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Steven Preston

Steven Preston

President and CEO

Goodwill Industries International


Steven C. Preston is the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. He leads a network of 150 local Goodwill® organizations in the U.S. and Canada which provides education, job training and support services to nearly 2 million people annually. 

Preston has served in numerous operational and financial leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. He headed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Small Business Administration (SBA); led successful turnarounds as the CEO of two private corporations, Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International; and served as the CFO of two Fortune 500 companies, Waste Management and ServiceMaster.

Preston graduated with the highest distinction from Northwestern University and holds an MBA from The University of Chicago. Preston currently serves on the Wheaton College Board of Trustees and serves on the Leadership 18 Executive Committee. Preston also serves on the board of the National Retail Federation (NRF) and is chair of the NRF Foundation.

Speaking in:

Tuesday Jan 12

11:30am - 12:00pm

Logicbroker Stage, Javits North, Rm 404

Before Circularity Was Trendy: 125 Years of Making Retail More Sustainable, Profitable, and Purpose-Driven

Long before circularity became a retail strategy, Goodwill was proving it could work at scale. For nearly 125 years, Goodwill has built one of North America's most successful reuse and resale ecosystems, keeping billions of pounds of products in circulation while creating pathways to employment and economic mobility. In this session, Goodwill Industries International President and CEO Steve Preston will share how the organization has evolved into a powerful model for circular retail, demonstrating how sustainability and business value can grow together. Drawing on lessons from thousands of retail locations, donation centers, and workforce development programs, Steve will explore how retailers can extend product lifecycles, maximize value recovery, and create lasting impact. He'll also look ahead to the future of circular retail, from technology and traceability to new partnerships and workforce strategies that can help build more resilient, inclusive, and profitable businesses.