New Members Further the Organization’s Strategic Development

Goodwill of North Georgia announces the appointment of four board members, bringing a wide array of knowledge and expertise to its board of directors.

Dr. DeRetta Cole Rhodes, senior vice president and head of human resources for the Atlanta Braves, joins the board with extensive experience in cultivating organizations’ human capital. At the Atlanta Braves, Rhodes supports the Major League, Minor League, and Battery property development in all areas of People Capital Initiatives. Previously, Rhodes served as the executive vice president and chief human resources officer of YMCA of Metro and the vice president of human resources at First Data, where she successfully provided consultation on human capital and organizational development strategies for over 5,000 First Data colleagues within Financial Services and Consumer Network Solutions. Rhodes holds a Ph.D in Adult Education from the University of Georgia, and is a board of director member and board development chair of Human Resource Leadership Forum (HRLF) as well as other professional and community organizations.

 “The vision and mission of Goodwill of North Georgia aligns with my service leadership goals,” says Rhodes. “I am honored to be in service to Goodwill of North Georgia.”

Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and chief executive officer of Invest Atlanta also joins the board. As CEO of Invest Atlanta, she commissioned Atlanta’s first economic development strategy driven by economic mobility, fostered an internal culture at Invest Atlanta focused on equity, and led the integration of Atlanta’s workforce development agency and Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative programs into the agency to create a more comprehensive economic development solution for the city. Her leadership role includes creating initiatives that attract investment to Atlanta to increase job opportunities, business growth and neighborhood prosperity. Klementich has also held numerous positions with national and city governments, including the consultant for Mexico’s President Vicente Fox and serving as special assistant for economic development at the U.S. Economic Development Administration in the Office of the Secretary. Klementich holds two master’s degrees in urban planning and Latin American affairs from the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her doctorate degree in public administration from the University of LaVerne.

“Workforce development is paramount to addressing equity and income inequality in Atlanta and cities all across the nation, says Klementich. “I am honored to serve on the board of Goodwill of North Georgia, an organization dedicated to empowering people and supporting communities throughout the area through training and education.”

Heather Ostis, vice president and head of global supply chain management at Delta Air Lines, comes from a robust background in business and finance. In her current role, Ostis manages $6 billion of global spend and oversees a team of more than 100 supply chain and sourcing professionals. Ostis delivers results across all lines of business and partners with suppliers and alliance partnerships. Ostis previously served as the head of global procurement and supply chain at Aramark. In this role, Ostis oversaw more than 100 supply chain and global procurement professionals and managed $8 billion of spend across all suppliers and distribution partners. Ostis received her bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University and a master’s degree in business administration from George Mason University’s School of Business.

“I am honored to [serve] as a board member to an organization which has such a profound impact on so many lives,” says Ostis. “I believe that my experience and background will allow me to make a substantial contribution toward helping to sustain Goodwill’s critical role within the communities they serve.”

Ellen Stern brings 15 years of commercial real estate experience to Goodwill of North Georgia’s board. In her current role as Senior Vice President at CBRE, Inc., Stern provides strategic real estate advisory services to various corporations, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to local professional firms. Representing tenants in the office leasing sector, Stern is a trusted advocate for her clients and is passionate about helping companies plan and implement their real estate strategies.  Previously, Stern lead CBRE’s brokerage financial consulting group and provided financial and analytical services to institutional and corporate clients. Stern received her bachelor’s in business administration in finance from the University of Miami, Cum Laude with Honors and was most recently recognized in 2019 as a Top Ten Producer and the recipient of the Alvin B. Cates Award by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club. 

 “The mission of Goodwill of North Georgia of “putting people to work” is one that speaks directly to me. I have a sister with special needs who is fortunate enough to have an opportunity to work and I know first-hand that the sense of purpose, pride and independence that a job gives her and all those who are less fortunate can be more valuable than the paycheck itself.  I am honored to serve on such an impactful board and look forward to contributing my time and efforts to an organization that has given so much to our community, ” says Stern.

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About Goodwill of North Georgia

The mission of Goodwill of North Georgia is to put people to work. The nonprofit has provided services in the region for more than 90 years. In fiscal year 2019, Goodwill of North Georgia provided job training and employment services to 51,915 people and helped 25,688 people find jobs or start new businesses. The organization currently operates 66 stores, 53 attended donation centers and 13 career centers. Revenues generated from Goodwill’s retail program help fund job training and placement programs. For more information about Goodwill of North Georgia, visit GoodwillNG.org.