“Keep the experience as natural as you can… make it into the best thing that has ever happened to you and it can be the best thing that has ever happened to you… ”

William is a 2017 YBNCWV graduate. Before Youth Build, William was working at a high-end restaurant in Elkins—but, when faced with the opportunity to be promoted into a higher paying position, he wasn’t eligible for the opportunity due to the lack of educational credentials. At that time, William was a High School drop-out and had been out of school for 5 years already. William was referred to Youth Build by family and friends, and after enrolling in the program he quickly excelled. Shortly after enrolling, William passed and obtained his TASC diploma and accumulated many other certifications like plumbing and OSHA. William was also elected onto the Young Leaders Council for Youth Build USA at the 2017 National Conference for Young Leaders, where he advocated for other rural youth builders across the U.S. After graduating from the program, William served another term of service with AmeriCorps at the Frontline and the Education Alliance where he mentored Middle School aged children.

“I was told that I had a 91 percent turn around rate with the Middle School students I mentored and it really changed my life for the better because I was able to go into an area where I failed and help the kids in a way I wished I had help at that age” –William Gartmann

Williams dream is to own his very own restaurant and introduce culinary opportunities to other youth builders and YBNCWV graduates as a career pathway, in hopes to provide the same experiences he skilled with a passion for food and hospitality.