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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

Vice President of Organizational Development
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

Leah Vetter

Board Chair

 

 Leah joined Goodwill Omaha’s board in 2021. She is the area president of the Heartland Branch at Gallagher Benefit Services, serving the territory in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota

Justin Spooner

Vice Chair

 Justin Spooner, Commercial Real Estate Brokerage and Development, at Colliers. 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

Treasurer

 

 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.
Bob Bertsch, Jr.

Secretary

 Bob has served on Goodwill’s board since 2016. Bob is the senior vice president wealth advisor at Union Bank & Trust (UBT).

 

Miriam Blair

Board Trustee

 

 

 Miriam Blair 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.

 
Nick Burianek

Board Trustee

 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.

Juan Padilla

Board Trustee

  

Juan Padilla is a dedicated professional with a strong background in community development and philanthropy. Starting his career at Union Pacific, Juan gained valuable insights into corporate operations before transitioning to the Omaha Community Foundation. There, he honed his skills in resource allocation and community engagement.

Juan later joined Canopy South, where he focused on initiatives that uplift and empower the South Omaha community. Currently, at Lending Link, he continues to make a meaningful impact by fostering economic growth and enhancing opportunities for local residents. With a passion for community service, Juan is committed to driving positive change in South Omaha.
Nadia Blazevich

Board Trustee

 

 Nadia is the Chief Human Resources officer at Owen Industries.

With over 25 years of experience in human resources management, change management, operations, and organizational development, I specialize in building strong, diverse cultures and driving continuous process improvements. As an Academic All-American graduate of Park University, I excelled both academically and athletically, participating in the women’s volleyball and soccer teams. This dual commitment to excellence both on and off the field has shaped my approach to leadership, teamwork, and perseverance.

Born and raised in Little Italy to first generation parents of immigrants from Italy and former Yugoslavia. Active volunteer for Foodbank of the Heartland, Open Door Mission and Habitat for Humanity. 1 son who is currently attending Creighton University and will graduate in May.
Joel Dougherty

Board Chair

 Joel has served on Goodwill’s board since 2019. He is the CEO at All Care Health Center.

 

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.

Financials