Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 15, 1990                   TAG: 9006150795
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

GOODWILL TO JOIN TINKER INDUSTRIES

Supporters of the merger say it will allow the non-profit organizations - both of which offer jobs to disabled adults - to combine their efforts and expand their reach.

Lloyd Gochenour, a Goodwill board member, objects to the merger, however.

"I squealed, yelled, that they are stealing this operation from us, and here we sit as members and give it away," Gochenour said.

Nine members voted for the merger and three opposed it, he said.

Tinker Mountain serves more than 230 handicapped clients. It does work on a contract basis for various industries, such as making the cases for ITT's night vision goggles.

Goodwill, which has fewer than two dozen employees, operates several thrift stores.

Al Jones, a Goodwill board member, said Tinker Mountain will be able to give extensive job training to Goodwill's handicapped workers. J. Tyler Pugh, Tinker Mountain's president, said no Goodwill employees will lose their jobs.

J. Tyler Pugh, Tinker Mountain's president, said no Goodwill employees will lose their jobs.

Gochenour contends the impetus for merger came after a consultant was sent in late last year by Goodwill's national office to revamp the Western Virginia affiliate.

The consultant, J.D. Robins, laid off half its workers, telling the news media that massive budget deficits at the organization were to blame.

But Gochenour, Goodwill's treasurer, says Goodwill had no huge deficits.

The organization's financial report for 1989 showed it lost about $4,000 before depreciation allowances - in a total budget of nearly a half-million dollars. Since the layoffs, it has been showing a small profit, the reports show.

Robins, who left Goodwill after completing his consulting work, could not be reached for comment.

Tinker Mountain's Pugh said financial considerations had nothing to do with the merger. He said one major consideration was Goodwill's desire to take advantage of Tinker Mountain's management expertise.