Burlington's Success

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.

By Lora B March 4, 2026
Goodwill Opportunity Center - Dalton to Host Kinetic Hiring Event March 6
By Michelle Turner February 27, 2026
Goodwill Opens New East Ridge Store and Donation Center A new Goodwill store and donation center opened in East Ridge on Thursday, Feb. 26. The location, at 3715 Ringgold Road in the former Food City building, is approximately significantly larger than the previous Goodwill location in East Ridge. The over 40,000-square-foot building will feature a Goodwill store, a Donation Xpress Center, and a dedicated space for a future Goodwill Opportunity Center. The previous Goodwill location in East Ridge, located at 5082 South Terrace, in front of the AMC movie theater, will remain open as a Goodwill Donation Xpress Center. After the opening of the new East Ridge store, the local nonprofit will operate 16 stores and three Goodwill Opportunity Centers in the region. Goodwill Opportunity Centers provide career search services and employment-readiness assistance at no charge to the community. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Goodwill accepts donations during regular store hours. “We’re proud to expand our presence and deepen our commitment to the community,” said Gena Weldon, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area. “Those who shop and donate join us in our mission to help people overcome barriers to employment, divert millions of pounds of items from local landfills, equip people with training to prepare for the future of work and make a real impact in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.” Those interested in learning about Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area can find more information at goodwillchatt.org.
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By Lora B February 16, 2026
A New Goodwill Store and Donation XPress Center in East Ridge is Opening on February 26, 2026!
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