RiseTalent was built by educators, coaches, and consultants who believed in developing talent differently. After hearing from Gina Van Bemmel, who established the learning foundation, and Mark Monroe, who brought that foundation to life through mentorship, we finally look to Bill King, Senior Director at RiseNow.
With nearly 30 years of consulting experience, Bill helped design the framework for RiseTalent, developing the courses, standards, and mindset that shaped the first cohort’s success. His focus on real-world application ensures that the program delivers lasting value by equipping apprentices to contribute meaningfully to the organizations they serve.
Building from the Ground Up
When RiseTalent’s first cohort began, the framework was still being defined.
“Whenever we sold the first cohort, we got together and started to identify what was needed,” Bill recalled. “I realized they probably needed something more than just soft skills or tool training. So I created a number of classes for them to take.”
He started with Consulting 101, a practical series on ethics, communication, and client professionalism. But as the cohort grew, so did the curriculum. Within three months, Bill built 26 courses, most from scratch, covering sourcing, category management, analytics, and auction strategy.
Each course included assignments, structured activities, and deliverables that mirrored real consulting work. Apprentices weren’t just learning. They were practicing the fundamentals of client delivery from day one.
Turning Learning into Action
Bill’s work quickly evolved beyond the classroom.
“I designed every session with practice in mind,” he said.
Apprentices applied what they learned directly on client projects, reviewing supplier proposals, building sourcing documents, and even leading events themselves.
At a client, an apprentice, Wrigley Ferguson, began by shadowing a sourcing event. Before long, Bill handed him the responsibility to run one on his own.
“He had to review RFI proposals from eight or nine suppliers and provide a summary,” Bill said. “The work was spot on. I didn’t even have to go back and review it.”
For Bill, these moments confirmed that the approach was working. RiseTalent wasn’t just a training program; it was on-the-job readiness built in real time.
Teaching Professional Standards
Bill’s approach went beyond technical content. He emphasized the professional habits that define great consultants: punctuality, preparedness, and resilience.
“If you’re not five minutes early, you’re ten minutes late,” he often reminded apprentices.
He also led sessions with his “positivity hack,” designed to help them navigate feedback and stay focused under pressure.
“They come out of this program not as someone just out of school, but as someone with the equivalent of a year of consulting experience.”
Bill explained that it was important to him for the cohort to have that mindset.
Results that Endure
By the end of the program, apprentices were delivering work that exceeded expectations.
“Their development of an RFP was better than 95 percent of the customers I’ve worked with,” Bill said. “These are people who’ve been in their jobs for five to seven years, and yet the apprentices were writing better content.”
His framework now serves as the backbone of RiseTalent’s curriculum, shaping new cohorts and client engagements with a model that scales easily and consistently delivers strong results. Employers get access to well-trained, U.S.-based consulting talent while reducing hiring risk and speeding up performance. What started as Bill’s classroom plan has become part of RiseNow’s broader ability to develop and sustain exceptional talent.
A Lasting Foundation
Bill’s influence goes beyond curriculum design. It’s cultural. He helped define what success looks like: structured learning, applied practice, and high standards that build confident, adaptable consultants.
“They’re the right people, being coached the right way, in the right environment,” he said. “When they come out of this program, they’re hungry, they’re adaptable, and they know how to deliver.”
His work laid the foundation for how RiseTalent keeps growing, shaping future cohorts with the same focus on structure, confidence, and real-world readiness. Together, Gina, Mark, and Bill represent the spirit of RiseTalent’s beginning, a team of teachers, coaches, and builders who turned potential into performance and prepared cohorts to deliver value in every engagement.
For Recent Grads and Early-Career Professionals
If you’re looking for your first real step and want a mentor like Bill guiding you along the way, RiseTalent is for you. The program combines structure, feedback, and real project experience so you don’t just learn skills, you learn how to thrive in a professional environment.
Learn more and apply to join the next cohort →
For Employers
RiseTalent agents are not trained in theory. They are coached by experienced consultants, guided through real client scenarios, and taught the standards that make teams succeed. By the time they join your projects, they are confident, prepared, and ready to deliver from day one.
Explore hiring a RiseTalent cohort →
