Success Story: Wyatt Henningsen, United Rentals

It takes many of us years to tap into our life’s purpose, however, for Wyatt Henningsen it was clear to him early on that his true passion lied in serving other people. Henningsen—a native of Flagstaff, Arizona—was raised solely by his father after his mother left the family when he was 8-years-old. Although he often struggled with the absence of his mother while growing up, Henningsen’s close bond with his father helped him overcome the tough times. His father worked as a firefighter and Henningsen got to see first-hand how his dad’s profession impacted the lives of individuals who lived in the local community.

Nearly 10 years ago after a snow storm hit —while his father was off duty—the two came across a flipped car on the side of the road. There was a woman and two children inside of the car who were all alive but very frightened. Henningsen’s father immediately swooped into action. “The way he jumped into action and was able to get her and the children to calm down after a horrifying experience left a mark on me,” he said. Witnessing his father’s leadership during experiences like these inspired Henningsen to want to pursue a career in which he would be in a position to serve other people.

He embarked on his mission to serve in 2011, when he decided to enlist in the military. He did a year at a combat outpost in Paktika Province, Afghanistan. Although Henningsen traveled to Afghanistan humbled to be serving his country, there were many times during his experience in the military when his faith was tested. In September 2011, Henningsen’s COP was attacked several times. While in combat, he took a bullet that ricocheted off of his rifle. A month later, his COP was bombed by a vehicle born IED and he miraculously survived the ordeal with cuts on his forehead from scrap metal. After enduring those traumatic experiences, Henningsen called on the one person that he sought guidance from his entire life: his father.

“Those experiences really shook my head for a bit. They were very traumatic,” he said. “I remember calling my dad for advice on how to move past this. With him being a firefighter, they see traumatic things almost every day. He told me not to dwell on the experience. He said ‘You were there, you lived it, and most importantly you survived it. Now it’s time to move on from it.” Henningsen says having a near-death experience taught him the importance of living life to the fullest, staying true to your purpose, and seizing opportunities because life isn’t promised.

Those tests of faith while serving in the military resulted in life lessons that Henningsen applied while trying to navigate his post-military career journey. After leaving the military in 2013, Henningsen struggled with figuring out what his next chapter would be. He was unsure about how to transfer the skills he attained in the military into a civilian career. In search of what he wanted to pursue, he went as far as moving to California to study for a certificate for commercial diving and underwater welding. Eventually, he ended up relocating to Dallas after things on the West Coast didn’t work out for him. Although he never pursued underwater welding, he believed that there was a larger purpose behind his time in California. During the certificate program, he built a friendship with one of his classmates who told him about WOS.

Henningsen was connected with WOS Client Service Manager Marie Walters who helped him enroll in the training program at United Rentals in Dallas. The training program trains veterans to be heavy equipment mechanics, and it was an opportunity for Henningsen to work towards a position that would allow him to serve other people.

Henningsen underwent a three-month training program at United Rentals called Service to Employment Program (STEP) that would prepare him to take on a service technician role in the company. As part of the program—which was run in partnership with Universal Technical Institute—he took hands-on courses that covered hydraulics, engines, IVES training and compliance, electrical training, and vendor training. He trained for nearly 8 hours each day. Prior to serving in the military, he had a short stint as an auto mechanic where he worked with broken equipment and engines so he leveraged some of those skills to help him get through the WOS program.

Throughout the program, he was mentored by Walters who says his growth was impressive. “Wyatt's drive and commitment to success were evident from day one.  He immediately established himself as a leader and didn't waste any time turning the class into a team. He was quick to share his mechanical knowledge and experience with others and was eager to get the most out of soft skills training,” said Walters. Walters wasn’t the only one who took notice of Henningsen’s determination. His hard work landed him a job offer on the second day of on-the-job training.

He now has a full-time job as a service technician with hopes to become a service manager where he can help guide other technicians. “One thing that I’ve noticed about working at United Rentals so far is that there is plenty of room for growth. I’ve always wanted to be at a company where I can have career longevity,” he said. He’s thankful that WOS opened up this door of opportunity for him. “I feel a sense of relief and gratitude. I’m happy to have a job that allows me to help others whether it be teaching other mechanics technical knowledge or being able to provide equipment for our customers. I’m also happy to have financial independence which is something that I’ve struggled with in the past.”

Henningsen’s story is a true testament to the fact that wherever you go in life, your true passion will always lead you; as his continued passion to serve others led him to a career that he loves.