Success Stories
Ron Mullin
When Ron Mullin saw an ad in the newspaper featuring Goodwill's older worker program, he had more than 23 years' experience in retail and a lot of energy to offer.
From 1971 to 1994, Ron served as the regional manager for Oshman's sporting goods retailer, overseeing the operations of stores in several states. In the early ‘90s, the company moved to the “megastore” concept and Ron decided to explore other opportunities.
Goodwill was looking for a manager for the Round Rock store and Ron accepted the offer. “I enjoyed it,” said Ron. “I took the larger scale thinking and strategy I learned at Oshman's and implemented some of those practices at Goodwill.”
The approach worked. Ron then moved to managing the organization's Macfarlane store. In 1998, the store's revenue shot up to a new level of $2.6 million and placed it on the list of the top five Goodwill stores in the United States. About two years ago, Ron was promoted to district manager and Jay Arnold, vice president for Goodwill's retail services says he continues to surpass his sales goals.
Ron is grateful for Goodwill and its mission to assist people with barriers to work. “I felt my age was keeping me from being hired when I was looking for a job,” he says. “I am proud of working for Goodwill and am a strong believer in the mission.”
While a good deal of Ron's efforts goes to ensuring Goodwill's success, he likes to take time to travel. His wife has been an educator for 33 years and his two daughters have followed in her footsteps – one as a counselor, the other a classroom teacher.
In his 11 years at Goodwill, Ron says he enjoys working closely with staff members to build a strong team. And he feels his biggest accomplishment was last year's opening of three new stores in just four months in 2006. “I feel I will leave a positive legacy for the retail side of Goodwill, which leads to more jobs for people with barriers.”