New VP of Engagement & Philanthropy, Jim Bartoo

Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area is pleased to announce Jim Bartoo as its new Vice President of Engagement and Philanthropy, joining the organization’s senior leadership team as Goodwill continues to grow its presence and mission impact across the region.

A Chattanooga native, Bartoo brings more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience and a strong background in brand development, strategic fundraising, community engagement and storytelling. His career includes senior leadership roles with zoological organizations in Nashville and Columbus, Ohio, as well as earlier experience in television news production in Chattanooga.

“Jim has spent his career connecting people to organizations and causes that matter,” said Gena Weldon, President and CEO of Goodwill Chattanooga. “His ability to build relationships, tell meaningful stories and bring people together around a shared purpose makes him a tremendous addition to our leadership team. As Goodwill continues to grow, we want to make sure our community understands not only what we do, but the impact made possible every day through their support.”

As Vice President of Engagement and Philanthropy, Bartoo will lead an integrated approach to marketing, communications, public relations, philanthropy, advocacy and community engagement. He will focus on strengthening Goodwill’s relationships throughout the community, growing philanthropic support and more clearly connecting the organization’s retail operations with the mission they help make possible. A key part of that work will be telling the “story behind the store,” how donating and shopping at Goodwill help create opportunities for people through employment, training, education and other mission services.

“I’m excited to return to my hometown and join an organization that has been part of this community for more than a century,” said Bartoo. “Goodwill has an incredible story to tell, and I look forward to helping more people understand the impact their donations, purchases, partnerships and philanthropic support can have in the lives of people throughout our region.”

Bartoo’s appointment comes as Goodwill continues to expand its mission impact and capabilities across its 23-county service area in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. For more than a century, Goodwill Chattanooga has worked to help people transform potential into opportunity, creating pathways to greater independence, employment, education and economic opportunity.

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The Goodwill Opportunity Center is excited to be working alongside the Chattanooga i-team. What is an i-team, you ask? The City of Chattanooga’s Innovation Team (i-team) utilizes the Path to Public Innovation, a methodology that centers residents and their perspectives in the process to design new solutions. In alignment with the City of Chattanooga’s One Chattanooga Works strategic initiative, the i-team is tackling complex challenges through data and community engagement, and working with city leaders, residents, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholders to test and implement new ideas focused on workforce development. As part of this initiative, the i-team hosted in-person discussions and ideation sessions at the Goodwill Opportunity Center. During these ideation sessions, Goodwill participants and community members generated ideas about how to grow professional networks, find and access information and opportunities, better understand what jobs are currently available, and what skills, knowledge, and experience are needed for key career pathways. I-team Director Liza Soydan and her team are currently prototyping new solutions to help people gain exposure to available jobs in the Chattanooga area.