Macon, GA. — Cindy Stone, custodial training coordinator at Goodwill Industries® of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, developed a custodial training and certification program for people with physical and cognitive disabilities, giving unemployed individuals a leg up in an almost recession-proof industry. Her innovative workforce solution is being honored this year with the Robert E. and Charlotte Watkins Award for Mission Advancement from Goodwill Industries International.
The Commercial Custodial Technician Program is a four-week training that teaches basic components of custodial services. Having completed the program, participants obtain a portable, nationally recognized certification. Of the 113 individuals trained so far, more than 80 percent are now employed in the custodial field.
Many of those taking the training at Goodwill® are homeless, unemployed, on welfare or face jail time for failure to make child support payments. Upon completion of the program, these same individuals have found homes, are able to support their families, no longer rely on public assistance and keep up with child support payments.
“Cindy’s contributions and leadership have resulted in an innovative, replicable training program that can make a difference in the lives of those with a variety of disabilities,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “This type of innovation is exactly what Robert and Charlotte Watkins had in mind when endowing the award.”
Stone will receive her award at Goodwill’s annual Delegate Assembly meeting in Tacoma, WA, this June.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Robert E. and Charlotte Watkins Award for Mission Advancement honors a Goodwill leader (CEO, staff or volunteer) who has made an innovative contribution (service or process) to the advancement of the Goodwill mission. The contribution may involve career services or a related field, and should have a lasting effect on the ability of one or more Goodwill organizations to serve people with disabilities or others having a hard time finding employment. The award is named for Robert E. and Charlotte Watkins, who together dedicated more than 100 years of service to the Goodwill movement.
