Home » Who We Are

What We Believe

Mission

Through the power of donated goods, we train and support people to be their BEST.

Vision

A better future one opportunity at a time

Values

Belonging, Excellence, Service, Trust
(BEST)

Goodwill Omaha

Breaking Down Barriers to Help People Discover Their Full Potential

Many people know Goodwill Omaha as a place to donate used clothing and household items or find great bargains. But you might not know the mission at the heart of our organization: providing job training and placement services to people with disabilities and other barriers or disadvantages. At our core, we’re passionate about eliminating barriers to opportunity and expanding access to necessary job training and placement services.

Here’s How It Works

The Donation Lifecycle

STEP ONE	You donate your gently used items to Goodwill Omaha at any of our donation centers.
STEP TWO	We process, sort, and sell these items in our retail stores.
STEP THREE	If an item does not sell at any of our retail stores we give it one more chance where is is sold at our outlet by the pound. If it still does not sell, we recycle it giving millions of pounds of textiles and recyclable items another purpose and keeping it out of landfills. We extend the life of usable items, and optimize their utility by using sales revenue to address critical needs in the community we serve. When items cannot be sold in the stores, we recycle and resell fabric, metal, electronics, books and more through our salvage operation.
STEP FOUR	The proceeds from those retail sales go on to fund our employment training, certification, and placement programs. Specifically, the funds help us employ people to perform training, purchase supplies, and cover standard operational costs that keep our programs up and running.
STEP FIVE	Thanks to the revenue generated by your donation, our programs give thousands of people in the Omaha area the chance to earn a living, discover independence and succeed in life. In 2023 alone, 50,113 services were provided to individuals in our community! Our Impact

Still have questions? We understand—our model isn’t the most common. We’re committed to transparency and have done our best to address common questions.

FAQs

Affiliations & Accreditations

Goodwill Omaha is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 agency governed by a local board of trustees. We are a member agency of Goodwill Industries International of Rockville, Maryland. We’re proud to be affiliated with a number of agencies and organizations that are committed to equitable employment, ethics, and transparency.

Our Leadership Team

Tobi Mathouser

President & Chief Executive Officer

As president and CEO, Tobi oversees the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of Goodwill Omaha’s mission programs, federal contracts and retail organization. Tobi began her career with Goodwill as a mission program coordinator in October 2006. Since then, she has served in a variety of positions, including organizational development manager, federal contracts director, and director of mission advancement.

Tobi is a member of Vistage® Worldwide, Rotary Club of Omaha, and a trustee of the Business Ethics Alliance®, which promotes an environment where the discussion and practice of ethics are encouraged and expected in our community.

In 2017, Tobi enrolled in Goodwill Industries International’s Executive Development Program, a globally respected, award-winning program designed to mold experienced leaders within Goodwill organizations. She previously earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology from the University of Nebraska–Omaha, and she is a graduate of Goodwill Industries International’s Senior Leadership Program.

John Stilley

Chief Financial Officer

Janelle Peterson

Chief Operating Officer

Erin Blackledge

Senior Vice President of Administration

Matt Mainelli

Chief Mission Officer

Gary Utz

Executive Director of Goodwill Specialty Services, Inc.

Shantel Featherson

Retail Operations Contact
402-935-4551

Deb Hermann

Development, Marketing,
Media Contact
402-231-1901

Dhermann@goodwillomaha.org

Board of Trustees

Justin Spooner

Board Chair

Justin is a Vice President at Colliers, focused on Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and Development. He developed a niche in the commercial real estate discipline and finds nothing more satisfying than developing new relationships, solving problems, and contributing to the overall success of a business. Justin is a proud Omaha native and has served in nonprofit development roles since 2013. He currently sits on the board at the Jewish Federal of Omaha and is part of a steering committee for the United Way of the Midlands.

Aaron Johnson

Vice Chair

Aaron joined Goodwill Omaha’s board in 2021. A partner at Baird Holm LLP and chair of the firm’s Corporate Section, he primarily practices in the areas of commercial lending, real estate, and corporate finance.

Nadia Blazevich Secretary	Nadia is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Owen Industries with over 25 years of experience in HR, change management, operations, and organizational development. She is recognized for building strong, diverse workplace cultures and driving continuous improvement. An Academic All-American at Park University, she competed in volleyball and soccer, shaping her collaborative and resilient leadership style.	Nick Burianek Treasurer	As Vice President of Financial Consulting at Percipio Partners, Nick works alongside business owners and their employees to maximize financial department efficiency and improve the overall performance of the company.
Leah Vetter Chair Emeritus	Leah joined Goodwill Omaha’s board in 2021. She is the president of the Central Region at Gallagher Benefit Services, serving the territory in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.	Miriam Blair Board Trustee	Miriam is the Inclusiveness and Diversity Manager at Kutak Rock. Miriam is a former employee of Goodwill, where she oversaw the YouthBuild program for several years.
Jisella Brough Board Trustee	Jisella is a globally recognized leader in aging, caregiving, and longevity. She spent 16 years helping lead Home Instead + Honor Technology’s worldwide growth and now serves as Founder & CEO of One For the Ages℠, supporting organizations shaping the future of care. Her work is driven by both professional expertise and her personal experience as a family caregiver.	Juan Padilla Board Trustee	Juan is a community-focused leader with experience in corporate operations, philanthropy, and neighborhood development. He has supported South Omaha through roles at Union Pacific, the Omaha Community Foundation, Canopy South, and now Lending Link, where he works to expand economic and financial opportunities.
Blake Vardaman Board Trustee	Blake is the CEO of States Resources Corp., bringing more than two decades of leadership in finance, credit risk, commercial lending, and portfolio strategy. Under his leadership, SRC helps financial institutions nationwide strengthen loan portfolio performance and navigate complex credit environments. His deep expertise and steady strategic guidance make him a powerful addition to our board.	Andrew Wilson Board Trustee	Andrew Wilson has been a litigation attorney with Burnett Wilson Law, LLP since 2019, focusing on personal injury, commercial litigation and criminal defense. Andrew is currently serving as a board member on Youth Emergency Services Board, Countryside Community Church Charitable Foundation, Omaha Bar Association and the NE Bar Association – NCLE Committee.

Learn More About Us

We are committed to transparency in every facet of our organization. Explore our strategic plan and learn more about our financials below.