Goodwill Central Oklahoma sends this information as posted below:
Oklahoma City, OK – May 30, 2024. Goodwill Central Oklahoma announced the appointment of Will Lufburrow as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 1, 2024. Lufburrow will replace Jim Priest who announced in December he is retiring after decades of helping vulnerable and disadvantaged Oklahomans.
Lufburrow is no stranger to Goodwill. His grandfather and father were both CEOs of Goodwill of Houston, and Lufburrow could often be seen running the halls of their office as a child. As he got older, he focused on learning all aspects of the business, while gaining a servant heart for people with challenges to employment.
Lufburrow served Goodwill of Houston in various roles spanning from media to marketing to training. He was promoted to Director of Fund Development and Special Projects where he worked closely with the CEO and the Board of Directors to ensure a reputable culture of philanthropy both internally and in the community.
He was later recruited to continue this leadership journey as the Chief Operating Officer and President of Contract Services for Goodwill of South Texas, where Lufburrow was responsible for growing retail operations, fund development, board relations and strategic planning. He grew the annual operating revenue from $20 million in 2019 to $32 million in 2022.
Lufburrow’s passion for balancing business success with social impact aligns well with Goodwill Central Oklahoma’s mission of helping people overcome challenges to employment.
“When we look at the challenges today’s world brings, we are faced with the reality a growing gap is separating society. Whether it is a skills gap, an income gap, education gap, or a gap caused by lack of opportunity, our communities are in more need than ever for leaders who seek to balance business with social change,” said Lufburrow.
A graduate of Goodwill Industries International (GII) Executive Development Program, GII Senior Leaders Program, GII Finance for Non-Finance Professionals and GII Mission Integrated Retail Business Training, Lufburrow believes in the power of continuous learning and proves to be a good example of how upskilling through Goodwill leads to greater employment opportunities.
Lufburrow was the founding board member of the Outdoor Adventure Club; a nonprofit focused on mentorship opportunities for at risk youth through outdoor backpacking activities, served as a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and was selected as a 2018 Rising Star Awardee by the Greater Houston Woman’s Chamber of Commerce.
Lufburrow is a husband and father of three children. He enjoys fishing and watching the Houston Astros. He is excited to engage with the Central Oklahoma community and catch a few baseball games.
Jim Priest, Lufburrow’s predecessor, feels confident he is leaving Goodwill in good hands. “The Board has made an excellent selection in choosing Will to be our next leader at Goodwill. I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Will, know his background and his family, and believe he is uniquely qualified to lead us to new and expanded opportunities in service to our community.”
About Goodwill Central Oklahoma
Goodwill Central Oklahoma is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to workforce development and sustainability. Since 1936, Goodwill Central Oklahoma has been committed to building careers and strengthening communities, one job and one donation at a time. From learning to earning, Goodwill empowers lives through whole-person support, education, training, and fair-chance employment, fostering a prosperous and sustainable future for all Oklahomans.
To learn more about our impact, visit okgoodwill.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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