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Goodwill president resigns

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Illinois

* Sen. Andy Manar told me this evening that he and Sen. Julie Morrison told Land of Lincoln Goodwill today “we were ready to use our committee subpoena authority for their records”…

Today, Sharon Durbin, President & CEO of Land of Lincoln Goodwill submitted her resignation to the Board of Directors. The Board accepted her resignation, which is effective immediately. The Board also appointed Ron Culves, current Vice President of Finance, as the nonprofit’s interim CEO.

Land of Lincoln Goodwill’s Board is strongly committed to our mission, to our 400 employees and to those individuals with disabilities, veterans, at-risk youth, ex-offenders and those seeking job training assistance that we serve. The Board fully intends to seek out a strong, compassionate leader for our Goodwill organization who can energize our employees, expand our mission and who can provide the mission-driven leadership necessary to positively impact thousands of lives each year in central Illinois.

Goodwill’s Board of Directors thanked Sharon for her 13 years of service to the organization, noting her many accomplishments and the overall growth of the nonprofit and the number of people served during her tenure.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:19 pm

Comments

It’s the right thing to do. Someone who has that kind of disdain for the politics and people who support funding for nonprofits and the most vulnerable doesn’t belong leading such organizations.

Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:23 pm
Good

Comment by very old soil Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:23 pm
Good. Was there another one coming?

Comment by Jibba Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:27 pm
A day sooner than expected…but the right time of day. /s

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:30 pm
Great, now let’s see Brian go out and make it in that free market without his mother’s assistance.

Comment by Excitable Boy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:31 pm
Fun fact:
Ron is an Alderman in my hometown.

Comment by btowntruth from forgottonia Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:41 pm
What about her son?

Comment by Soccermom Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:43 pm
I took the under…I’ll take it again for Number One Son.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:45 pm
Great, now let’s see Brian go out and make it in that free market without his mother’s assistance.-

Well said

Comment by Morty Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:47 pm
Any guesses that she took the fall now in the hopes that her son would keep his job?

Comment by crazy with stars Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:48 pm
Sharon Durbin made errors in judgment which necessarily resulted in today’s action. Her actions have been reversed and the board has repair work to do.

However, I haven’t read anything that justifies the issuance of subpoenas for the agency’s records Sen. Manar. If you have concerns about the agency, ask for a review by the state granting department. Don’t abuse your office for political gain. That’s a GOP trait.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 6:58 pm
- RNUG -

The under won.

We all win.

What about the son?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:03 pm
The son should resign immediately and the Board of Directors should resign or refocus there efforts towards oversight of the organization. I get the impression being on the board is one of those “feel good” positions.

Comment by Stoney Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:03 pm
Sen. Manar doesn’t mess around.

Comment by Open Table Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:16 pm
Bravo to WCIA for digging in and following through on this story. I’m seeing another station in town taking credit for it, but hopefully that station has learned that impactful reporting comes from being thorough and persistent - the way WCIA was. Regardless, I love when journalism helps justice prevail.

Comment by Journalism for the win Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:18 pm
One down… one more that needs to go.

Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:20 pm
The investigation should still happen. I would be very surprised if the board were unaware that they’re paying a six figure salary to the son of the director, and given the significant public investment in their organization and the fact that they’ve used their status to engage in political theater, we should see how they’re spending our money.

I want to know what that kid does to get six figures a year working for his mom’s company.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:26 pm
Sometimes bad things happen to bad people

How refreshing

Comment by Morty Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 7:36 pm
She finally owned her decision.

Comment by revvedup Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:04 pm
I grow more and more impressed with Mark Maxwell. I don’t always agree with his take, but have mad respect for his persistence and journalistic courage.

Comment by Ole' Nelson Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:19 pm
Brian, is your printer out of ink?

Comment by Ole' Nelson Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:22 pm
==I haven’t read anything that justifies the issuance of subpoenas for the agency’s records Sen. Manar.==

They received state funds. The CEO and CFO got some very hefty raises over the past few years. The CEO hired her son for a nice salary. It’s fair game for the oversight authority to look into this organization. If the Board is not exercising proper fiduciary oversight, that’s a problem. While the agency is responsible, so is the legislature.

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 8:23 pm
Pot calling kettle, grant oversight is the responsibility of the grantor department. The grant has rules as to how the money is to be spent. Grantees are also subject to audit.

Manar and others have the right to ask the department to investigate and report back on compliance with grant requirements and steps taken or needed to address noncompliance. They can also the department for grant information and hold informational hearings on what happened.

If Manar wants to limit salaries, he can have a hearing on that issue. He’s a legislator and is free to introduce a bill.

My objection is to the threat of subpoena without any allegations of improper action or resistance to sharing information. I’m tired of political gamesmanship. It’s gotten out of hand, especially at the national level.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 9:04 pm
What’s the severance package? Was she under a multi-year contract that will not include continued payment?

Comment by Just Me Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 9:31 pm
Good decision.

Comment by Yankee Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 9:52 pm
Brian should also resign. The plan to succeed his mother has failed and if he is smart, he ought to leave before he is forced to. Imagine what the records will reveal. We are watching.

Comment by Hilltop Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 10:06 pm
@Norseman -

Where were you for the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative hearings?

