PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Wayne Tomlin walked into Goodwill looking for a job when he was 19, and 45 years later, he’s still there.
Tomlin now works as a salvage processor at the Retail Operations Center, keeping tons of material moving through the facility. He continues working even after the celebrations marking his milestone.
“I can do almost anything, but I help people walk around and ask them if they need help,” Tomlin said.
Over the decades, Tomlin has held multiple roles across the organization. He drove forklifts, worked in home pickup and handled salvage sorting.
“I used to work in home pickup, salvage sorting. I did a lot of different stuff back there at the whole place,” he said.
Goodwill leaders say Tomlin serves as an ambassador for new employees at the organization.
“What makes him special is the actual contagiousness around him. He is an ambassador for all the new employees, and a lot of organizations like ours, and a lot of entry level jobs have high turnover,” said Beth Forsberg, the chief sustainability officer for Goodwill.
On Thursday, the organization hosted a celebration recognizing Tomlin’s longevity and the example he has set for other team members.
“Makes me feel proud of myself,” Tomlin said about the recognition, adding that he still loves coming to work and isn’t slowing down.
Goodwill leaders say it is rare to have someone stay for this long, but Tomlin continues to shape the culture at the facility, welcoming customers and co-workers.
“Wayne is so welcoming, he makes everyone feel like they could be part of the Goodwill family,” Forsberg said.
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