Christy's Success

In 2013, Christy Gereighty was looking for a change of pace and a path for growth. Christy applied for a Store Manager position at Goodwill and landed the job at the South Cleveland Goodwill. After 9 months at that location, she was asked to transfer to the East Brainerd Goodwill, where she served faithfully as the Store Manager for 10 years. In 2020, the East Brainerd store was hit by a tornado. “It was devastating,” said Christy, “One of my proudest moments with Goodwill was the Grand Opening and all the teamwork involved with its success.”
Later, an exciting opportunity arose: a Director of Retail Operations position. Facing a decade-long gap in her job search experience, Christy recognized the need for support. Knowing Goodwill's commitment to employee growth, she sought assistance from the Goodwill Opportunity Center - East Brainerd. Christy scheduled an appointment with Opportunity Center manager Taryn Balwinski.
Taryn provided guidance, helping Christy update her resume, refine her interview skills, and rediscover her strengths. Reflecting on her experience, Christy shared, "I don't believe I would have been as successful without the support of Taryn and the Opportunity Center. It helped me gain a fresh perspective."
"While some might be surprised that a highly qualified individual like Christy needed interview preparation, it demonstrates her self-awareness and wisdom," said Taryn. Christy is currently the Director of Retail Operations for six of our store locations. “My favorite thing about my job is the challenges because every day we have opportunities to make a difference!” said Christy.
We are thankful for her commitment to helping people transform potential into opportunity!

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Aleetra Rice New CFO

By Lora B • December 2, 2025

Welcome Aleetra Rice, Chief Financial Officer.

Burlington's Success

By Lora B • November 24, 2025

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.