Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona – Employee Feature: Bryan Smith

What is your position?
I am the Mission Engagement & Economic Development Manager on the Mission Services team. I make sure the stakeholders of communities we work in, know what services Goodwill provides to job seekers and those trying to advance their careers, and that our team is responding to the changing economic needs of those communities by analyzing labor data and reporting on hiring trends for different occupations and skillsets. At the end of the day, I’m trying to make sure that everyone who accesses our mission services, gets connected to the best opportunities available.

What does your average day look like in in your position?
If there is an average day for this role, I haven’t had it yet! Every day is very different, and can cover everything from analyzing and reporting on economic data that have an impact on our team’s strategy to speaking with different groups, from high school students to business executives and elected officials, about the good work we’re doing connecting people to opportunities and how we can work together to grow Arizona’s economy.

What attracted you to work for Goodwill?
I’ve always wanted to create places and experiences that people enjoy. So being able to work with a team that helps people develop the skills and access the opportunities that allow them to live the lives they want, support their families and build strong communities was very exciting for me.

What are some of your previous career experiences?
After graduating from Arizona State University, I worked in an office where I processed mortgage documents before going back to get my Master’s degree in Urban Planning. From there I worked several years for a regional Economic Development Organization where I worked with companies on expanding their workforce and bringing new operations to Greater Phoenix before finding my way to this position at Goodwill.

What do you want to contribute or how will you contribute to our mission?
I contribute to our mission by making sure the community knows about how we help job seekers and people looking to improve their professional skills. I also make sure that our team has all the information they need to serve the community effectively.

What would you tell someone if they were interested in working at Goodwill?
As long as you’re interested in helping other people, there is a place for you on this team. I’ve never been surrounded by more people that are as interested in seeing others succeed, so as long as you come ready to roll your sleeves up and do the hard work, you’ll have the support of every one of the thousands in the Goodwill AZ family.

For more information on Goodwill’s Mission Services click here.
Learn about open positions with Team Goodwill!