2020 Community Employee of the Year: Matthew Stewart

Matthew’s struggles with mental illness seemed like a constant uphill battle. It affected every aspect of his life, from his job and family to his physical health. But upon getting involved with vocational rehabilitation and being referred to Goodwill’s Community Employment Program, the battle he fought for so long started to become a battle he was winning.

He began working with a job coach who helped him see that he had plenty of skills to get any number of jobs. They worked together to find one that was the perfect fit. That process took some time—almost a year and a half—but he found a position he could thrive in. Matthew was hired as the Front Desk Night Auditor at Best Western in 2017.

Since starting this job, he has been able to slowly gain his confidence back and become successful in working towards a better and more stable life for himself. No matter the challenge, Matthew keeps a positive attitude, and his eye for detail helps him close the books each day without mistakes.

He has received awards for his customer service, and regular customers know and greet him by name. Matthew has also reached corporate goals for helping customers become rewards members. Finding stability in his life through work, Matthew can now focus on his future goals—to become the Front Desk Manager at Best Western and to build a strong relationship with his children.