Goodwill President And CEO Announces He Will Retire

James M. McClelland, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Inc. since 1974, will step down from that position June 30, 2015. He announced his intention to the Goodwill Board of Directors Thursday.

“Jim’s only the third CEO for Goodwill since 1934 and he’s done an amazing job,” said Darrell E. (“Gene”) Zink, board chairman. “In my many years working with not-for-profit organizations, Jim is among the very best. He has been passionate about the mission of Goodwill, an outstanding leader, an outstanding entrepreneur, and a man with a truly good heart for the people Goodwill serves and his associates."

A committee led by former Goodwill board chairman, Owen B. (“Bud”) Melton, Jr., that includes four other past board chairs, among others, will conduct a national search for McClelland's successor.

McClelland has been at the helm of the organization as it has grown from eight retail stores to 55 locations with more than 3,100 employees.

In recent years, Goodwill has moved beyond retail operations to address socioeconomic issues. It created The Excel Center, a high school for adults without a high school diploma, in 2010. Today, there are nine locations in central Indiana with a total enrollment of nearly 3,000; and the model is being replicated in other states.

In 2011, Goodwill brought a nationally recognized program for first-time moms in low income households, Nurse-Family Partnership, to Marion County. Thirty-one registered nurses are working with more than 600 mothers, expectant mothers, and over 500 babies born to date.

“Greater than any single accomplishment is the way and extent to which the Goodwill team is now able to link individuals and families with education, employment, health, and other services a family might need – whether those services are provided by Goodwill or other organizations in the community,” McClelland noted. “This approach helps make more effective use of existing community resources in focused ways that have potential to reduce generational poverty and the array of social problems that are associated with it.”