Desiree

Desiree B. was fortunate and gained an early start in the electrical field during high school. When she graduated she had already obtained her electrical apprenticeship license and was preparing to take the journeyman’s exam. She decided to expand her skills and explore other skilled trades by enrolling in Step Up for Women.

Having never had a job, she found the lessons on resume writing, interviewing, and meeting employer expectations very helpful. As a student enrolled in the Step Up Program she also obtained her OSHA 10 Hr card, expanded on her limited carpentry skills, and was introduced to welding.

Desiree enjoyed the welding training so much she decided to seek employment that would allow her to increase her welding skills by providing an occasional opportunity to use them. Her efforts paid off as she landed something much better than an occasional opportunity to practice welding. Desiree is now employed with FCX in Morgantown, WV as a full time welder making $9.50 an hour! (Fall, 2007).

The position she landed will allow her to continue to increase her wages as her welding skills and experience increase.

Denise

Denise’s home was completely destroyed by fire in 2006. She and her husband then decided to rebuild their home little by little as they could afford to purchase materials. Together they began working on a beautiful new two story A frame home.

While working with her husband building their new home, Denise realized she really enjoyed the work and began to think about a new career in the skilled trades as an alternative to her present job as a bartender. It was then that she read an ad in the paper recruiting students for the Step Up for Women program which she called immediately. Her only concerns were her age and remedial math skills. Denise was 50 years old at her time of application and didn’t know how that might affect her ability to get a job upon graduating and was concerned that she hadn’t studied math since high school. With encouragement from the WVWW staff, Denise also enrolled in the WVU Brownfields Environmental Training Program. She also scored a record setting six grades higher in math on the TABE test. Armed with her new skills and certifications she was able to land a job right away with Miller Environmental Inc. as a Support Technician making $14.50 an hour and an opportunity to learn valuable skills in the hazardous materials and waste cleanup industry. When she’s not out on an emergency clean up call with Miller Environmental, she is on site with Lonnie Ball Contracting doing commercial construction and inventory management. A position she landed by walking on site with a resume and the confidence gained at West Virginia Women Work! (Fall, 2007)

Jessica

Jessica enrolled in Step Up for Women at a hard time in her life. She was in the process of filing bankruptcy and because of her lack of income he had lost her license because she was unable to pay fines.

Jessica had always been interested in non traditional occupations and desperately needed to find a career path that would lead to financial freedom. On only her second day of class the staff of WVWW encouraged her to apply to the Carpenter’s Union before the application period closed. She passed the math test administered during the application period and was able to land one of the Apprentice positions making $14.50 an hour plus benefits. Her work has kept her close to her home in the Morgantown area.

Jessica last reported that she was working seven twelve hour shifts and loving every minute of it! (Fall, 2007).

Pamela

Pamela had just relocated to West Virginia when her friend, Denise Mogyoros, told her about Step Up for Women. She had spent years working in a window factory before her move so she already knew that working at a desk was not for her. Like her friend, Pamela was concerned that her age, 50, would be a factor in finding employment in the skilled trades industry. Pamela was able to put those fears to rest when she obtained an Apprenticeship with the Laborer’s Union after hearing a representative from the union speak to the Step Up participants.

She’s earning $12 per hour during her first year and will increase in pay as her skills continue to grow. She has already made a return visit to speak to the participants of the class set to graduate after her own. She told them of how the skills learned in the Step Up program should be used as a stepping stone to bigger and better (paying) things! After only one year on the job Pamela is wrapping up training that will complete the “2nd” year of her Apprenticeship. (Fall, 2007).

Rhonda

Rhonda L. came to speak to the WVWW staff several times over the span of a year before committing to enrolling into the Step Up for Women program. She took that time to evaluate all of her options and make an informed decision about training for her future.

Rhonda had worked in the medical field specializing with two master’s degrees as a therapist when she decided it was time for a change. Not wanting to practice what her education and experience qualified her for, she began looking for a career that would be able to replace her former income.

She had several concerns about a nontraditional career in the skilled trades. One of them was her age, 46, and that was coupled with the fact that she had worked at a desk her entire life.

She didn’t allow that to stop her from tackling barriers and landing a competitive apprenticeship position with March Westin Inc. before the Step Up program concluded. March Westin is the largest construction contracting company in the state of WV.

Rhonda was fortunate to be able to submit the training hours she had completed during the Step Up for Women program to March Westin Inc. which advanced her logged apprenticeship hours and moved her closer to a higher pay grade.

Since being hired, March Westin, Inc. has assisted Rhonda in researching what each trade union has to offer and has encouraged her to pursue a career as a Journeyman Electrician or Carpenter with their full support and help. (Spring, 2008).