Natural Born Dreamer

So, who is this guy and what’s he doing on a TV show?

William grew up in that hotbed of the entertainment world, Yakima, Washington, so his progression into prime time TV is a natural. His parents spotted his flair for the dramatic at an early age, saying, “That boy is either going to be a minister, a politician or a con man.” (This prognostication was kept secret from him until well past the age of majority, while in the meantime, mom and dad were able to steer him clear of at least two out of the three occupations.)

Preparation for a Career in TV

A gifted athlete, he went on to major in PE at Washington State University so that he could become an English teacher. That’s what happens when schools need a lot of coaches, but only have one PE job.

What do you do when you’re not an English teacher? Act like one! William’s performance as an English teacher was so well received that over 80 schools have now been trained in the reading program he helped to develop and his current high school was just named the model high school of the year (sort of like an Oscar) in part due to the huge improvements in reading and writing.

As an educational presenter, William uses his theatrical and musical background to get across information in effective and unforgettable performances. One reviewer summed it up well when she wrote: “Bill, you never seem to amaze me.” (Actual quote from evaluation of a workshop presented to non-native English speakers and I am not making this up.)

It’s easy to see how William has made it onto TV, no?

 

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But seriously, DreamRiders gives William the opportunity to ride after many dreams:

• to get closer to his son, Nicolas. “I feel like the divorce and my busyness and his age have pulled us apart and I’d like to change that, especially as he is getting ready to go out into the world on his own. It’s a chance to get to know each other as adults and help him transition into the rest of his life with a strong foundation and a connection that we will never lose.”
• to do something he’s wanted to do since he was a kid: ride a bicycle across the US. “I like the idea of seeing the country slowly. I am intrigued with being able to meet new people along the way and totally experience all of these great places through their eyes.”
• to do adventurous things that he’s never done before. “Fear and having too many responsibilities have held me back from doing way too many things in life. If we come upon it on the trip and it looks cool, I want to try it. Skydiving, jumping off high cliffs into water, street luge, being hypnotized in a stage show: you name it, I’ll go for it.”
• to inspire people. “Everybody has a story. True, some of them read like a Dr. Seuss book, but others are amazing tales of triumph and inspiration. I love hearing about people’s dreams. DreamRiders gives me the opportunity to hear and film many incredible people across America. I’ll be able to give a spark of hope and renewal to all of our viewers by sharing these stories that are hidden out there in the out of the way places across America.
• to make things happen rather than wait for things to happen. “Life is short. I’ve already been discovered by the people who know me in my neck of the woods. I don’t want to wait for the people in New York and Hollywood to catch on. So, I’m helping them out by packaging my talent, creativity, intellect and passion into a vehicle that will show the networks how they can capitalize on me and my ideas.”