Michigan Executive Recognized for Workplace Culture

President and CEO Receives Goodwill Industries International’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award
Grandville, Mich. – Years ago, Kathy Crosby worked at the Navy Exchange at Guantanamo Bay, and was given insight into the importance of engaging and respecting different cultures. She has since adopted these values and successfully incorporated them into the environment at Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids. The Grandville-based Goodwill® organization has developed an environment made up of employees of many different backgrounds, where everyone is encouraged to learn from each other.
To ensure an inclusive workplace, Crosby intentionally seeks to diversify her business partners, staff, board, and vendors. In particular, she works to ensure that women and people of color are given fair opportunities. Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids also partners with the Grand Rapids-based organization, Partners for a Racism-Free Community, to further Goodwill’s efforts towards racial equity. Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids was also recognized locally in 2015 with the Diversity Visionary Award from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to her duties as president and CEO, Crosby writes a blog on the Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids website, where she shares information on issues and events relating to diverse cultures.
As a former member of the Goodwill Industries International Board of Directors, Crosby still serves tirelessly on the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, encouraging Goodwill organizations across the United States and Canada to actively and intentionally promote more inclusive environments at all levels of their organizations, but particularly at the board and top-management levels.
“Kathy has served as an example within the Goodwill enterprise on what true diversity and inclusion looks like,” said Kimberly Lewis, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. “She is intentionally inclusive to women and people of color in all aspects, and leads her team by example on the issue.”
Crosby has served on the Huntington Bank Women’s Advisory Board and Varnum’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council. She is also a former employee of Goodwill Industries International.
The Goodwill Industries International Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award recognizes a Goodwill employee who works hard to implement Goodwill’s commitment to diversity and inclusion within a local Goodwill organization.
 
CONTACT:
Jill Wallace
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids
Phone: (616) 532-4200
[email protected]
 
Savanna Mickens
Public Relations Specialist
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5293
[email protected]
 
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS
Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to changing lives and communities through the power of work. Since 1966, the organization has offered a wide range of employment and training programs to assist those with disabilities and other barriers to employment in developing their marketable skills in order to find meaningful employment. Its efforts are supported by revenue from its 20 retail stores in a five-county area, as well as from monetary donations. For more information, visit www.goodwillgr.org.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill Industries International (GII) is a network of 162 community-based, autonomous organizations in the United States and Canada with a presence in 12 other countries. GII is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the organization’s highest rating for charities. GII was also ranked by enso as the #1 brand doing the most good in the world for two consecutive years, and was the only nonprofit brand rated in Forbes’ 20 most inspiring companies for three consecutive years. Local Goodwill organizations are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that create job training programs, employment placement and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,200 stores collectively and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Local Goodwill organizations build revenues and create jobs by contracting with commercial, state, government and non-government organizations to provide a wide range of business services, including manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, packaging, assembly, food preparation, document management, groundskeeping and  administrative. Last year, local Goodwill organizations collectively placed more than 288,000 people in employment in the United States and Canada. In addition, more than 38 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills, and more than 1.7 million people received in person services. To learn more, visit goodwill.org.