Chair 
  • Bob Wabbersen, Vice Chair 
  • Deborah A. Passerini, President/CEO, Ex-Officio

Corporate Officers: 

  • President and Chief Executive Officer – Deborah A. Passerini
  • Vice President for Corporate Affairs & Governance/Chief Compliance Officer/Corp Secretary – Stefanie Anna
  • Vice President for Finance/Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Treasurer – Tracey Boucher
  • Vice President for Career Development – Jennifer Brackney
  • Vice President for Re-entry Services – Wanda Dunmore, Ph.D.
  • Vice President of Goods Acquisition, Logistics and Retail Operations – Ken Karbowski 
  • Vice President of Special Projects – Kris Rawson
  • Vice President for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer – Allen Starr
  • Vice President for Human Resources – Yvonne Taylor
  • Vice President for Fund Development – Jim Williams
  • Associate Vice President for Fund Development – Jabbar Buggs-Graham
 

Honorary President and CEO Emeritus:

  • R. Lee Waits

Press Center

Media representatives are asked to contact:

Drew Przybyszewski
Director of Marketing & Public Relations

Phone: (727) 523-1512

andrew.przybyszewski@goodwill-suncoast.com

Goodwill Industries-Suncoast At a Glance

St. Petersburg-based Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is transforming lives through lifelong learning and power of work. To support this mission we operate 20 retail stores and two outlet stores that sell donated and new merchandise.

Goodwill-Suncoast’s many human services include workforce development and employment programs for people with all types of barriers to employment, as well as affordable apartments for seniors and people with disabilities. The organization serves the people of 10 counties – Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, Levy, Sumter and Highlands.

Goodwill Industries and Goodwill-Suncoast are proud to be recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities.

 

Goodwill-Suncoast Guiding Principles

Treat all People with Dignity, Respect and Compassion
We will engage with our communities and be inclusive of all individuals. Our interactions will be grounded in dignity, diversity, respect and compassion for every person, team member, donor, shopper, service participant and community partner.

Build Trust through Collaboration and Partnerships
We will strive to meet existing and emerging needs as an expert and resource in our communities. We will collaborate with others to meet needs within the diverse mix of services our community has to offer.

Exemplify Integrity and Stewardship
We will expect and exemplify integrity and stewardship in all our operations, and set the standard within our community for others to follow.

Value Work and Lifelong Learning as Transformational
We believe that work and lifelong learning transform lives and strengthen communities. We will demonstrate this through our services to both the community and our own team members.

Provide Exceptional Value and Quality
We will work every day to ensure Goodwill provides significant value to our shoppers, donors, volunteers, service participants and team members, making the quality of our services a cornerstone of operations.

Be Flexible, Creative and Innovative
We will be flexible, creative and innovative in our work to ensure our mission can meet the diverse needs of people in an ever-changing world. We will utilize technology to best achieve our mission. We will anticipate future opportunities and remain nimble and prepared to respond.

Integrate Accessibility, Safety and Security
As an organization that seeks to minimize the impacts of disabling and disadvantaging conditions, Goodwill respects the importance of accessibility, safety and security of all of the customers, service participants and team members we serve. We will strive to make all points of service and employment accessible and safe.

Strategic Goals through 2029-2030

  • Transform lives and strengthen communities through services that embody lifelong learning and the power of work.
  • Recruit, develop, and retain team members to provide quality service as we grow our social enterprise to meet ever-expanding community needs.
  • Support Goodwill’s people-centered culture.
  • Maximize the value of our volunteers.
  • Drive environmental sustainability in our communities.
  • Be the first choice for donors, shoppers, volunteers, and people seeking services and employment.
  • Continue retail growth to expand the mission through self-funding.
  • Increase charitable gifts and planned giving.
  • Innovate continuously to maximize resources for the mission.
  • Expand strategic relationships with government, business, and other leaders to best serve our communities.
  • Utilize risk management and corporate compliance as essential business practices.

In the Media

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