President & CEO

William graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Western Illinois University in 2011. Two years later, he earned an MBA in Organizational Development from Benedictine University.

William started his career as a project manager at Memorial Health System (MHS) and began working on a $150 million campus expansion program. In 2014, Williams was inspired to start his own company, Solid Ground Solutions, Inc. which specialized in cleaning and housekeeping for schools and hospitals. In 2019, he entered into a mentor-protégé relationship with O’Shea Builders, and through this relationship, he expanded his business to include demolition and general contracting services. The company provides nearly thirty jobs in Springfield.

In 2022, William began meeting with a longstanding concrete company, respected for decades for quality work. They struck up a partnership that guaranteed a sustainable future for the business and has come to be known as Solid Concrete Solutions.

William has made it a priority to help others. He co-founded the Minority Trades Network with O’Shea Builders. This organization connects members of the minority community with rewarding career opportunities in the construction industry. The group meets for two hours, once a week, for twelve weeks. During the program, participants learn about local construction trades and associated career paths. At the end of the program, participants typically commit to a trade union to get started on their new career path. Since the program started in 2020, eighteen people have graduated from the program of which 11 are actively working in their trade of choice and 7 have committed to unions.

William also volunteers his time as the boys’ basketball coach at Lanphier High School, his alma mater.

William is being recognized in the category of Business, economic, and/or entrepreneurial accomplishment. He lives in Springfield with his partner, Natavia Wilson and children, William V and Navi.