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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VIDEO: East Ridge Grand Opening

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.