Donta Green works every day to be a positive influence in the lives of the people around him.

In his day job, he is the CEO of the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit that helps people with barriers to education get job skills in construction and masonry, as well as life skills such as interviewing and personal finance.

“One of the highlights of both of my jobs is seeing someone have the courage to bet on themselves.”

After work, Donta grabs his whistle and heads off to Westinghouse High School, where he is his alma mater’s head football coach. His Bulldogs are 10-0 and aiming for a deep run in the PIAA playoffs.

In both positions, Donta says most of his work is done as a mentor trying to get students and players to reach their full potential so they can make a good life for themselves or enroll in college.

He does this using the skills and inspiration he gained at IUP when he was a criminology major and a member of the Crimson Hawks football team.

“Every opportunity I have today was birthed at IUP,” he said.