Arkansas Goodwill CEO and Business Leader to Chair Goodwill Industries International Board of Directors

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 25, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Goodwill Industries International (GII) Board of Directors has elected Brian Itzkowitz, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas (Little Rock), as the chairman of its board. Itzkowitz took office during the annual Goodwill meeting of executives and board leaders held recently in San Diego, CA, and will serve a one-year term. Itzkowitz has more than 20 years of senior management and social enterprise experience.

Itzkowitz became president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Arkansas in 2008. During his seven years at the agency, he has been instrumental in transforming the organization into a nationally recognized social enterprise. Under his leadership, Goodwill, headquartered in Little Rock, has increased the number of people it serves annually from 1,100 to more than 15,000; increased the number of people placed in employment from 89 to more than 4,200 last year; created 550 jobs internally; and tripled revenue growth. Presently, he oversees more than 800 employees and 39 retail and donation locations statewide.

Prior to Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, Itzkowitz served as vice president of retail operations at
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (North Fort Myers) from 2003 to 2008. He began his nonprofit career at Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake in Baltimore, MD, as director of retail operations from 1998 to 2003. Prior to that, he worked for several retail chains including Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Rite Aid drugstore.

A highly engaged community leader, Itzkowitz maintains active involvement in several professional and community service organizations. He serves on the Arkansas Workforce Development Board, the Little Rock Workforce Development Board, the State Rehabilitation Council, the boards of the Arkansas Society of Association Executives and the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute (CARTI) Foundation, and the leadership team for Arkansas Walk Now for Autism Speaks. Itzkowitz also actively participates in the Rotary Club of Little Rock. In 2013, he was named Arkansas Business Nonprofit Executive of the Year. Most recently, Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, appointed Itzkowitz to the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, which is a key component of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act signed into law by President Obama in July 2014 to help job seekers — including those with disabilities — access necessary services to advance their careers. 

Itzkowitz earned his undergraduate degree in international finance and marketing from the University of Miami. Additionally, he has been certified as chief executive officer and is a graduate of Goodwill's Executive Development Program.

Itzkowitz has been on the GII board since 2011. He chaired the Strategic Issues and Planning Committee in 2014, overseeing the creation of the Goodwill 2016-2020 Common-Ground Aspirations and GII Plan.

"Itzkowitz is passionate about the Goodwill mission, and his outstanding management skills will be invaluable to Goodwill in the year ahead," GII President and CEO Jim Gibbons said.

Itzkowitz and his wife have two children. He is an avid bike rider and enjoys exploring the Natural State with his family.

About Goodwill Industries International
Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with a presence in 14 other countries. Goodwill is one of America's top 20 most inspiring companies (Forbes, 2014). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,000 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com^®. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food services preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2014, more than 426,000 people in the United States and Canada used Goodwill's intensive one-on-one career services to prepare for employment. In addition, more than 24 million people used computers and mobile devices to access Goodwill education, training, mentoring and online learning services to strengthen their skills. To learn more, visit goodwill.org.

To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at Goodwill.org, use the Goodwill Locator app at goodwill.org/apps, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

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SOURCE Goodwill Industries International

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