Portland-The Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England announces their selection of Michael Coughlin as the next Executive Director of their organization.

“From the many highly qualified candidates who sought the position, Mike has a unique combination of skills that made him our clear choice,” said Matt Hunter, Director and Chair of the Search Committee.

Coughlin previously was National Director of Client Services and Vice President for Research and Development for CHC- Working Well, a Canadian behavioral health provider ranked as one of the 50 best managed, private companies in the country. He also served as Vice President of Operations for Warren Shepell consultants of Canada, where he oversaw 28 offices spread across Canada and led a professional staff of 1,200 which served some 70,000 clients each year.

For the last four years, Coughlin has served as the Executive Director of Genesis Behavioral Health, a Comprehensive Community Mental Health Center that serves the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Under his leadership, Genesis has grown its revenues by a third, markedly expanded its partnerships with other organizations, and improved its quality of care.

Coughlin holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University and began his career as a child care worker and counselor. Coughlin will succeed Dr. Kevin Baack, who is retiring in early May having served as Goodwill’s Executive Director for three decades.

“In so many ways Dr. Baack has shaped Goodwill into the dynamic organization that it is today,” says Judith Stone, President of Goodwill Board of Directors. “Whoever succeeded him would have a tremendous challenge before them,” Stone continues, “We are confident, that based on both Mike’s past accomplishments and his deep interest in the mission and future of Goodwill, that he will be able to build upon the work Dr. Baack has done.”

“I am privileged to be joining a tremendous Board and staff at Goodwill Industries of Northern New England, to continue the work started by Dr. Helms 105 years ago,” says Coughlin. “It is an honor – and a little daunting – to be following in the footsteps of Dr. Kevin Baack, who has led Goodwill for so long, and who has helped it become one of the strongest nonprofit agencies in New England. I promise to dedicate myself to honoring the work of those who came before, by maintaining the values and traditions that have made Goodwill so successful, by always remembering the clients we serve, and by looking for innovations that will shape our next 100 years.”

Goodwill Industries of Northern New England has been a community resource since 1933. Its programs are offered for people who live with disabilities or other disadvantages with a mission of promoting independence and community inclusion. Goodwill’s four major program areas are Employment Services, Brain Injury Services, Deaf Services, and Developmental Disability Services providing support for over 4,000 people throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. These programs are funded in part by the revenues from Goodwill’s 23 retail stores.

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 185 local, autonomous Goodwill Industries organizations in the United States and Canada, and 45 international associate members in 34 countries. For more information visit www.goodwillnne.org