Agent of Change

From Mary Williams’ perspective, the concept of “building” took on a deeper meaning when she joined the Construction Ready Pre-Apprenticeship team. There were the hands-on skills, of course—the fundamental knowledge that is part of every four-week PA curriculum. But there was also the potential to build up students in more intangible ways.

Offered a job as a Construction Ready Site Manager after completing the program herself—she graduated with Opelika Group 1 in April 2025—Mary says she was intrigued by “a great opportunity to reach out to individuals from all walks of life and show them a different path, to help them change their lives for the betterment of themselves and their families.”

Mary accepted the offer to join the Construction Ready team, and today she is serving in the newly created role of Career Coach/Success Manager. With a professional background as a licensed professional counselor and career coach, and a lifelong interest in construction, she’s excelling in a role that’s perfectly tailored to her expertise.

Mary’s father and brother both worked in construction. She says a conversation with her brother led her to consider applying for Construction Ready Pre-Apprenticeship training. Visiting from New York, he happened upon a Construction Ready flier in the Auburn-Opelika area, where Mary lives and Construction Ready partners with Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers.

 “He said, ‘You used to love construction. You used to go out and tinker and build when you were younger. Have you ever thought about going back, since you have such a passion for it?’ And I said, ‘Sure,’ and he gave me this flyer and said, ‘This is something I think you’d like.’”

Mary says the program “kind of woke up that passion again, to want to learn more, and not only learn more, but also to be there as a conduit of encouragement, strength, coaching—navigating through things [with students] while they’re in the class.”

Mary’s instructor and site manager quickly recognized her potential for building others up and approached her about a job opportunity. After careful consideration, she recognized a “passion and purpose moment”—a chance to do something she loves while making a real difference in the lives of those she serves.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about people and making a change and being a light of hope in some small or maybe monumental way,” Mary explains. “It’s all about helping others see and become the better version of themselves, and not only for themselves, but for their family and generations to come.”

In her new role, Mary is providing guidance to help Construction Ready students and graduates succeed in the long term—well past the time they leave the 20-day PA program. She relishes the relationships she helps build and the remarkable changes she often sees in people.

“I’ll use this analogy,” she says. “I see some of them come in cocoons, very shy, bashful, not knowing anything, but at the end of graduation, the cocoon becomes a butterfly, and the beautiful butterfly flies away. I love seeing the faces and hearing how Construction Ready has actually shaped and changed their lives in a very positive way.”

Mary cites one former student in particular who went through a dramatic transformation.

“She was dealing with a lot of challenges, and she would consult me for advice,” she says. “I took the time to care, to listen, and to provide a light of hope. This young lady was homeless, she was a single parent with no income, and she had a lot of psychological trauma. She’s now working and she’s functional, she is no longer homeless, and she is stable. She has gone from cocoon to butterfly.”

Such wise counsel is invaluable, even—or perhaps especially—in a profession that’s so physically demanding and doesn’t always leave room for introspection. Clearly, Mary Williams is helping change lives with her compassionate heart and encouraging voice.

“Knowing that someone cares,” she says, “I think that makes a difference.”