Our Leadership
Board of Directors 2026
Chairperson: Mr. Brian Strong, Chief Executive Officer, TenHats
Chairperson-Elect: Mr. Bob Kesling, Retired, former Director of Broadcasting, VOL Network
Secretary-Treasurer: Mr. John H. Ley, Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, SmartBank
President & CEO: Ms. Elizabeth Nother
Directors:
Mr. Wade Esau, Director of Technical Services, Elo Touch Solutions
Ms. Rachel Larson, Project Manager, Denark
Merilee McCurdy, Ph.D., Associate Professor School Psychology, University of Tennessee
Mr. Connor Miles, Principal, Peppertree Holdings
Ms. Katherine Moore, Partner/Vice President, Tennessee Valley Title Insurance Company
Mr. Jake Morris, Auditor, Tennessee Valley Authority, Office of Inspector General
Ms. Tara Duncan Richardson, Director, Knox County Probation Department
Dr. Amy Skinner, LPC/MHSP, Clinical Therapist, Knoxville Counseling Services
Leadership Team
Cynthia Brusman, Human Resources Director
Meaghan Johnson, Vice President of Workforce Development
Nicole Knoxville, Senior Vice President of Retail
Johnny Lane, Vice President of Operations and Commercial Services
David White, Vice President of Finance
Our History
Goodwill Industries-International was founded more than 100 years ago by Edgar James Helms, a Methodist minister in Boston, Massachusetts. In Boston, Helms sought ways to assist residents in the city's impoverished South End. Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of the city and then hired and trained the poor and immigrants to repair the used goods. These donations were resold or given to the people who repaired them.
Since this time, Goodwill's mission has grown into an international movement, improving the quality of life for disabled and disadvantaged individuals around the world.
Goodwill Industries-Knoxville, Inc. was founded in 1971 to fill the need for a community program for the young disabled population. The organization was meager in it's beginning, but has since expanded to serve over 2,440 in 2025..
Our Service Area
Our service area includes Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, and Union County. We operate 25 stores throughout our 15-county East Tennessee service area. Find a store near you.
