BRADENTON/SARASOTA, FL – (March 5, 2025) – Goodwill Manasota is pleased to announce the hiring of Katie Van Gompel as its new Vice President of Marketing. In this role, she will serve as a strategic leader responsible for driving Goodwill’s marketing, branding, and communications strategies in order to assist the nonprofit organization in achieving its mission of changing lives through the power of work.

Van Gompel joins Goodwill Manasota with a distinguished career in marketing and retail operations. Most recently, she served as the Chief Operating Officer at Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, where she was responsible for all donated retail goods operations, including facilities, IT, and marketing. Her leadership in integrating the organization’s marketing and retail operations with mission goals was instrumental in driving organizational success.

Previous positions included Senior Brand Manager for ThedaCare (Appleton, Wis.) and Merchandise Manager for Silver Star Brands (Oshkosh, Wis.). She earned her Master of Business Administration from Concordia University.  

In addition to her marketing duties to support retail operations and mission services in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Hardee, and portions of Lee and Northwest Charlotte counties, Van Gompel will also oversee the marketing efforts for the 27 retail locations – staffed by 711 team members – for Goodwill Industries of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, a subsidiary created in January 2024 as part of an acquisition from Gulfstream Goodwill Industries. This acquisition has expanded Goodwill Manasota's team to more than 1,500 team members, over 63% of whom have a documented disability or a self-identified disadvantaging condition.

In her current role, Van Gompel is responsible for leading the marketing, branding, and communication strategies for Goodwill Manasota and its subsidiary. She will focus on driving engagement, donor and customer acquisition, and revenue growth while aligning all efforts with Goodwill's mission and values. Her expertise in developing comprehensive multi-channel marketing strategies and her ability to analyze market trends and customer insights will be invaluable as the organization continues to enhance its digital presence and improve customer and donor engagement.

"We are thrilled to welcome Katie to our team," said Donn Githens, President & CEO of Goodwill Manasota. "Her impressive background and accomplishments in the nonprofit retail sector – combined with her passion for our mission – make her the perfect fit for this role. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will have on our organization and the communities we serve."

Van Gompel will work closely with Goodwill’s various departments, including marketing, information technology (IT) and operations, to ensure operational excellence and foster an inclusive, mission-driven culture. As a strategic partner, she will support these departments in achieving their goals in order to bolster the overall success of the organization.

For more about Goodwill, visit experiencegoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the dignity and quality of life for individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. Through revenue generated by the sales of donated goods, Goodwill assists people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and those with other barriers to employment by providing jobs, job skills training, and free career services. For more information or for a listing of locations, visit experiencegoodwill.org or call 941-355-2721.