Local Goodwill CEO, Tom Feurig, Earns National Recognition

North Fort Myers, FL, March 18, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Tom Feurig, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, has been awarded the coveted P.J. Trevethan Award from Goodwill Industries International. The award was announced at Goodwill Industries International’s Conference of Executives in Santa Fe, NM.

The P.J. Trevethan honor is awarded annually to the Goodwill CEO who displays the strongest commitment to staff professional development. The award was presented by Frank McGree, President/CEO of Goodwill Industires of Eastern Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, who explained Feurig’s qualifications for the honor: “Our winner this year has demonstrated a companywide approach to training, which has radically changed the internal culture of his organization and instituted a new philosophy of staff development.”

Feurig came to Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida less than six years ago, and in that time, has implemented a number of training programs developed for various levels of personnel. Under his supervision, the local Goodwill has begun a “succession planning” program, which identify gaps in management, then trains and develops internal candidates for those positions. During Feurig’s tenure, the local Goodwill has also developed a “manager-in-training” program for store managers, implemented the “ACE” program, which rewards employees for providing an “Amazing Customer Experience,” established a 60-day action plan for employees with poor performance, conducted employee opinion surveys, and hired a full-time training director.

Feurig also supports members of his senior management team as they attempt to develop themselves into stronger executives. Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida has graduated two members of its senior staff from Goodwill Industries International’s Executive Development Program. One of those graduates, Brian Itzkowitz, recently was named Chief Executive Officer at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas.

As a result of Feurig’s changes at Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, turnover within the organization has reduced by more than 19%. In addition, Feurig’s changes have reaped other rewards. During Feurig’s tenure as President/CEO in Southwest Florida, the organization has grown from $11 million dollars in annual revenue in 2002 to $20 million in 2007. The Southwest Florida Goodwill has also made significant strides in mission-based objectives since Feurig’s arrival. In 2002, Goodwill provided vocational and social services to 2015 Southwest Floridians. Last year, that number jumped to 8,160.

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida helps people with disabilities and other barriers to employment discover and develop their full potential through work and career development services. The agency serves Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades, and Hendry Counties. Revenue generated from the sale of “gently-used” items at Goodwill’s 23 Southwest Florida stores is used to support job training and placement programs, 11 apartment complexes for people with disabilities and income-sensitive seniors, a transportation assistance program, a charter school for students with developmental disabilities, and several other services designed to help Southwest Floridians become more independent.

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