LAS VEGAS – Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada, Inc. (GSN) is proud to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed retired Air Force Colonel Richard D. (“Rick”) Neal, Jr., as the organization’s new CEO effective June 17, 2019.
“Rick is exactly the leader the organization needs to lead it into the next era,” said outgoing CEO of GSN, John Helderman. “Rick brings many years of executive oversight directing major initiatives with complex priorities. Rick is a great match for our culture and Goodwill of Southern Nevada will benefit tremendously from his leadership.”
Neal was most recently employed at the Clark County School District, where he held the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff and External Relations beginning in June 2015. In this capacity, Neal served on the Nevada Homeland Security Working Group, Las Vegas Metropolitan Multicultural Advisory Committee, and as Vice Chairman of the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee.
Prior to joining the Clark County School District, Neal served in the United States Air Force for 25 years, where he most recently served as commander of the 799th Air Base Group at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. He held assignments in the United States, Turkey, Qatar, and Japan during his Air Force career.
Neal earned a master’s degree in social psychology from Bellevue University in Nebraska, a master’s degree in military operational art and science from Air Command Staff College in Alabama, a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College in Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
“I am excited to take the helm of Goodwill of Southern Nevada and elevate our mission of helping job seekers find work to the next level,” said Neal. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Goodwill of Southern Nevada and the positive impact it has on our community, and I humbly accept the challenge to accelerate that impact, change lives, and lead this great team so that we can further serve our clients.”
Helderman has served as CEO since 2017 and led a successful turnaround for GSN. He expects to rejoin the Board of Directors following a successful transition to Neal. The GSN Board of Directors’ appointment of Neal as the new CEO finalizes a six month process to identify GSN’s next CEO.
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About Goodwill of Southern Nevada
Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada Inc. (Goodwill) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Goodwill is an innovative and sustainable social enterprise offering training services and job placement at Goodwill Thrift Stores and other local employers in Southern Nevada. Goodwill operates two Career Centers and offers a Mobile Career Coach with community-based programs funded through the support of philanthropic giving, government grants, and by selling donated clothing and household items in 17 stores collectively. For more information, or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit www.goodwill.vegas.