Her Story
About Crystal
Crystal Goodyear serves as Corporate Secretary for G&G Towing and her husband's recovery business, two family-run companies rooted in Silver City, New Mexico's towing and recovery industry. Over the past decade, she has grown from a part-time administrative hire into a leader who oversees office operations, customer relations, and human resources for a crew that spends long hours on the road. Before entering the towing world, Goodyear spent roughly ten years working with people with disabilities at LifeQuest, an experience that sharpened her caregiving instincts and shaped the compassionate, service-oriented approach she now brings to her work connecting stranded tourists and local residents with the help they need. Goodyear's path to her current role was far from conventional. After experiencing homelessness following high school, she eventually found her way back to the classroom, earning an Associate's Degree in Business Administration from Western New Mexico University and now working toward a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. Along the way, she became an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, rising to the role of Vice President of Student Services, and she has extended her commitment to service through involvement with the local community clean-up initiatives with Toss No Mas and participation in a Mobile Food Pantry that bridges community with college life. Within the towing industry, Goodyear has become a steady advocate for crew welfare and a respectful workplace culture, from enforcing reasonable working hours to encouraging shared meals that help her team decompress after demanding shifts. Navigating a male-dominated field has required what she describes as "grace and grit," a philosophy she now passes on to other women considering the trade: absorb less, work hard, set firm boundaries, and never ask someone to do a job you wouldn't do yourself. That blend of resilience, education, and hands-on dedication continues to define both her professional identity and her role as a mentor to the next generation entering the industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Crystal
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, especially in returning to my education after years of interruption, and to the support I received from my professors and through an Opportunity Scholarship. I also credit the mentorship of the women who came before me in our family business, and I hold myself to a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to my community.
I come from a long line of strong women who worked really hard and showed me how to keep going through rough times. You reap what you sow kind of way of thinking.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received came from a counselor in a work program who encouraged me to go back to college. That push led me to scholarship support, which reignited my educational aspirations and ultimately changed the direction of my career path. Some words of wisdom I carry with me in most things I do: Do something today that future you will thank you for.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell young women entering this industry that it takes balancing between grit and grace. You have to learn to let disrespect roll off your shoulder instead of absorbing it, and you have to be willing to do the physical, hands-on work yourself rather than sending someone else to do a job you wouldn't do. Setting clear boundaries and giving your full effort to helping people will take you far. Knowing what you bring to the table is a game changer.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is working within a male-dominated culture where ego often gets in the way and emotions can run high on the job. for both the men and the women. Because of that, clear boundaries, open communication, and strong human resources management have become essential parts of my role. At the same time, I see real opportunity in deepening our ties and impact to the community, improving how we support our crew's welfare, and providing more compassionate, personal customer service.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me are a strong work ethic, giving back to my community, mutual respect, and setting clear boundaries between home/work. Family and community connection guide almost everything I do, both on the job and off it. Staying connected and close to school panels and sports programs have shaped the way I think about leadership in my role as a mother. I know it's better to be involved and busier than to be disengaged from my child's education platform and missing something big.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.