When Liam Darwin first heard about the Industrial Workforce Program on local radio, his career history had taken a winding path - occasional welding work, septic installations, and a tent setup business he'd worked at since 2011. With his GED in hand and a desire for something more, Liam knew it was time for a change, and enrolled in IWP's 12-week Construction Training Program.

Once there, Liam gained technical skills in heavy equipment operation and was exposed to a wide variety of soft skills training. From there, what stood out about Liam wasn't just his good humor or strong work ethic - it was his drive to create his own opportunities. He didn't wait for success to find him. He went out and tracked down a position at the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority as a backhoe operator, proving his capabilities without needing any introduction from IWP.

"Couldn't have done it without you guys at the program"

Liam says, but his success demonstrates the best of what IWP graduates can achieve - combining technical training with personal initiative to transform their careers.

Today, Liam operates heavy equipment daily, contributing to vital infrastructure projects across the Navajo Nation. His journey and work to a long-term stable career in construction shows what's possible when determination meets opportunity. For others in the Gallup community looking to make a similar change, Liam's story proves that with the right training and plenty of grit, a new career path is within reach.