Steve Preston
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries International
Steven C. Preston is the president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. He leads a network of 153 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:
Sunday Jan 11
11:30am - 12:00pm
Resell, donate or recycle: Optimizing reverse logistics and maximizing asset recovery
Steve Preston, President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International shares how resale, donation, and recycling can unlock new value in reverse logistics. With retailers facing mounting challenges from returns, waste, and sustainability—pressures only increasing under Extended Producer Responsibility and global markets—Preston highlights practical strategies to recover value, reduce waste, and deliver better outcomes for both businesses and communities. Walk away with how innovators like Goodwill can be key partners in building more efficient, responsible systems leveraging data, automation and strategic partnerships.