March 1, 2016 – Our keynote speaker this week was Robert Smith, President and CEO at Palmetto Goodwill. Smith began his career at Palmetto Goodwill in 1981 as a truck driver. During the past 34 years, Smith has held several positions within the organization before becoming President and CEO in 1998.
In 2014, Palmetto Goodwill provided employment services to 57,981 people, which increased to 65,000 in 2015. In addition, Palmetto Goodwill placed 1,596 people into new jobs and provided employment services to 2,480 people with disabilities in 2014. Smith began his presentation by showing a video of a young man opening a letter from an employer offering him his first job. Smith explained the positive impact created by Palmetto Goodwill, and the numerous companies that partner with Palmetto Goodwill, offering jobs to persons from all walks of life, including people with disabilities.
Palmetto Goodwill has partnered with R. B. Stall High School to offer over fifteen students the opportunity to work and go to school at the same time. The program, Workforce Academy, began last summer with a job skills training course. When school started, the students in the Workforce Academy program began working every other day at the Palmetto Goodwill facility on Rivers Avenue. The students each work about 20 hours a week, and on the days they are not working, they are completing their core high school course. In addition to earning high school credit, the students have the opportunity to earn a paycheck. While two of the students have dropped out of the program, almost all of the remaining students have completed their diploma requirements and are expected to graduate.
Palmetto Goodwill’s Commercial Service division provides cost-effective solutions for various businesses and contract service needs. Currently, Palmetto Goodwill provides business solutions for Food Service, Custodial Service, Grocery Shelf Stocking, Switchboard Operations, Warehouse Operations and secured Mailroom Service. Smith explained the various benefits of these services, including (i) single source provider committed to not only meeting, but exceeding customer expectations, (ii) professional, well trained and experienced management team available around the clock, (iii) talented staff trained in safety, sanitation and equipment operation and (iv) cost effective solutions to all your contract service needs. Several of the existing businesses utilizing Palmetto Goodwill commercial services include GSA Federal Buildings, SPAWAR/NPTU, Charleston Air Force Base, Naval Weapons Station, and National Weather Station (NOAA).
Smith shared a story about how he was contacted early Christmas morning 2015 by Crisis Ministries regarding a family in need of basic necessities due to their home being destroyed by a fire. Despite the local retail stores not being open on Christmas day, Smith and his family took the supply list to the Goose Creek store and they “shopped” for the family. Smith and his family delivered the items to the family at a local hotel. This is one example of how Smith and Palmetto Goodwill have worked closely with various local and national organizations providing relief and aide to those in need throughout the Charleston area and the State of South Carolina.
—Abe Gutting, Keyway Committee