Burlington's Success

Burlington recently collaborated with Goodwill Opportunity Centers in Chattanooga and Dalton to host a series of hiring events aimed at staffing Burlington store locations, including their new Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton stores.

Burlington store managers Forrest Thomasson, Desmond Hubbard, and Carol Kambhampati shared that hosting hiring events with Goodwill proved to be significantly more desirable than holding hiring events at their own stores.

“It was such a smooth process. Goodwill Opportunity Center staff members greeted applicants and made them feel welcome, which allowed us to focus on conducting interviews,” said Carol.

Attendees were also invited to sign up for Goodwill’s free My Career Advisor online platform, which supports job seekers through every step of their career journey. The platform offers tools and resources for career exploration, resume building, training and education, and access to community resources.

The collaboration between Burlington and Goodwill resulted in 132 job placements in our region.

“Goodwill Opportunity Centers are a gold mine of a resource,” said Forrest. Desmond added, “I would definitely recommend that other employers reach out to Goodwill for hiring support.”

Whether you're a job seeker or an employer in Southeast Tennessee or Northwest Georgia, Goodwill is here to help. Call (423) 629-2501 or visit www.goodwillchatt.org/missionservices.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Darren and Jodi's Success

By Michelle Turner • January 16, 2026

When Darren and Jodi made the decision to leave their longtime Florida home to help care for Jodi’s aging parents in Chattanooga, they never imagined how challenging the transition would be. They started their new adventure by buying a house in Chattanooga. Darren turned in his notice at his job at the United Way in Fort Myers, and Jodi resigned from her role as an Executive Vice President at a wealth management company. “We thought we would have no problem finding new jobs. We're both experienced in so many things,” said Jodi. Despite their impressive resumes and years of experience, weeks turned into months of job searching. The stress was mounting. Jodi shared her concerns with her friend in Florida, who reminded her that Goodwill offers free career assistance. Darren and Jodi visited the Goodwill Opportunity Center in East Brainerd. When they arrived, Opportunity Center Manager, Taryn, discussed their situation with them. She helped them update their resumes and connected them with resources and job leads tailored to their skills. Soon after, Darren accepted a job as Operations Manager at the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, and Jodi accepted a job as a Client Business Advisor with Unum. “I really enjoyed having the opportunity to help the Phillips family,” said Taryn, Goodwill Opportunity Center Manager. “At Goodwill, we know that career transitions can be overwhelming, especially when relocating to a new city. Our goal is to provide personalized support, whether it’s resume assistance, job leads, or confidence-building, free of charge, so that each person we help can move forward with hope and opportunity.” “I am positive that all of the guidance we received at the Goodwill Opportunity Center is what made the difference,” said Jodi. “Now we tell people we know who are job hunting to go to Goodwill.”