Goodwill of North Georgia celebrated the achievements of 370 graduates from its renowned training programs on May 16.
More than 160 graduates from this year’s class have already secured positions with top employers, including Amazon, Georgia Department of Transportation, Kubota, Cottrell, FedEx, RNN Group, Marta, Old Navy, and within Goodwill itself.
Goodwill of North Georgia has been working for decades to effectively identify the workforce needs of North Georgia communities and develop programs to train people across a wide range of skilled trades and career opportunities. The organization remains the number one Goodwill in the country for connecting people with jobs.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who sits on Goodwill of North Georgia’s Board of Directors, spoke at the ceremony, supporting the agency’s impactful work within the community. Rodney D. Bullard, CEO of The Same House and an advocate for economic mobility and social unity, delivered the keynote address.
Goodwill of North Georgia serves a 45-county area with more than 100 stores and donation centers, along with 14 career centers dedicated to supporting job seekers. These centers offer a broad range of no-cost training programs, including Customer Service, Environmental Services, Phlebotomy, Welding, Youth Employment Services, Highway Construction, and more. Designed to meet the needs of all individuals—including veterans, people with disabilities, youth, single parents, the under-employed, and those with criminal backgrounds—Goodwill’s efforts ensure that everyone seeking employment receives the necessary support and opportunities.
In the last year alone, more than 22,113 individuals have found jobs through Goodwill of North Georgia’s efforts, highlighting the agency’s workforce development effectiveness and its critical role in the local economy.
This year’s graduation also spotlights the extraordinary accomplishments of two ‘Graduates of the Year,’ each representing a different region of North Georgia:
- Northwest Graduate of the Year: Anthony Basciani from the Woodstock Career Center, who excelled in the Welding program and has begun his career with ST Metal Works.
- Metro Graduate of the Year: Krishanda Benton from the Metropolitan Parkway Career Center, who has successfully transitioned from the Phlebotomy program to a role at Messiah For Life.
To learn more about Goodwill of North Georgia’s career services and job training programs, please visit www.goodwillng.org.
