Helping Veterans Achieve Personal Success… A Veteran’s Story of Giving Back

John Farley is a team member with Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Veterans Services program. John is a Case Manager and his focus is on employment. His position is funded through a grant received by Goodwill through the Federal Department of Labor. John has been with the Veteran’s program for about two years and loves it. ” Helping veterans and working with Goodwill is very gratifying for me,” said John.

John’s own story about how he came to Goodwill is very compelling. John came to Goodwill in August of 2011, after being transient for more than 3 years. A former Marine, John had been working with the Wyoming Police Department as a 911 dispatcher and his position was eliminated in 2007. He had been employed for more than 8 years in this role and was devastated when he lost his job. For the next four years, John moved from job to job and then, finally decided to pursue his Associate’s degree from Brown Mackie College. In September of 2011, he successfully completed his Associate’s degree (in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies) and at the same time moved into Goodwill’s transitional housing dormitory.

John was very uncomfortable with his transient life style and was determined to move forward at all costs in terms of his own personal growth. In March of 2012, John went back to school to pursue his Bachelor’s degree and at the same time, got a position in Goodwill’s warehouse and then, in the organization’s industrial services contract area. In January 2014, John gained full time employment status and in February of that year, earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In October 2014, he applied for the position of Veteran’s Services Case Manager and successfully obtained the job.

Perceived as an outstanding Veteran’s Services employee, Goodwill’s management team think very highly of John’s skills and abilities. ” John is not only a wonderful Case Manager but also, is a role model for the people we serve. As a former Marine who has struggled with homelessness, John is extremely empathic and understanding of the challenges and emotional struggles facing the veteran population,” said Bill Darnell, Veteran’s Services Grants Director.

As a Case Manager, John can serve as many as 14 veterans per month. His role is focused on helping the veterans to obtain employment which includes everything from helping them to purchase interview clothing, developing resumes, assisting with interview preparation and upon employment, helping with everything needed to ensure job retention and personal success.
” I feel just as excited as the veterans I serve do when they get a job and start to attain their own personal aspirations,” said John.

To find out more about Goodwill Veteran’s Services program, visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/services or call (513)631-4500. Please note that veterans interested in Goodwill programs and services must be referred by a Goodwill partner organization such as the Veterans Administration.