In the News
Former CEO Terry Macfarlane Inducted into Goodwill Industries International Hall of Fame
February 12, 2007 – Austin, TX
Former CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, Terry Macfarlane, was inducted last week in Las Vegas, NV, into the Goodwill Industries International prestigious Hall of Fame. Since Goodwill’s conception over a century ago, only 43 individuals have received this award.
The global organization’s Hall of Fame award recognizes CEO’s outstanding achievements from Goodwill’s across the country. The criterion for the honor is based on performance in areas such as: leadership, performance, training and awards or honors.
Terry was officially inducted last week in Las Vegas into the Hall of Fame at Goodwill Industries International’s annual Conference of Executives.
“This is a culmination of a wonderful experience. I love Goodwill and am honored to be associated with the organization. I couldn’t ask for a better way to be recognized,” stated Macfarlane.
Carl E. Hansen, past chairman of both Goodwill of Central Texas and Goodwill Industries International, best summed up Macfarlane’s devotion and service to Goodwill. “Terry was able to uniquely connect with Austin community, board and staff to build trust,” Hansen said. “Throughout his years of leadership, client service always came first. His program style was to develop growth through community donations and store development which eventually gave rise to a successful financial system, allowing for the implementation of services to thousands of clients.”
Born in Houston, Macfarlane attended Dripping Springs High School and the University of Texas at Austin. He returned to Houston to work as a NASA Gemini project manager. During his time there, Macfarlane began to experience impaired vision. However, his character did not allow him to slow down and retire. He arrived at Goodwill Industries of Central Texas seeking a new career opportunity, like so many he would later serve.
Faced with an organization in financial distress, MacFarlane – first as the operations director and then as president and CEO – took the organization from an 84 ranking among all the Goodwills in the nation to 17. Most notably, the people who received job
services grew from 258 a year to more than 4,600. In total, more than 27,000 lives were touched in some way during Macfarlane’s tenure.In addition to Terry’s compassionate commitment, his innovative thinking also put the Austin area Goodwill on the map with the electronic waste recycling program (Reconnect and Computer Works) and temporary employment program (Goodwill Staffing Services). Both of these efforts have been recognized with awards and emulated at other Goodwills throughout the country.