Skip to content
Employment Services at Goodwill NCW
People are at the core of who we are. At Goodwill NCW, we provide pathways for people who are underserved, underrepresented and/or disadvantaged who have a goal of building job skills that lead to sustained employment and improved financial stability. We are passionate about helping people with barriers to employment develop core skills tailored to their individual needs, grow and thrive. It’s why we do what we do.
When you shop at or donate to your local Goodwill NCW, you are directly supporting programs that improve lives. With every purchase and donation, your support helps make a life-changing impact on neighbors in your community across the counties in north central Wisconsin.
Pathways are different for everyone
We guide individuals, helping them build transferable employability skills at a pace that’s tailored to their own pathway.
Pathways may include:
- Earning a first paycheck in one of our retail stores and training centers or other local businesses.
- Developing connections through community involvement.
- Creating small groups to learn and grow as part of a team environment.
- Building work skills through work and volunteering opportunities.
Unique pathways
Our programs are meant to complement each other and provide flexible pathways based on an individual’s goals. An individual’s path to success can include a variety of experiences across a combination of programs. Individuals can participate and be referred into various programs from job and social-skills training to financial coaching and teamwork-skills building.
Job-skills training programs
We help individuals overcome barriers and find meaningful work. We provide on-the-job training in our retail stores and training centers as well as through government and community partnerships.
Offers opportunities to safely explore career interests, develop relationships and build self-advocacy and work skills through volunteering and participation in the community.
Contact: Tina Schaffert
Phone: 920-560-1221
These services connect people to competitive employment opportunities in a variety of industries and businesses in our communities.
Assists in career exploration, resume creation, preparation for finding a dream job, employment skills training, soft and digital skills development, benefit analysis as well as job retention.
Provides job coaching services on a case by case basis to teach, inspire and empower persons served to gain independence, further develop employment skills, and reach their goals.
Eastern Region:
Oshkosh, Fox Valley, and Chilton/Brillion/New Holstein
Contact: Kalli Pethan
Phone: 920-968-6573
Group Supported Employment is an employment training service provided by Goodwill NCW in partnership with local businesses and funded in part by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services. Through this service, a small group of individuals on Goodwill NCW’s payroll complete specific work assignments onsite at a local business, while receiving continuous support from a Goodwill NCW Job Coach.
The goal is for individuals to gain experience and skills that lead to permanent employment in an industry that aligns with their interests and qualifications.
Contact: Tina Schaffert
Phone: 920-560-1221
A program that takes place in a Goodwill Retail Store and Training Center to help individuals with disabilities prepare to enter a competitive work environment. Training focuses on helping individuals develop good work habits and gain basic skills and abilities essential for employment in any field, such as following directions and being punctual.
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Project SEARCH is an internship program implemented in communities around the world that provides training and education leading to competitive employment for people with disabilities.
Project SEARCH sites:
ThedaCare Regional Medical Center - Appleton
Contact: Kailey Colwell, Project SEARCH Program Leader
Phone: 920-968-6878
Oshkosh Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus
Contact: Kailey Colwell, Project SEARCH Program Leader
Phone: 920-968-6878
Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital
Contact: Leigha Plehn, Senior Employment Navigator
Phone: 715-201-2404
Provides valuable work experience for high school students with disabilities through a cooperative effort between Goodwill and area school districts. These work experiences help to bridge the gap between the classroom and working in the community.
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Offers self-directed and instructor led options to help build soft, digital and employability skills.
Provides opportunities for individuals in all communities to access services available through their local Goodwill.
Eastern Region:
Fox Valley and Oshkosh
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Ashwaubenon, Green Bay East, Green Bay West, Manitowoc, Shawano
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Central Region:
Antigo, Plover, Stevens Point, Rhinelander, Waupaca, Wisconsin Rapids
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Northern Region:
Eau Claire, Lake Hallie, Rib Mountain, Rice Lake, Weston
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Western Region:
La Crosse, Marshfield, Menomonie, Onalaska, Tomah
Contact: Morgan Hinkley
Phone: 920-968-6824
Community programs
We are committed to helping individuals overcome barriers and improve their quality of life. We understand there is a need for ongoing support and assistance to individuals and families.
Provides emergency assistance — on a referral basis only — to local agencies, allowing those agencies to help clients in need with products from our retail stores.
Offers children with disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19 the opportunity to play baseball in an organized, non-competitive league on a safe, accessible baseball field. In addition to the importance of being part of team, the Miracle League is also about making new friends, building self-esteem and being treated just like other kids.
Miracle League of the Fox Valley
Contact: Jennifer Haberman
Phone: 920-204-6067
Service Location:
1800 Appleton Road
Menasha, WI 54952
Learn about ML
of the Fox Valley
Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley
Contact: Amy Standiford
Phone: 715-271-8667
Service Location:
2913 Blakeley Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Learn about ML of
the Chippewa Valley
Miracle League of the Lakeshore
Contact: Laura Ziemer
Phone: 920-905-3761
Service Location:
P.O. Box 232
Manitowoc, WI 54221
Designed to help people obtain post-secondary education that leads to career employment opportunities. Intake and assessment, case management, information and referral, and comprehensive wrap-around services (financial, vocational, life skills, etc.) are provided to participants who did not think that obtaining a college education was a realistic goal for them. Support is available to participants from intake all the way through post-graduation employment. This is a partnership program with the Fox Valley Technical College.
Contact: Mike Garrigan
Phone: 920-968-6971
Provides an alternative or complementary approach to traditional methods of justice. The intent of restorative justice is to help offenders take responsibility for their actions, understand any harm that they caused, offer an opportunity to make amends and help discourage repeat offenses. It also gives victims an active voice in the resolution of their cases.
Marathon County
Contact: Paula Schultz
Phone: 715-359-5360
Service Location:
2713 Schofield Avenue
Schofield, WI 54476
Financial programs
Financial wellness is foundational to overcoming barriers. We offer a variety of financial services in our communities, ranging from budget planning and first-time home buyer classes to bankruptcy education and tax filing assistance.
Provides financial and debt solutions, tailored to your situation on a variety of financial matters such as managing debt, budgeting, bankruptcy counseling, buying a home and managing student loan debt.
“I go home from work with satisfaction from seeing students or veterans get employment. We get such rewards from that.”
Deb, Store Team Leader at the Tomah Retail Store and Training Center