With deep gratitude and admiration, Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona (GISA) announces the retirement of Co-Presidents/CEOs Lisa Allen and Liz Gulick as they conclude their decades of service in the non-profit sector. Their departure marks the end of a transformative era of leadership and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the organization.
Stepping into the role of President/CEO is current Executive Vice President Erich Schmidt, whose 14 years of service with GISA have prepared him to lead the organization into its next phase of growth and impact.
“Liz and Lisa’s leadership has left an incredible mark on Goodwill of Southern Arizona and the communities we serve,” expressed Schmidt. “Their vision, commitment and belief in the potential of every individual have shaped not only our organization, but the lives of thousands of people throughout Southern Arizona. I am honored to continue building on the foundation they created and look forward to expanding our mission for years to come.”
(Submitted by Jillian Sommers)
Allen joined GISA in 2007, bringing institutional Goodwill knowledge. She began her Goodwill career in Portland, Oregon, working her way up to District Manager before moving to Tucson to be GISA’s Chief Operating Officer. In 2015, she was promoted to Co-President/CEO.
With more than 30 years of business leadership experience, Allen has guided growth across retail operations, multi-store management, loss prevention, training, and site development. During her tenure, GISA’s donated goods program grew by more than 500% by opening 18 stores and she launched the organization’s online business, which has grown into a multi-million-dollar annual operation. This growth also resulted in a workforce expansion taking GISA’s operation from 250 fulltime employees in 2007 to now over 600.
Gulick joined Goodwill in 2009 as Workforce Development Director and has spent her tenure expanding access to education, training, and development opportunities across Southern Arizona. Under her leadership, GISA increased the number of programs offered and the number of individuals served annually from 5,500 to more than 11,000 by expanding service options from two programs to fourteen.
She created and helped significantly expand youth programming to support juvenile justice-involved youth and out-of-school/out-of-work opportunity youth, grew the organization’s neighborhood Career Centers from two locations in Tucson to six centers in Southern Arizona, and oversaw the opening of four Youth Reengagement Centers.
Together, Allen and Gulick have spent a combined 36 years advancing GISA’s mission. Their leadership has helped ensure more Southern Arizona residents have access to workforce development training, employment resources, education, and support services.
“Goodwill has always been about creating opportunities, and the greatest privilege has been seeing those opportunities change lives,” shared Allen. “Liz and I are incredibly proud of the team, partnerships, and community relationships that have carried this mission forward. We know Goodwill of Southern Arizona is in excellent hands and will continue making a meaningful difference.”
“Serving this organization and community has been an honor,” Gulick remarked. “The growth we’ve experienced has been possible because of the dedication of our employees, partners, and the people we serve. We are excited to see the next chapter unfold.”
As Schmidt begins his leadership as President/CEO, he looks forward to building upon the momentum created by Allen and Gulick. He plans to continue to advance GISA’s mission: that all people have the opportunity to reach their potential and contribute to their community.
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