Goddard Systems Welcomes Deborah Thomas as Chief Human Resources Officer

Seasoned executive to lead HR function for early childhood education franchise

Goddard Systems, LLC (GSL), manager of The Goddard School franchise system, has appointed Deborah Thomas as chief human resources officer, effectively immediately. In her role, Thomas is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources strategy, including talent management, employee engagement and leadership development. She will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing Goddard’s human capital strategy, ensuring the company continues to attract, develop and retain top talent.

“At the center of every outstanding organization are its culture and its people, and creating great culture and attracting great people are only possible with a team of fantastic leaders. To that end, I am thrilled to welcome Deborah, a dynamic and forward-thinking leader with a track record of success over more than 30 years, to the Goddard family,” said Dennis R. Maple, chairman and CEO of GSL. “Deborah’s proven ability to develop strategic initiatives to inspire talent and foster high-performance makes her the perfect fit to lead our HR function as Goddard continues to grow.”

Thomas comes to GSL with three decades of experience in HR leadership positions across a broad spectrum of industries including technology, manufacturing, telecommunications, e-commerce and financial services. She joins GSL from Somos, Inc., where she was chief people officer, collaborating with the executive leadership team to enable company growth while serving as the steward of company culture. Her innovative approach to talent management positioned the company as an industry employer of choice, resulting in top-tier employee engagement and satisfaction ratings.

“I am honored to join Goddard Systems and am enthusiastic about contributing to the organization’s mission of making the world a better place through early childhood education,” said Thomas. “I’m excited to work alongside such a talented team and to have the opportunity to help further cultivate a supportive and empowering environment for our Goddard Systems colleagues and Goddard School franchisees.”

Thomas holds a B.S. in finance from Hampton University and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. She has served on an array of boards, including leadership and advisory boards at both of her alma maters; the Rhode Island State Workforce Investment Board; the Work Tango, Inc., board of directors; and the nonprofit board for Positive Impact Health Centers, a health organization dedicated to providing client-centered care for the HIV community.

For more information about The Goddard School, please visit GoddardSchool.com, and to learn about franchise opportunities, go to GoddardSchoolFranchise.com.