by Natasha Khairullah
Staff Writer
Tuesday was a big day for three Jacksonville residents who received Goodwill’s “Achiever of the Year” award at the organization’s Annual Striving to Succeed Luncheon at the Morocco Shrine Auditorium.
James Dallas, Robert Goodine and Billy Williams were honored for their Goodwill success stories and for their personal achievements.
The award is presented each year to individuals who have overcome hardship and reached their goals through the help of Goodwill and their own perseverance, according to Beverly Jelinek, vice president of communications for Goodwill Industries of North Florida.
“This was a way to recognize them for all they (the recipients) have accomplished and how far they’ve come,” said Jelinek.
For many, Goodine’s story was one that illustrated a true Goodwill success. As he accepted his award, he recalled a past that was surprising to many individuals in attendance.
Goodine spent 10 years of his life incarcerated for 13 felony charges of drug trafficking throughout Florida and received a life sentence. Because of good behavior, his sentence was lowered to 27 years, then to 12 and finally to 10 years. However, once released in 2005, there was nowhere Goodine could find a job.
“Society has a negative connotation of people who have been in jail,” he said, “and that makes it really hard to turn things around for yourself once you’ve made that decision to take the right path.”
Despite having two bachelor’s degrees, one in Psychology and one in Sociology as well as a master’s degree in industrial relations, Goodine found it difficult to find an employer that would help him turn his life around.
“That’s when I heard about Goodwill,” said Goodine, who was first offered a job with the company as a janitor. “I didn’t let that position limit me. I knew what I was capable of.
Goodine is currently the manager of Warehouse Operations at Goodwill. “Today, Goodwill is my family and I thank them for the opportunities they have provided me with,” he said.
Dallas and Williams, who also both got their start at Goodwill, serve as a cook at a restaurant in Fernandina Beach and a sales consultant for Crest Chevrolet, respectively. Goodwill of North Florida placed over 7,000 people in jobs In 2005 and also ranked fourth among all Goodwills nationwide for the number of people placed into jobs. They offer free job training and placement services to the 14-county area it serves including Duval, St. Johns, Alachua, Baker and Putnam counties.