President and CEO of Goodwill Central Oklahoma, Will Lufburrow boasts over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit industry. Before taking the OKC helm in July 2024, Lufburrow served as chief operating officer at Goodwill South Texas.
Lufburrow, who is known for fostering a culture of innovation and driving sustainable business practices, brings a rounded knowledge of retail donation operations and complex market dynamics to the role. We caught up with Lufburrow and got his thoughts on …
… what drew him to the nonprofit sector.
Goodwill has been somewhat of a “family” calling for three generations. Both my father and grandfather served as president and CEO for Goodwill Houston, so it was a natural fit to continue that legacy in Oklahoma City. I spent a brief period in the private sector in 2018 but quickly found out that I wanted to return to the Goodwill community and continue the mission of changing lives through the power of work.
… fostering innovation and sustainable business practices.
The beauty of the social enterprise model that Goodwill operates is that it allows us the opportunity to address problems at the source with a multitude of approaches. I support a “yes, and” atmosphere in our offices. No idea is too out of the box, and its up to leadership to not stop what could be the solution to a problem by saying “that will never work,” but instead we must encourage open dialogue by saying “yes, and” to the idea.
Not every idea or plan becomes obtainable, but we can’t stop them before they are allowed to grow into an action plan. As more public needs begin to pull at the nonprofit community, we must take any available approach to accomplish our respective missions to see the change we desire.
… what makes him proudest about Goodwill.
I am a firm believer in Goodwill’s mission to provide job training and placement opportunities for anyone with a barrier to employment. The positive impact a job can make in someone’s life is insurmountable, with that job being the difference between personal growth and independence or desperation. As I often tell my team, I didn’t pursue a career in Goodwill because of my passion for thrift retail, but instead to see our communities transformed. I believe Goodwill can offer a much-needed solution to many of the challenges so many people are facing daily. Our goal is to see our clients gain employment and grow in their career journey, giving dignity and freedom back to many folks who may have thought these things were out of reach.
… his goals.
It is my belief that Goodwill Central Oklahoma should and can be one of the premier service organizations in the central Oklahoma territory. From an increased focus to continue to grow and improve our retail operations, to creating even more of a significant impact in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas, I believe this Goodwill is prime to achieve that status. We have a wealth of opportunities for our mission advancement as well as our retail growth. We opened our store in Weatherford in July that not only provides a great shopping experience for the local community, but also houses a career center for individuals seeking our services. This month we also cut the ribbon on our brand-new mobile services unit, which will allow us to take our services on the road to many of the rural communities surrounding Oklahoma City.
… what people should know about Goodwill.
Goodwill is much more than just our stores. We provide job training and job placement opportunities to those who may be experiencing barriers to employment. When you shop at a Goodwill store, 90 cents of every dollar go to advancing our mission of changing lives through the power of work.
… how to get involved.
We’re always looking for ways to get the community involved. From donation drives, event sponsorships and volunteers, to local experts giving us their insight into a specific market, we need the support of our community to continue advancing our mission.
… where to find him outside work.
My family and I recently got settled into Edmond and have loved it. I am a father of three elementary school aged kids, so it’s a safe bet that you’ll find me at soccer, baseball or cheerleading. My wife Terrell and I have loved the art and food scene here in Edmond and OKC, so we have taken every opportunity to explore some of the great restaurants and venues Central Oklahoma has to offer. But more importantly, where there’s good coffee, it’s a guarantee you will find my wife and I there at some point.
