Former Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana CEO Inducted Into
Goodwill Industries International Hall of Fame

In 2005, James J. (Jim) Collins, former CEO of Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana, was selected for induction in the Goodwill Industries International Hall of Fame. Collins, a native of New Orleans and resident of Bay St. Louis, served as CEO for Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana from 1970 to 1997.

Jim recently reflected on his early years with the New Orleans organization: "I had actually applied for the position of CEO in the latter part of 1969 but was passed over in favor of a minister who had just completed the Goodwill Executive Training Program. That person lasted for only seven months...until July, when I was contacted and accepted the position. I resigned from my job with a manufacturer in Bay St. Louis, MS and from my evening job of teaching at a local university. I did not move to New Orleans at that time but commuted...and ended up commuting my entire twenty-seven years."

When Jim assumed the helm of Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana in 1970, the organization was in a state of disarray. Leadership had changed hands several times. The staff was small and plagued by turnover. Sales were low, and not sufficient to sustain the organization. Jim knew he would have to make drastic changes in the business operation to enable the organization to carry out its social service mission. With help from a strong board of directors, lots of dedicated volunteers (including Jim’s wife Pat, who served as volunteer Secretary for 2 years) and with the recruitment of strong senior staff members, Jim was able to put his Goodwill organization on sound financial and operations footing. The organization changed its name from Goodwill Industries New Orleans to Goodwill Industries Southeastern Louisiana. Retail stores were opened in Kenner, LaPlace, Hammond, Baton Rouge, Slidell, Covington, and Thibodaux; additional locations were added in the New Orleans area. Jim cultivated relationships with the Louisiana Department of Rehabilitation Services, the local United Way, the City of New Orleans, local businesses, civic organizations, churches, representatives, and anyone who had an interest in making their community a better place. The results of his efforts were increased sales, an increase in service contracts and, more importantly, an increase in the number and variety of job opportunities for people with barriers to employment.

In 1970 the organization that Jim took over occupied a group of very old buildings (four buildings that were linked by ramps) in an older area of New Orleans that was plagued by physical decline, rising crime and high unemployment. According to Jim, there were murders that occurred right across the street, making the area one that many people avoided. In 1973 and 1974 Collins spearheaded a capital campaign that raised over $300,000 to purchase and renovate the two-story building that Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana currently occupies at 1000 S. Jefferson Davis Parkway in New Orleans. At the time, Jim also applied for one of the region's first low interest loans from the Small Business Administration. "When I went to apply for the loan, Collins said, the SBA representative told me he did not know of any such loan program and, when I found out about it, to come and tell him. U.S. Congresswoman Lindy Boggs was able to help us get some assistance. It was not long after contacting her that the head of the local SBA office invited me to come see him." Collins received a loan of sufficient size to allow completion of the move and building renovations.

Over the years Collins was able to develop and grow his organization from one with annual income in the $350,000 range to one with earnings of over $9 million. It wasn’t the money that was Jim’s priority, but rather the people for whom the organization existed to serve. Over the years, Jim Collins and Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands, providing jobs, training, job seeking assistance and other services that are inherent in the Goodwill mission.

Probably Jim’s most selfless act came in the mid 1990s, and led to the creation of what is now Goodwill Industries of Acadiana. At the time, the State of Louisiana made the decision to no longer fund sheltered workshops. The Board of Directors of Multi-Resources (the organization that operated the workshops) was faced with the choice of having their facility closed or having someone take over the management of the agency. Closure would have resulted in approximately 35 individuals being sent home with no place to work. Over the long term, that decision would have affected countless people. Jim’s contribution to a solution was quite unselfish, unprecedented, and also unheard of. He relinquished a portion of his Goodwill territory in order to facilitate the creation of Goodwill Industries Acadiana, knowing that the end result would be two organizations that could better serve the people of South Louisiana than just one.

When asked for his reflections on his career and his selection for the Goodwill Industries International Hall of Fame, Jim stated: "As with an orchestra, it is the conductor that often gets all the accolades. But he is not solely responsible for the quality of music. I had a role to play as CEO. I was also blessed with a very strong and dedicated staff and board of directors that were committed to the mission of Goodwill. They are the ones that got things done."

He also added: "For much of my early life I always felt I knew what God wanted me to do. Over time, as my career progressed, I came to realize that God had something else in mind for me. It was Goodwill."

Since his official retirement from Goodwill Southeastern Louisiana in December 1997, Jim has served Goodwill in another capacity – that of Director of Marketing and Community Relations for Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi. Jim spends his time sharing the vision of Reverend Edgar James Helms with the community leadership of Gulf Coast communities, with businesses, civic organizations, and Goodwill employees. Commented LeRoy Modenbach Jr., CEO of Goodwill South Mississippi: "Jim has been a blessing to so very many people. He is a rare individual of strong persuasions whose efforts have improved the quality of life for people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and elsewhere. Jim even looks like Edgar Helms."