Darren and Jodi's Success

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.”

Darren And Jodi's Success is a testament to how the right support at the right time can turn uncertainty into 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.”

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Cards and Coffee with the Catoosa County Chamber

By Lora B • May 26, 2026

We had a great time with the Catoosa County Chamber at Cards and Coffee at our Battlefield store and donation center!

DC

By Lora B • May 26, 2026

Recently, Goodwill held an annual award ceremony in conjunction with our first organization-wide One Goodwill event, a day dedicated entirely to investing in the people who make our mission possible. For one day, we closed every Goodwill store, donation site, Opportunity Center, distribution center, and administrative office in the greater Chattanooga area to invest in our people. On that day, our entire Distribution Center team was honored with the Opportunity Accelerator award. This award celebrates innovation that accelerates opportunity and drives meaningful progress for Goodwill and for our community. Over the past year, the Distribution Center has undergone a significant and inspiring transformation, one centered on stronger communication, increased trust, and a more unified team culture. One nominator shared, “The Distribution Center has transformed and grown in amazing ways.” Kai, Goodwill’s Manager of Distribution and Transportation, has a passion for people, communication, and integrity, which has elevated the entire team. One nominator wrote, “Since Kai’s first day in new hire orientation, he has communicated his desire to develop and grow. He cares deeply about his employees, considers their challenges, and goes out of his way to help people find success.” Supporting this transformation is Pan, Director of Operations. Pan is a leader whose commitment to his people has not gone unnoticed. A nomination stated, “Pan is always willing to listen to our problems and do what is necessary to correct them.” “The biggest change I’ve seen with our distribution center team is our cohesiveness,” said Pan. “We work well together.” “Winning the Opportunity Accelerator award was amazing,” said Kai. “I'd be hard-pressed to say I've had a better day professionally. I wasn't only proud of myself; I was proud of our team.”