Ryan Osborn Named the 2025 Goodwill Industries International Achiever of the Year
FORT WORTH, TEXAS (June 26, 2025) - Ryan Osborn of Fort Worth has been named Goodwill Industries International’s 2025 Achiever of the Year, a national honor recognizing individuals who have overcome adversity through the power of work.
After dropping out of high school and struggling with addiction, Ryan spent years cycling in and out of the justice system. By the time he was 38, he was homeless and newly released from a 45-day jail sentence. Determined to change, he sought help from Goodwill North Central Texas and enrolled in a job placement program.
Through the program, Ryan rebuilt his confidence and gained real work experience. His first position was as a dock worker, where his strong work ethic and leadership potential quickly stood out. Within months, he was promoted to dock supervisor, and then to transportation assistant manager. After earning his Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), he took on the role of logistics planning specialist, managing transportation schedules and operational logistics. Two years ago, he also enrolled in Goodwill’s A-Squared program, becoming the first graduate to earn his high school equivalency.
Today, Ryan serves as a Retail Operations Manager for Goodwill North Central Texas, overseeing the Fort Worth outlet store, aftermarket, salvage and recycling commodity sales. He is now pursuing a college degree in business.
“Goodwill changed my life, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me,” Ryan said. “My hope is that my story shows others that their past doesn’t define their future, and that success is always within reach.”
Goodwill North Central Texas President and CEO David Cox shared that Ryan serves as a shining example of what can be achieved with perseverance and the right opportunities. “His journey and leadership inspire hope and demonstrate that anyone, regardless of their past or current circumstances, can overcome significant challenges and achieve greatness with the right mindset and support,” said Cox.
Shopping at and donating to your local Goodwill organization supports people like Ryan who are looking for direction and ready to change their lives.
“At Goodwill, we are committed to helping people reach their full potential through learning and meaningful employment,” said Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Ryan’s determination and strong work ethic are truly inspiring. We’re pleased that Goodwill can play a role in helping people like Ryan come full circle and achieve their career and life goals.”
About the Award: Goodwill Industries International’s Achiever of the Year award recognizes an outstanding person with a disability or other disadvantaging condition who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming barriers to employment, while still benefiting from the Goodwill work environment or receiving services to support employment in the community.
About Goodwill North Central Texas
Goodwill is more than a thrift store. The largest employer of people with disabilities in the world, Goodwill provides education, training and job placement and believes that it’s worth celebrating!
Goodwill North Central Texas is based in Fort Worth and serves 18 counties in the region. The nonprofit’s 27 area retail locations provide revenue through the sale of donated goods to support Goodwill’s mission to CREATE lives of independence and BUILD a stronger local community. Education, training and job placement programs for individuals with disabilities, the formerly incarcerated, at-risk youth, our veterans and people experiencing homelessness are guided by the organization’s vision of a North Central Texas where every person has the opportunity for maximum independence and abundant living. For more information, please visit www.GoodwillNorthCentralTexas.org.
