Walter (Wally) G grew up in Indiana in a loving family and friend environment. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 2002 in industrial management from the Krannert School at Purdue University and upon graduation he started a construction business in Lafayette, Ind.

He moved to Colorado in 2014 where he continued to build his business while keeping strong family ties back home. During Covid he slipped back into drinking and substance use which ultimately led to a divorce, unstable housing, job loss, and legal problems.

“I was staying wherever I could, from a truck to a friend’s couch to detox.”

In late 2023, after a court appearance, Wally met a former Bridge House client outside the courthouse who told him about Ready to Work. 

“I came to Ready to Work because I needed a break from the life I was living. I needed change and separation. I didn’t have a way to meet my basic needs: housing, food, and a job. Without change, everything was falling apart. I was cycling in and out of the criminal system, going back to square one after every lapse.

“Ready to Work gave me a foundation to rebuild. With structure, support, and a community that believed in me, my mindset shifted from wondering how to get my life back to knowing I can build something better.” 

While he had moments of stability, he knew he couldn’t sustain them alone. At Ready to Work,  he found something different: accountability without perfection, clear goals, and a path forward.

Today, Wally lives in his own apartment in Boulder and works full-time at Community Table Kitchen Catering as a catering lead. His life is less complicated, more stable, and easier to manage. He models staying sober, having a job and keeping an apartment, and the ability to budget (even in Boulder) to new trainees who come through the kitchen.

“When you start a program like Bridge House it seems like a lot and you have a long way to go. I help them understand that if you just do what you’re supposed to do today, the days add up into weeks and months.

“My goal is to stay the course, support others on their journey, continue growing, and show that change is possible, perfect or not.”