The Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey has asked William J. Forrester to become President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2009. Mr. Forrester has accepted and will take Goodwill’s helm as Rex L. Davidsons retires after 30 years.
Michael Insel, Chairman of the Board of Directors, made the announcement in a letter sent to all Goodwill staff May 28. Mr. Insel, who quoted Goodwill’s founder, Dr. Edgar J. Helms, wrote:
“We are pleased that Bill will lead our continuing efforts to ’help every handicapped and unfortunate person in [our] community [have] an opportunity to develop to his fullest usefulness and enjoy a maximum of abundant living.’”
Mr. Forrester first came to Goodwill in 1983 as Director of Rehabilitation Services. He was named Deputy Executive Director in 1998 and Executive VP and COO the following year. When he first joined Goodwill, the agency served approximately 500 people a year and placed less than 50 in competitive employment. Today, Goodwill serves more than 136,000 people and places 13,000 in competitive employment.
Mr. Forrester has earned several prestigious awards in the course of his long and fulfilling career, including Goodwill Industries International’s Edgar J. Helms Staff Award and the New York Society of Association Executives Outstanding Association Executive Award.
In a note congratulating his successor, Rex L. Davidson said, “I have worked with Bill for over 26 years. I have the upmost confidence that under his able leadership, our Goodwill will continue to grow in size, but more importantly in service to our clients.” After his retirement, Mr. Davidson’s letter said he would continue to serve Goodwill in a consulting capacity, “at the leisure of Bill and the Board.”