In the Records Management warehouse at Goodwill San Antonio, among rows of neatly stacked boxes and organized files, one woman has been a familiar presence for over three decades. 

Bernie, as she’s known by her colleagues, is more than just a team lead. With 32 years of service under her belt, she is one of Goodwill San Antonio’s longest-serving team members and has played a vital role in the Business Services Unit. 

“Time just flew by so fast,” said Bernie. “I come to work every day and next thing you know, they’re telling me it’s been 32 years.” 

Bernie’s journey with Goodwill began in 1993, when she was hired as an Assistant Store Manager. Today she is the Team Lead of Mail and Warehouse Operations, where she co-leads a team responsible for storing, retrieving, and managing sensitive client documents for the U.S. Military.  

“We handle and create electronic medical documents for military veterans,” said Bernie. “And since being here I helped create a system that made it easier to organize and find files. What used to take over an hour, now only takes about 5–10 minutes." 

In 2002, Bernie’s dedication went beyond the workplace, when a fellow team member became seriously ill and needed a kidney transplant. When she found out she was a perfect match, she didn’t hesitate to offer hers. 

“My co-worker was very sick, and I turned out to be a perfect match,” said Bernie. “So, I went to the hospital and the transplant was a success.” 

When asked about the secret to a decades-long career, Bernie said it was all about having a purpose. 

“I always take pride in what I do,” said Bernie. “These are documents that belong to our military veterans. They gave a part of their lives for our country- they deserve respect and quality work." 

Now, as Goodwill San Antonio celebrates its 80th anniversary, Bernie is a perfect example of the organization's mission of changing lives through the power of work. And after 32 years of service, she isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon.  

“I’ve been here through a lot of changes,” said Bernie. “There's new people, new buildings, and contracts, but every day I come to work and continue to work and stay busy.”