Most people walk into Goodwill looking for a find.
What they may not realize is that those stores are part of something much bigger.

They fund job training.
They support people re-entering the workforce.
They create pathways for individuals working to rebuild stability.

And now, Illahe Hills resident Kathy Goss is helping guide that work at the highest level.

Goss was recently appointed Chair of the Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette (GICW)—an organization that oversees 52 stores and more than 2,500 employees across the region.

She’s not new to the organization. Goss has served on the Goodwill board for more than a decade, contributing to its mission long before stepping into the chair role.

At its core, Goodwill’s model is simple: donated goods are resold, and the proceeds fund programs that help people gain skills, find employment, and move forward. But the impact is anything but small. Every donation, every purchase, feeds into a system designed to create opportunity. For Goss, that mission aligns closely with the kind of work she’s been involved in for years.

She currently serves as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army in Marion and Polk Counties, and her leadership history across Salem spans education, business, and community organizations. She has served as Chair of the Salem-Keizer School Board, President of the Oregon State Fair Commission, and President of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to her work in education and public service, Goss has spent decades in the private sector as a certified general appraiser and president of Capital Valuation Group, bringing a business perspective to the organizations she supports.

Her experience also includes time as a Special Advocate for Children, working directly with youth navigating difficult situations. That same commitment extends beyond her formal roles—she and her husband have also supported a young girl in Thailand, staying involved in her life and development over time.

Across each of these roles, the focus has remained consistent: creating systems that help people move forward.

In her new position with Goodwill, that work continues—this time at a scale that reaches thousands of individuals across the region.

For the Illahe community, it’s a reminder that something as simple as dropping off a donation or a purchase can play a role in a much larger cycle—one that turns everyday items into real opportunities for others.