From cameraman to construction entrepreneur
“I came to work in whatever I could find”, he stated, unafraid to recognize he has almost learned it all. “The first thing I found was on the construction industry. We remodeled toilets, homes and kitchens, and after a while, new opportunities arose”, he added.
More than a decade after his arrival he transferred to Tulsa where he had to master a new profession, journalism. “I found a job as a camera man for a TV station and years later became a reporter”, said Lopez, remembering the days in which his English was no good and had to learn the hard way. “I used every advice they gave to me and tried to learn with patience what was expected of me”, he acknowledged.
Journalism was only a hobby, and William had ambition, an uncalm thirst to build his own American dream, and one day he dropped everything and went back into the construction industry thinking of a brighter future. “I worked for every company in town, I wanted to learn so I could later make my own decisions”, he said.
But all those jobs had something in common, employees were mistreated and their voices always unheard. Just when the pandemic started Lopez decided to speak up, and lost his job. “They kicked me out because I had always disagreed in the ways in which they treated the employees. The truth is the owners didn’t like me, didn’t like my ideas and how I expressed myself. Is part of that old generation that commands with no guidance, when the key is to lead our collaborators”, stated Lopez.
His seek for justice forced him to take control of his life and use every learned skill to become an entrepreneur. Today Lopez owns a remodeling company with several hired employees. “We started from the bottom and now we are doing really good” he admitted. “We remodel everything, add rooms, walls and even decorate we have the right people to do it”, he assured asking all Hispanics to pay them a visit if they master the construction business.
Lopez describes himself as a modern leader, someone who gives the workers the knowledge they need so that they can own the wheels of their future. “I want to be fair with my people, if I have the means to help them, motivate them and guide them by example I will”, he said.
William López is living his American dream, one that Will only be fulfilled the day he dies. Meanwhile he works hard to bring his community afloat. To all those young immigrants he advises: “Learn everything you can, behave honorably, be responsible and honest and all the doors will open for you”.