At Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona, our vision is ending poverty through the power of work. Through our mission services, we are empowering individuals, strengthening families and building stronger communities via workforce development and career services, as well as no-cost education initiatives, all made possible by generous donations and purchases at Goodwill retail stores and donation centers. Together, our mission services programming is helping direct talent into high-growth, high-demand fields like the semiconductor, pharm tech and healthcare industries.
Through various career services programs like our online platform MyCareerAdvisor.com and our in-person Veteran Career Center, we are providing skills training, career coaching, resume assistance, hiring events and much more. In 2024, GCNA’s career services programming saw more than 80,000 training courses taken and more than 1,100 individuals placed into employment.
In addition to regularly available career services at the Veteran Career Center, we recently partnered with Rio Salado College to offer an Introduction to the Semiconductor Industry class, providing a basic introduction to the tools and topics that individuals heading into the industry need to know. Additionally, we partnered with AZ StRUT (Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology) to host a Techie Bootcamp, during which participants learn the technology behind computers and have an opportunity to obtain a donated, refurbished laptop at the end of the class.
For many Arizonans, education is a barrier to expanding their careers, and this is why we introduced education solutions such as The Excel Center, Arizona’s first in-person adult high school allowing individuals over the age of 18 to return to school and earn their high school diploma. More than 700,000 working-age adults in Arizona do not have a high school diploma, resulting in lower earnings and fewer job opportunities. At The Excel Center, we’re working to help these individuals make a change, get their education, secure a better-paying job and meet the skilled workforce needs of Arizona.
Meeting these individuals where they are, students at The Excel Center go at their own pace, and we provide free on-site childcare as well as transportation assistance to help reduce additional barriers. Every student gets assigned both a career coach and a life coach to help guide them through their journey. Additionally, ahead of graduation, students can earn professional certifications at no cost in preparation for their post-graduation career journey. Certifications include behavioral health, phlebotomy, pharm tech, veterinary, information technology and several others, helping jumpstart placement within in-demand fields after graduation.
Last year, The Excel Center graduated 41 adult students, with many already lined up for new careers and post-secondary education opportunities to advance their earning potential and improve their lives and those of their families. In 2026, we’re expecting to more than double this number of graduates and look forward to continued exponential growth for years to come.
Tim O’Neal is president and CEO at Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona.
