Steve Preston Net Worth And Career Income Facts 2026
Steve Preston Net Worth status in 2026, including salary-based roles, government service pay, and nonprofit leadership income sources.
Feb 15, 202626 Shares855 Views
As of 2026, no reliable public estimate exists for Steve Preston’s net worth. Major finance outlets (Forbes, Bloomberg) have published no figure.
Preston’s income derives from his career investment banking, corporate finance and now nonprofit leadership as CEO of Goodwill Industries International but these roles pay salary rather than a disclosed fortune.
He also served as a federal agency head (leading the Small Business Administration and Housing & Urban Development), positions that carry fixed public salaries. In sum, any online net-worth claim is unverified and his actual wealth remains unknown.
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | Steve Preston |
| Birth Date | August 4, 1960 |
| Birthplace | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States |
| Net Worth Status | No reliable public net worth estimate available as of 2026 |
| Net Worth Source Note | No figure published by major outlets such as Forbes or Bloomberg |
| Primary Income Type | Salary-based executive and public service roles |
| Current Position | President and CEO, Goodwill Industries International |
| CEO Since | January 2019 |
| Goodwill Scope | Oversees ~151 local Goodwill organizations in the U.S. and Canada |
| Government Role 1 | Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration (2006–2008) |
| Government Role 2 | U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2008–2009) |
| Private Sector Roles | Former CFO at ServiceMaster and Waste Management |
| Corporate Leadership | Former CEO of Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International |
| Education | BA in Political Science, Northwestern University (highest distinction) |
| Advanced Degree | MBA, University of Chicago (1985) |
Early Life
Steve Preston was born on August 4, 1960, in Janesville, Wisconsin. He grew up in Janesville with four siblings. Preston earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Northwestern University in 1982 (graduating with highest distinction) and went on to receive an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago in 1985.
Steve Preston: Career
Steve Preston is an American executive known for leadership in both government and industry. Since January 2019 he has served as President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International, overseeing a federation of nonprofit agencies dedicated to workforce training. Earlier he held senior federal roles under President George W. Bush, including Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2006–2008) and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2008–2009).
In business he has occupied high-level finance and operational posts for example, he served as Chief Financial Officer at ServiceMaster and Waste Management and went on to lead companies such as Oakleaf Global Holdings and Livingston International. Across these roles, Preston gained a reputation for guiding organizations through periods of change and national challenge.
Early Professional & Leadership Career
Preston’s career began in corporate finance and operations. He started as an investment banker with Lehman Brothers and later became Senior Vice President and Treasurer of First Data Corporation. In the 1990s he joined The ServiceMaster Company, where he spent seven years as Chief Financial Officer before being promoted to Executive Vice President of Strategic Services.
In these positions he managed major restructuring and growth initiatives across ServiceMaster’s residential and commercial service brands. By the mid-2000s he had accumulated over 20 years of leadership experience in large corporations, setting the stage for his entry into public service.
Government Leadership Roles & Federal Service
In 2006 Preston entered the federal government as Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). He held this role through 2008, implementing sweeping reforms to make SBA more responsive and effective. Notably, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he expedited SBA disaster loans and assistance, cutting red tape so affected businesses and families received aid much faster.
These efforts helped SBA earn a “Most Improved” ranking among large federal agencies in a 2008 Best Places to Work survey. In mid-2008 Preston was confirmed as the 14th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Serving through January 2009, he led HUD’s response to the mortgage and financial crisis. He deployed aggressive plans to expand mortgage credit, protect homeowners, and rebuild disaster-damaged housing.
In this capacity he also served on the federal Troubled Asset Relief Program board to stabilize financial markets. Under his leadership HUD worked to ensure disaster victims could keep or recover housing for example, by rebuilding public housing in New Orleans after Katrina. Preston’s tenure at HUD ended with the transition to the next administration in 2009.
Transition To Corporate & Nonprofit Leadership
After leaving government in 2009, Preston returned to the private sector. In June 2009 he was named President and later CEO of Oakleaf Global Holdings, a waste logistics and recycling company. He led Oakleaf through a turnaround, enhancing customer satisfaction and expanding its services and technology offerings.
Oakleaf’s success under his leadership led to its acquisition by Waste Management in 2011. Preston then joined Waste Management as Executive Vice President of Finance and eventually Chief Financial Officer. From 2011 to 2012 he helped integrate Oakleaf’s operations into Waste Management, overseeing finance and strategic initiatives.
In August 2013 Preston was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Livingston International, a North America focused customs brokerage and trade compliance company. At Livingston he applied his operational expertise to grow the business and expand its service offerings.
