As president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International (GII), Steven C. Preston leads a federation of 151 local Goodwill® organizations in the U.S. and Canada with a combined revenue of $8.6 billion. Goodwill is the leading nonprofit provider of workforce training and development in North America and a leader in the secondhand retail market. It is the mission of Goodwill to ensure that every person in our communities has the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential in life. Preston is committed to the belief that by doing so, millions of people who have faced significant barriers and limitations in life will be able to achieve a life of economic livelihood and flourishing.
Since joining Goodwill in 2019, Preston has focused on strengthening all aspects of the Goodwill social enterprise, positioning Goodwill at the forefront of workforce development by expanding proven models of success, forging innovative partnerships with organizations focused on emerging sustainable business practices, and elevating models of excellence across the retail network.
Prior to joining GII, Preston served in numerous operational and financial leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. He headed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) during the 2008 housing crisis. In his role as the U.S. HUD Secretary, Preston served on the board of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). From 2006–2008, Preston was administrator for the Small Business Administration (SBA). Following Hurricane Katrina, he spearheaded a reform agenda to expedite financial support to disaster victims and make the agency more responsive to customers and efficient in the delivery of services. He has led successful turnarounds as the CEO of Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International; and served as the CFO of two Fortune 500 companies: Waste Management and ServiceMaster. Preston graduated with the highest distinction from Northwestern University and holds an MBA from The University of Chicago. Preston also serves on the board of the National Retail Federation (NRF) and is chair of the NRF Foundation. He also serves on the Leadership 18 Executive Committee and on the Wheaton College Board of Trustees.