Lawmakers have oversight authority.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 10:08 pm
YDD, you don’t have to issue subpoenas to hold an oversight hearing. I was involved in plenty. I know most of my friends on Senate staff have retired, but I’m sure they passed on their knowledge on how to do it.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jul 18, 19 @ 10:32 pm
Alexa, play Na Na Hey Hey by Steam

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 1:03 am
Goodwill in the Chicago Area falls under Goodwill of Southeastern Wisconsin. The CEO, Jackie Hallberg, was paid $596,109 in 2016, the last year for which I could find a 990. All told, there are 10 people working for the organization with titles of vice president who make more than $200K a year.
http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/390/390808491/390808491_201612_990.pdf

Comment by George Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 5:16 am
This discussion reminds me of a discussion I had here last March with Andrea Durbin. (must be a common surname) of Illinois Collaboration on Youth.

There’s a lot of money to be made working for a nonprofit if you are at the top. The rank and file of these nonprofits make minimum wage or close to it (according to Ms. Durbin). The executives make oodles. According to Propublica Charity Navigator the top ten executives at Children’s Home and Aid take home a little under 2 million. The CEO of Aunt Martha’s makes 400k. For comparison the head of DCFS makes $109 a year.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 6:38 am
-grant oversight is the responsibility of the grantor department.-

True and look at the state of DCEO. Did you look at the recent audit? They are a mess. What you’re proposing is go back to the status quo. No accountability or oversight.

Comment by OneInchMoon Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 8:42 am
Disappointed
She was not honorable
so why was she afforded
to resign honorably?

Sen. Manar
Please proceed with the inquiry
Where there’s smoke
there’s fire.
Executive Compensation excess
must be driven out of the darkness
into the bright light
of public scrutiny and disdain

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 8:47 am
-She finally owned her decision.-

I beg to differ. She was forced out by national.
I would bet anything that
she held on for as long as she could.

She dishonored her organization
She dishonored her community
She dishonored her employees

Why are we honoring her with resignation?
Non-profits
are given public trust and deference
because they are pledged to HELP the state and it’s people.
She violated that trust for more profit
to show how good she was to the national
to justify huge increases in
her and her sons salaries.

To remain silent or to turn your head
to what she did
is to condone it.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 8:52 am
Norseman- it’s my contention that its precisely because the legislature has not fulfilled its oversight responsibilities that businesses, profit and non-profit, have been able to have their way with the public, especially the vulnerable and voiceless.
Paid off politicians of all stripes look away
at the molestations of corporate power.

So yes Norseman I’m going Berserker on this, biting my shield.
Manar is doing what he should be doing
I’m all for this.
Haul em up for a “struggle session”

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 9:00 am
Well the first half of my prediction on the original story has been borne out. Let’s see if the other shoe(Durbin) drops today.

Comment by Tommydanger Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 9:09 am
My bad Norseman. DCEO is not the granting organization for Goodwill, DHS is. My apologies for firing blind. I have no idea as to the state of DHS right now.

Comment by OneInchMoon Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 9:47 am
Andy Manar had little to nothing to do with this story and end result, TV reporters brought it to light and it became a media firestorm.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 10:12 am
What’s your point Pick a Name? Andy Manar is doing his job by using his tools of oversight. In addition, I believe it was his threat of investigation and subpoena that forced the resignation of Sharon Durbin. Media firestorm is brief. Public scrutiny is fleeting. It’s the sheer terror of opening the books to a Senate hearing that had teeth.
Manar is the actual agent of change here.

Comment by Honeybear Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 10:28 am
As the board of a “not-for-profit” organization, hopefully they will establish a salary structure reflective of their organization goals. Way too many “not-for-profits” seem to be quite profitable for the individuals leading them.

Comment by someonehastosayit Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 10:53 am
Believe what you want Honeybear. Story gets investigated and then released and down the line Manar jumps in, ironically, for the media attention.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:27 am
- Honeybear -

Let - Pick a Name - yell. It’s the person at the end of the bar parsing and picking at things to get into an argument so they can say… “well, I know”…

Be well, hydrate.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:30 am
Senator Manar used Senatorial power…wisely and decisively.

Anyone can say,”Let’s take a peek at the books”…but…when a Senator says it…it weighs…heavy.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:40 am
The books are public information, anyone can go to the Attorney General’s website and view them online.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:49 am
- Pick a Name - Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:49 am:

The books are public information, anyone can go to the Attorney General’s website and view them online.

Illinois Senators are not just anyone…as you well know…or should.

Comment by Dotnonymous Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 11:57 am
Dot, let’s see if he does and detects the books have been cooked.

I’ll grab a huge bag of popcorn and wait.

Comment by Pick a Name Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 12:04 pm
The annual 114.05 reports required by Illinois for NFP’s are not the books.

Even the federal 990 long forms that go into some detail are not the books. The 990 is semi-itemized / semi-detailed. Usually only the three major programs are detailed. In general, you can use them to compare different NFPs in spending categories. The best thing for a researcher about the long form 990’s is all the paid officers, etc. are detailed … so you can easily find things like nepotism. It’s not so easy to find misuse of funds if it is not blatant; the only way to find that is to look at the actual books.

Comment by RNUG Friday, Jul 19, 19 @ 12:49 pm