Concurrent with his corporate roles, Preston also increased his involvement in nonprofit governance. He joined the board of Habitat for Humanity and served on other philanthropic and educational boards, reflecting his growing interest in social enterprise leadership.
Role As President & CEO Of Goodwill Industries International
Since January 2019 Preston has led Goodwill Industries International as its President and CEO. In this capacity he oversees approximately 151 local Goodwill organizations in the U.S. and Canada, with combined annual revenues around $8.6 billion. Goodwill is a leading nonprofit provider of workforce training and employment services, funded largely by its retail thrift store network.
Under Preston’s leadership Goodwill has focused on modernizing both its mission and business operations. He has prioritized expanding proven workforce development models, integrating sustainability initiatives, and strengthening the retail enterprise that funds Goodwill’s training programs.
For example, he spearheaded the launch of the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator, a nationwide partnership with Google to teach digital skills, and championed updating Goodwill’s stores with new business practices. Preston also represents Goodwill in national industry forums. He sits on the board of the National Retail Federation and serves as chair of the NRF Foundation to advocate for the retail workforce and policy issues.
Major Career Achievements & Organizational Impact
Public Sector Reforms:At the SBA (2006–2008) Preston overhauled disaster relief and small business lending programs after Hurricane Katrina, resulting in significantly faster loan approvals. Under his tenure SBA was ranked the “Most Improved” large federal agency in the 2008 Best Places to Work survey.
As HUD Secretary (2008–2009) he implemented an aggressive plan to broaden mortgage credit and stabilize housing during the financial crisis, including efforts to rebuild public housing and protect disaster victims.
Corporate Turnarounds:In the private sector Preston led a turnaround at Oakleaf Waste Management (2009–2011), where he led significant improvements in customer satisfaction and expanded service capabilities. These gains helped trigger Waste Management’s acquisition of Oakleaf.
He then served as Waste Management’s finance chief (2011–2012), guiding the integration of Oakleaf into WM’s operations. Later, as CEO of Livingston International (2013 onward), he continued to expand the company’s customs brokerage and trade compliance business.
Goodwill Digital Training:Under Preston’s leadership at Goodwill, the organization launched an ambitious digital training initiative. Within one year the Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator had reached over 250,000 learners and connected nearly 30,000 job seekers to employment.
Preston highlighted this success, stating it “helps job seekers and mid-career professionals attain the skills they need to find work.” These outcomes demonstrate Goodwill’s impact in equipping workers with in demand technology skills.
Workforce Reentry Outcomes:Goodwill’s programs for justice involved individuals have also seen notable results. Preston has reported that participants in Goodwill’s Department of Labor supported reentry programs experience only about a 5% return to prison rate in the first year, a rate he called “astoundingly low.”
By focusing on education inside prisons and job training on release, Goodwill under his leadership has achieved recidivism rates far below national averages.
Current Career Focus & Leadership Vision
Preston emphasizes that Goodwill’s work is about unlocking individual potential and meeting future workforce needs. He describes the organization’s mission as helping people facing challenges “tap into and develop their potential to its fullest possible outcome.”
He stresses the importance of evolving Goodwill’s programs with the changing economy, noting that the organization is working very intentionally to provide people with the skills that are most relevant to where the world is going. On a personal level, Preston says he feels privileged to apply his executive experience to this mission.
“I’m doing the stuff I love to do for the mission that drives me deeply,” he remarked. Looking ahead, he envisions expanding Goodwill’s impact in underserved communities. As he has noted, with the right programs Goodwill can be a major force in helping people including formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives and achieve economic self sufficiency.
With each initiative, Preston’s focus remains on measurable results and long term impact. He aims to position Goodwill as a leading force in national workforce development, building on partnerships with tech companies and government and a network of grassroots career centers to meet the challenges of automation, inclusion, and job readiness in the years to come.
FAQs
Who Is Steve Preston?
Steve Preston is an American executive who has led major organizations in both the public and private sectors. He served as Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (2006–2008) and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2008–2009). He has been President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International since 2019.
What Is Steve Preston Best Known For?
He is best known for serving in senior U.S. federal government roles during the George W. Bush administration and later becoming a nonprofit leader. He is also known for executive leadership in corporate finance and operations.
What Is Steve Preston’s Current Job?
Steve Preston is the President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. He has held this position since January 2019.
Where Was Steve Preston Born?
Steve Preston was born in Janesville, Wisconsin. His birth date is widely reported as August 4, 1960.
How Old Is Steve Preston?
Steve Preston was born in 1960. His exact age depends on the current date.
Where Did Steve Preston Go To College?
Steve Preston earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Northwestern University. He later received an MBA from the University of Chicago.
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