Goodwill Central Florida Appoints Steve Nakagawa to Vice President Role

Goodwill Industries of Central Florida has named Steve Nakagawa Vice President of Mission Impact. The appointment places a retired U.S. Navy captain at the head of a new role focused on community strategy and partnership development.

Nakagawa joins the organization with more than 30 years of leadership experience spanning military, technology, and nonprofit sectors. His career includes senior leadership positions in both military and civilian organizations. Most recently, he served as program director for Cenfluence, a Florida High Tech Corridor initiative. In that capacity, he supported high-tech startups and aimed to drive regional industry growth.

His professional work has concentrated on workforce development and establishing partnerships to strengthen the Central Florida economy. Nakagawa stated that lasting community impact requires understanding local needs and building the right partnerships to address them. He expressed anticipation for his new mission at Goodwill, citing the organization’s goal to expand access to resources for residents.

"I look forward to this new mission with Goodwill, as we continue to open new opportunities that expand access to the resources Central Floridians need to thrive personally and professionally," Nakagawa said.

Nakagawa has received several honors for his leadership and community service. In 2015, Orange County awarded him the Distinguished Asian American Award. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority presented him with the Colonel Joe Kittinger Award in 2024. In 2025, the Orlando Business Journal named him one of 15 people to know in the aerospace and technology sector.

The organization directs individuals interested in its Prosperity Platform and workforce development opportunities to its website at www.GoodwillCFL.org.