Italy Turner

Goodwill Industries of North Georgia

Italy Turner is nominated for the Evelyne Villines Award. As a single mother who's faced various challenges, Turner's journey through the AbilityOne Program reflects what the Program stands for: transforming lives through the power of work. As a material coordinator supervisor for Goodwill Industries of North Georgia, she balances professionalism with empathy, creating a culture of trust and accountability at the CDC Warehouse in Georgia. When the pandemic disrupted routines and morale, Turner became a steady hand and led with compassion. She utilized training sessions that built skills and confidence, step-by-step guides for new hires, and mentor pairings that created clarity. She also lifts her team up. When a coworker struggled to find her footing, Turner guided her from clerk to supervisor. She has mentored numerous coworkers to pursue promotions, including a truck driver and an X-ray tech, to become material coordinators. Each of them grew confidence, advanced their careers, and began mentoring others.