Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Learning to Dream: Good careers start right here–at Goodwill Keystone Area.

Jessica Greene and Jamie Ruth, recent graduates of HACC’s Cardiology Technician Certificate Program and members of Good Careers Start Here.

Jessica Greene and Jamie Ruth, recent graduates of HACC’s Cardiology Technician Certificate Program and members of Good Careers Start Here.

Goodwill Keystone Area has a rather unique approach to employee retention—it encourages its people to leave.

The Harrisburg-based branch of the national chain, known for its 100-plus year history as a thrift store and donation center, has pioneered a program called “Good Careers Start Here,” which offers employees the chance to attend continuing education programs—for free—and to secure higher-paying jobs with new companies.

One such employee is Jessica Greene, who is no stranger to hard work and difficult choices. For as long as she can remember, the 37-year-old mother of three has worked two jobs to make ends meet. When it became clear that her young daughter, diagnosed with autism, needed her home more often, Greene says it was a no-brainer.

“I needed to feed my family, give my kids the things they need, and save to put them through college,” she said. “But I also needed to pay more attention to them. They’re growing up, and they need so much support. I was so used to working two jobs, but I just couldn’t do it anymore.”

In 2014, Greene took a leap of faith, quitting one job and continuing her work at Goodwill as an aid to community members with disabilities. She also enrolled, alongside 11 others, in a prep class Goodwill was offering as part of a pilot program.

The students learned, essentially, how to learn. They worked with a career navigator to identify their skills, find a local program that would fit their schedules and career goals, and overcome any obstacles in the way of enrollment. Today, Greene is a graduate of HACC’s Cardiology Technician Certificate Program, applying for jobs in the medical field she never dreamed she’d be qualified for.

Ron Kratofil, president and CEO of Goodwill Keystone Area, said that “Good Careers Start Here” isn’t just about writing a check for tuition.

“In many cases, you’re talking about people who are overcoming barriers, and our folks had to be able to figure out all the pieces,” Kratofil said. “What about the family, the kids, the job? They need childcare. They need to be able to work. So, we help them arrange and afford childcare–we move people around and juggle hours. We do what we need to do to get people on board.”

 

Breaking the Cycle

The idea to send people back to school came from conversations Kratofil had with fellow members of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Board.

“There has been a lot of discussion at the state level about what’s called ‘high priority occupations,’” he said. “There are employers in the commonwealth saying, ‘we can’t find people to fill these jobs, and they pay fairly well.’”

Kratofil realized that he had a “built-in pool” of workers who were already succeeding at Goodwill’s entry-level jobs.

“So, we started connecting the dots, trying to figure out how someone moves from having a job to having a career,” he said. “Most of these careers are in areas like robotics, manufacturing and healthcare—things Goodwill doesn’t have. So, in virtually all cases, we’re preparing our best employees to leave Goodwill.”

Jamie Ruth, who graduated this spring alongside Greene, feels that “Good Careers Start Here” has given her a second chance at her dreams.

Ruth said she was apprehensive about reentering the classroom after so much time away, but the prep class—and the support she received throughout her academic program—gave her the tools she needed to succeed.

“They were there through the entire thing,” she said. “I don’t know if I would’ve made it through without the prep. That’s why this program is so great. No matter what your level is, they teach you everything: how to budget, how to study, how to manage your time.”

Ruth’s experience has encouraged her husband to explore going back to school, too. Though he’s not an employee of Goodwill, the benefits of “Good Careers Start Here” are extended to an employee’s entire household.

“One of the components of this that I think is very humbling is you’re changing the trajectory for an entire family,” Kratofil said. “You’re breaking the cycle and improving things for the children and the children’s children.”

 

Can’t Wait

Ruth, who’s currently looking to put her newly minted cardiology technician certificate to work, plans to eventually continue her schooling.

“I want to be doing polystenography—sleep studies,” she said. “That’s my dream job. I think it’s altogether fascinating, and now I can’t wait. Now I know I can do it.”

Ruth and Greene are proof, Kratofil said, that the model works. This year, “Good Careers Start Here” will be extended to Lancaster, Lehigh Valley and Reading.

“We’re convincing people it’s OK to dream again,” Kratofil said.

He added that he doesn’t know of a more “thoughtful, comprehensive” plan.

“There are lots of folks in the getting-people-jobs business, but helping people move to a long-term career? There aren’t a lot of people in that business,” he said. “There is great opportunity, and this will be successful. There’s no room for an idea this profound to fail. It will get the support it needs. It will change lives.”

To learn more about Goodwill Keystone Area, visit www.yourgoodwill.org.

Photo: Jessica Greene and Jamie Ruth, recent graduates of HACC’s Cardiology Technician Certificate Program and members of Good Careers Start Here

Continue Reading