Ohio Valley Goodwill Announces Retirement of President and CEO Â
Cincinnati, OH · · September 27, 2022 · · Ohio Valley Goodwill Announces the Retirement of President and CEO, Joseph S. Byrum, at the end of 2022.
Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries announces the retirement of long-time President and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph S. Byrum effective December 31st of this year. Byrum has served the organization for the past 45 years as President and CEO and prior to that time, as Program Director.
Over Byrum’s impressive tenure, Ohio Valley Goodwill has received more than 100 national, regional and local awards in recognition of its programs, services, and staff team. In addition, the organization received six consecutive perfect survey outcomes from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an independent, nonprofit organization focused on advancing the quality of services, placing it in the top 3% of similar organizations nationwide.
As President and CEO, Byrum provided the leadership during his tenure to enable the organization to expand its programs, services, and economic impact from $1 million dollars a year to more than $43 million in 2022 and to serve thousands of people with disabilities as well as our nation’s veterans. In 2021 alone, Ohio Valley Goodwill provided services to almost 3000 individuals and assisted 920 to obtain employment and achieve personal success. Ohio Valley Goodwill operates a number of business divisions under Byrum’s direction which contribute to the revenue generation needed to serve its mission including a network of 19 retail stores, 31 Attended Donation Centers, an Auto Auction, an As Is Auction, and an Industrial Services division, all of which working together generate more than 85% of the revenue needed to support the organization’s employment, training and personal development programs.
As President and CEO, Byrum has helped to direct the broadest vision for the future of Ohio Valley Goodwill over the years. Under his leadership, Ohio Valley Goodwill has created long-standing partnerships with local County Boards of Developmental Disabilities, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Veterans Administration, Strategies to End Homelessness and many other community agencies. Implementation of the organizational vision often requires the ability to strategically maneuver the organization through an ever-increasingly competitive and recently challenging environment. As President and CEO, Byrum worked collaboratively with Ohio Valley Goodwill’s Leadership team and Board of Directors, to successfully help the organization navigate not only through its growth and expansion over the years but also through the recent pandemic which necessitated the closure and re-opening of all of its business lines as well as programs and services. Board of Directors Chairman Bill Courtney noted that ” During Joe’s tenure as CEO, his leadership and vision provided the foundation for OVGI’s exceptional growth and success. His passion to positively impact the lives of the individuals served by the organization has been the driving force in his career. The programs and services that he helped create will be his legacy for future generations. Our community has been very fortunate to have had Joe at the helm of OVGI over the past 45 years.”
Over Byrum’s more than 45 year tenure, he has been recognized for his management and leadership skills on a national, regional and local levels with numerous awards including the CEO of the Year in the Non-Profit category, by the Cincinnati Business Courier in 2015.
One of the hallmarks of Byrum’s tenure has been an emphasis on community collaborations and partnerships with millions of dollars in grants being awarded for the organization’s Veterans services programs as well as SourceAmerica and the operation of a number of community-based employment programs. In its 2022 CARF survey, the survey team noted that ” Ohio Valley Goodwill is a leader in the state of Ohio in innovative practices and is commended for the partnerships and collaborative efforts it has developed throughout the community and service area. The organization has a positive reputation and is a respected and valued member of the community. This can be seen as a tribute to the leadership and to a culture that rewards hard work.”
While one can try to summarize the professional legacy of the tenure of someone who has served the community in a leadership role for almost half a century through awards and financial accomplishments, it is truly the number of lives impacted, the personal stories of individuals now working, and those who have attained self-sufficiency which truly reflect the dedication and commitment of Byrum’s service in support of Ohio Valley Goodwill in the Greater Cincinnati community.
Following Byrum’s official retirement from Ohio Valley Goodwill at the end of 2022, he will serve in an advisory consultancy position for Goodwill.
CONTACT:
Sharon Hannon, Marketing Director
Michael Flannery, Public Information Officer
(513) 771-4800, #6364
CELL: (513) 207-0719
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