Family Focus: Former students honored with Goodwill award

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three years ago, Carlos and Robert Hunter were students in a class, but Thursday, they were back as business owners sharing advice.

The brothers have their own contracting company. What they learned in Goodwill's construction training program gave them a foundation.

“Like from your personal protection equipment, fall protection -- all that safety stuff from construction I wasn't aware of -- now I am,” Carlos Hunter said.

Before the program, he was unemployed for two years.

Program manager Brian Otto recalled how both men showed up every day determined to succeed.

“Their classmates looked up to them for direction. They were leaders by example,” he said.

Now, they're taking it a step further, sharing strategies of how they overcame obstacles, and hiring new graduates from the course.

“It's other people that want the same opportunity that we have and to give back to where we come from -- that makes us strive harder,” Hunter said.

The dedication earned them Goodwill's Good Work! Award, an honor for extending the agency's work of uplifting the community, one person at time.

“Once you give an opportunity to one, that person will give opportunity to another then you start a trickle effect,” Hunter said.

For more information about Goodwill, click here.

WSOC