Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Inc (lincolngoodwill.org) will celebrate a new chapter on Thursday, November 12, at “Good Folks, Good Futures,” an event honoring retiring CEO Joanne Pickrel and welcoming incoming President and CEO Rafael Meza Vidales. Lincoln Goodwill is also celebrating the grand opening of the new Folkways location at 2920 Folkways Blvd. in Lincoln.
Passing The Torch
After 33 years with Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska, Joanne is retiring as CEO, with Rafael stepping into the role—a transition that represents a full-circle moment in her legacy of developing people within the organization.
Joanne began her Goodwill career 33 years ago as a Retail Coordinator, advanced to Operations Marketing Director, and in 1999 became CEO. When asked what she is most proud of after three decades with Goodwill, her answer is simple: “the people that I’ve mentored.”
Rafael is one of those people. He joined Goodwill in 2004 at age 16 after moving to the United States from Mexico. Starting as a retail team member and cashier, he became a team lead within six months and a retail trainer at 18. He later moved into IT and leadership roles, eventually becoming Goodwill’s Chief Operating Officer and now President and CEO.
Throughout Rafael’s career, Joanne encouraged him to see his potential as a leader. Now, he will succeed the person who helped him believe in himself, carrying forward her legacy while leading Goodwill into its next chapter.
A Grand Time
The celebration will also highlight Goodwill’s new Folkways location, which offers more space, additional parking and easier in-and-out access than the organization’s former North 27th Street location. The new location remains convenient to reach by bus while providing more options for employees, shoppers and donors to get where they need to go.
“We are excited to celebrate our newest store and this new chapter with the community that makes our mission possible,” said Rafael Meza Vidales, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries Serving Southeast Nebraska. “Thanks to our amazing donors and shoppers, Goodwill is able to serve thousands of job seekers per year and support projects like this that help eliminate barriers to employment.” Visit lincolngoodwill.org for more details.