| Goodwill Military Veteran Stories

Sarah Urban

Sarah Urban, It Support Services Manager, spent ten years in the military, a journey that began in 1994 shortly after high school. “I was looking for professional direction and an opportunity to start a career. I wanted an adventure, to travel and to find new experiences,” she said. Knowing that the military provided career advancement and educational assistance, it seemed like the right path. Like her step-dad before her, Sarah chose the Navy.

Goodwill is proud to support and employ veterans like Stephen Gielczyk, HR Generalist at Naval Station Great Lakes. He is one of six siblings (out of eight) that enlisted in the Navy, saying that he never considered another branch of service. Over 40 years ago he joined the Navy, spending 30 of those years traveling all over the world!

Dan Newberry, Manager of Goodwill’s E-cycle Operations, joined the Army right after high school, expecting to complete a lifelong military career. That plan ended abruptly in 2012. Honorably discharged due to a medical-related disability, Dan soon found himself adrift.

"I went from having a sense of responsibility, pride and direction in life, to nothing. It was incredibly difficult," he recalled.