Melissa Buteaud’s journey with Goodwill Houston began in 2021, when she took on a part-time role assisting with a housing grant. Though Melissa wasn’t actively looking for a new job, she had been working at a construction company for six years. The opportunity at Goodwill came through her sister, who was in recovery alongside Lisa Carpenter at the same treatment facility. What started as “extra work” quickly became a calling. Melissa found fulfillment in contributing to something bigger than herself and soon transitioned into a full-time finance support specialist role. Embracing every opportunity for growth, she said “yes” to learning new skills and responsibilities. Inspired by Goodwill’s mission to support underserved communities, she discovered a deep connection between her own life experiences and the organization’s purpose.
Having grown up in the foster care system with her sister, Melissa developed resilience, empathy, and a fierce determination to rise above her circumstances. The instability, learning disruptions, and emotional struggles she faced as a child shaped her understanding of how critical it is to stand in the gap for others. Today, she brings that same compassion to her work at Goodwill, especially when connecting with those navigating similar challenges. One of her proudest moments was leading a money management class for employability cohorts, witnessing their hope and engagement was deeply validating. Now working toward her LPC, with a bachelor’s in psychology already earned, Melissa is part of the 3% of foster youth who graduate from college. Her advice continues to be to believe in yourself, seek education, lean into grace, and never let anyone define your path. Her life’s mission is clear, help others, reduce suffering, and keep paying it forward.