Goodwill of North Georgia, the leading Goodwill in the nation for connecting jobseekers with employment, is announcing the appointment of three new board members and five new board officers for the 2023 fiscal year. Goodwill worked in partnership with Korn Ferry to recruit this new class of board members and officers. These individuals will bring new perspectives and expertise that will help advance the organization’s mission to put people to work. 

The new board members, elected for a 3-year term, include: 

Ms. Alicen Blair, Principal, Global Consumer Practice of Korn Ferry 

Born in Tampa, Florida, Alicen is a Principal for Korn Ferry’s Consumer and Board & CEO Practices. She brings over twenty years of experience in the Executive Search Industry with extensive experience recruiting for innovative Consumer, Food & Beverage and progressive omni-channel focused companies. Alicen has successfully completed hundreds of searches at all levels, from personal contributors to top level executives, including Board of Directors, C-Suite, Director and Vice President. Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Alicen served as Managing Partner for Boyden Global Executive Search’s Consumer & Retail Practice and served as Managing Director for Harvard Group International’s Food & Beverage Practice where she created and led its Diversity Recruiting Practice. 

Early in her career, she served in a senior management role for Robert Half International, a Global Fortune 500 recruiting firm. Alicen’s passion for advancing women in executive roles and board rooms makers her highly sought out by organizations throughout the US. She is among the top executive recruiters in the world, skilled at strategically assisting her clients to achieve diversity initiatives. She understands the struggles CEOs and Boards experience as it relates to promoting diversity and is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their unique goals. 

“As a new Board member, I’m excited to enhance the local partnership between Google and Goodwill. The positive impact Google and Goodwill has already made on training Atlantans in technology is encouraging major companies to relocate to Atlanta and producing well-paying jobs for our neighbors.” 

Ms. Michelle Jackson, Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor, Capital Group Private Client Services 

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Michelle is an enterprising and commercial leader. As a driven educator, she is passionate about coaching, developing and sponsoring talent. Michelle is currently Senior Vice President & Private Wealth Advisor at Capital Group Private Client Services. Prior to joining Capital Group, Michelle was Executive Director and Regional Sales Manager for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management where she developed a service focused and highly successful team. She was recognized for building collaborative teams across the country that achieve sustainable results in revenue growth and organizational change. 

Michelle enjoys making deep and meaningful connections with her individual clients and their families. By investing time into the relationship, she learns about their lives, personal goals and what they hope to achieve with their wealth. Michelle also takes a holistic view with her foundational clients, keeping each organization’s mission top of mind, while supporting all stakeholders from board member to donor. Her goal is to help clients succeed and works to understand each relationship’s individual success measures. She breaks down complicated issues into understandable terms and helps clients feel secure about their decisions. Michelle is also committed to expanding diversity in the workplace and engagement in the community. 

“I am delighted to support the mission of Goodwill of North Georgia to help put people to work. The opportunity to make a difference in the community I live in is inspiring and I can’t wait to get to work.” 

Ms. Winnifer Thomas-Cox, Managing Director, Health and Public Service Lead of Accenture Song 

Born in Pensacola, FL, Winnifer Thomas-Cox serves as Accenture’s Managing Director and leads the Health and Public Service Practice for Accenture Song’s South Market Unit which includes 13 southern states. Here, she is fortunate to have the opportunity to wake up every day and work at the intersection of her Wharton School education, her 25-year professional experience, and her purpose – helping health organizations, state and local governments, higher education institutions and not-for-profit organizations deliver on their ambitions to provide exceptional service and an optimal experience to all their stakeholders with the shared goal of improving the lives of the communities they collectively serve. As the lead for the Health and Public Service Practice, Winnifer is charged with driving innovation, digital transformation, and business experience efforts for the firm’s clients. 

She offers over 25 years of diverse leadership, marketing strategy, brand management, creative agency, and digital transformation experience and is versed in several industries, including health, public service, travel, hospitality and tourism, pharma, CPG, telecom, financial services, and others. She is deeply committed to the mission of improving lives through improving literacy and has worked with some of the world’s leading organizations, including Chick-fil-a, Cox Communications, The Home Depot, The Coca Cola Company, UPS, and Verizon Enterprise Services. 

“I am honored and excited to be a part of the Goodwill of North Georgia’s Board of Directors, an organization whose vision, mission, and values are aligned to my own. I have not only read stories about 

the impact that Goodwill Industries has on our communities’ ability to do more than survive – but thrive; I have seen and felt this impact firsthand in my own family and the community in which I was raised. I fundamentally believe ‘to whom much is given, much will be required,’ so then, it is my responsibility to serve and to do whatever I can to help deliver on the promise made within the Goodwill of North Georgia mission – to put people to work.” 

Additionally, Keith Parker, president and chief executive officer of Goodwill of North Georgia, announces the appointment of Goodwill’s board officers for the fiscal year 2023. Board officers include: 

• Dr. Kofi Smith, Chair of the Board, President and CEO of Keystone Management, LLC 

• Dr. DeRetta Cole Rhodes, Vice Chair of Board, EVP/Chief People Capital Officer for the Atlanta Braves 

• Mr. Edward Ferguson, Treasurer of Board, Managing Director of Raymond James & Associates 

• Ms. Ellen Stern, Secretary of Board, Senior Vice President of CBRE, Inc. 

• Mr. Kirk Halpern, Immediate Past Chair of Board, Founder & CEO of Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors