Q&A: with Bob Rosinsky

Bob Rosinsky traded a doctoral degree in psychology for a lifelong career with Goodwill Industries International.

Rosinsky, who has spent 42 years with the organization, has been with Goodwill Manasota since 1991, and became its president and CEO Jan. 1, 2013.

On March 12, he will be recognized with Ave Maria Preparatory School’s Archangel Award. And, on March 19, he’ll oversee the grand opening of Goodwill Manasota’s newest store — one located just a few miles from his own East County home.

Q: What do you think of being presented with Ave Maria’s Archangel Award?

A: It’s been a great partnership. They do a great job working with kids that have got some difficulty having success in (a regular school).

Q: How did you get involved with Goodwill?

A: I’ve been with Goodwill for 42 years. I started at the Milwaukee Goodwill in Wisconsin. And I was going to work for Goodwill for six months. I was working on my Ph.D. in psychology. One day, there was a 3x5 card in the teaching assistant room and it was for a behavior modification specialist. I thought, “That sounds interesting.” I wanted to take a break (from working on my degree). I had an interview Thursday. They wanted me to start Monday.

Q: Why have you stayed with Goodwill for so long?

A: We have something we call the Goodwill burn. You work for the organization for a while and you (see) what happens to the people who come in for services. It’s like a disease. There’s no cure. 

My senior leadership team, the average time with me is 12 to 13 years. At that first Goodwill, they kept moving me around and giving me different challenges, and I loved it. I loved what I was doing and the environment. 

I found the paradigm fascinating: Taking things people say they no longer need or want and taking people who, in many ways, society doesn’t need or want. Last year, we created more than $4 billion in sales (nationwide). When you look at the economic impact, it’s far higher than that.

Q: What are you most proud of in your carer?

A: I went from Milwaukee to Zanesville, Ohio. I was asked by some people in the national office because they were going out of business there. I really did not want to go to Zanesville. 

But one of the things I’m most proud of is the Zanesville Goodwill is still there employing people, and I don’t think that would have happened if I hadn’t gone there. 

Q: You have always had a passion for education. Where does that come from?

A: My dad was a teacher. I went to college to become a teacher and transitioned to psychology my sophomore year. I found it to be more interesting.

Q: Your organization has about 900 employees. What do you think makes a good leader?

A: At the core of what I try to do every day is ensure the people in the organization are aware of our mission, aware of our core values and guiding principles and are challenged to be better today than they were yesterday. Everybody has a responsibility at the end of the day to add value to what we’re trying to accomplish.

You have to be passionate and you have to be authentic.

It’s not just the employees; it’s the board of directors — to make sure the strategic mission is linked with the operational objectives that staff executes.

Q: What’s one of the philosophies you learned in college that you apply at work?

A: Happy people are more productive. It’s really simple. I give introductions to our new employees all the time. When you break it down, it’s the Golden Rule. 

Q: What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A: I love scuba diving. I like to fish. I hike. I boat. I run. I read all the time. I like to spend time with my wife, Ruth.

For books, I like science fiction, but have pretty much run out of good authors. It’s a harder genre to fall in love with these days. I’m reading a book right now, “Ove.” It’s by a Scandinavian author. Some of the best writing I’ve ever seen. 

Q: What’s one of the philosophies you learned in college that you apply at work?

A: Happy people are more productive. It’s really simple. I give introductions to our new employees all the time. When you break it down, it’s the Golden Rule. If everybody just stopped and said, “How would I liked to be talked to?” (it’s have a positive impact). 

– Pam Eubanks