OTI on the Radio in December!

OPB Interview
OPB’s Ellena Rosenthal talked with Steve Malany: President of the board of directors at the Associated General Contractors Oregon-Columbia Chapter, Connie Ashbrook: Executive Director of Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., and Tia Vonil: an OTI Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class Graduate and a third-year union electrical apprentice in Portland to talk about the national craft worker shortage and what is happening locally to train workers as well as the importance of bringing Career Technical Education programs back into Oregon’s high schools.

KBOO Interview
Kathleen Stephenson at KBOO talked with Dennise Kowalczyk, Development Director, and Katie Yablonsky, Building Girls Program Manager, at Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. about our focus and programs and about how women interested in the trades can connect with us.

XRAY.fm Interview
On December 17, Katie Yablonsky, OTI’s Building Girls Program Manager, talked with Jefferson Smith about our work with young women.

 

 

Teamwork, Attitude and Paperwork: “TAP” into your future in the trades

I attended the Union Apprenticeships in the Building Trades Information Session at Portland YouthBuilders today and learned a whole lot about the great opportunities in construction, elevator construction, floor covering, electrical, cement masonry and others.

It was a one-hour presentation on the different building trades that offer apprenticeship programs. It takes place on a quarterly basis and is geared towards folks who are interested in a career and for those who counsel people on careers.

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There were several representatives from the trades who spoke to the benefits and expectations with regards to a career in the trades.  There were also some really great videos.  I learned so much! For example, did you know that elevator construction workers are the highest paid job of all the trades?

The panelists also shared insights about what is needed to be successful in any of the trades.  Those qualities include:

*  Being a team player
*  Having a great attitude
*  Establishing a great reputation
*  Completing your paperwork

Now, I’m not seeking work in those trades but I do work for an organization that helps women find work in those industries. I’ll be sure to be passing on information about future events but you might want to get this one on the calendar:

March 6, 2015
Central Electrical Training Center
33309 Highway 99E
Tangent, OR 97389

— Dennise

Oregon Tradeswomen Press Coverage

At Sherwood High School, girls-only class teaches welding, woodworking, computer skills

Great article by Laura Frazier of The Oregonian about “Imagine, Design & Build It — No Boyz Allowed” – girls only classes in welding, wooodworking, and computer technology

The Lucrative Reason Some Women Say It Pays to Ditch College

OTI TACC Grad, Stephanie Ryznar, is quoted in this article about why a career in the trades is such an attractive option for an increasing number of women!

Oregon Tradeswomen hires Dennise Kowalczyk

Thank you to The Oregonian/OregonLive for announcing OTI’s hire of Dennise M. Kowalczyk!