About Oregon Tradeswomen
Tradeswomen in the News!
Oregon Tradeswomen and our graduates have been in the news recently and we wanted to put all the links here in case there were stories you missed on our social media channels!
Oregon Tradeswomen Names Executive Director
Daily Journal of Commerce | May 16
Video series: Isis Harris, electrician apprentice
Oregon Business Magazine | May 17
KGW’s Drew Carney Previews the Women in Trades Career Fair
KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8 | May 19
Women in the Trades
NW Labor Press | May 31
Women in Trades: Meet Danielle Marcial, Water Operations Mechanic
Website Story June 2017
Tradeswomen’s Fight for Gender Equity
Huffington Post | June 1
OTI’s Next Executive Director
Thank you for all of your well-wishes, congratulations, and other kind words when we announced OTI founder and Executive Director, Connie Ashbrook’s, forthcoming retirement last October.
We are pleased to tell you that Oregon Tradeswomen’s Board of Directors has hired OTI’s next Executive Director.
Kelly Kupcak, from Chicago Women in Chicago Women in Trades, will take the reins of Oregon Tradeswomen on July 10, 2017. She brings more than two decades of nonprofit management experience to her new role as Executive Director of Oregon Tradeswomen.
Kelly holds a fundamental belief that economic equity and gender inclusion are critical to building strong women, strong families, and strong communities. Kelly brings considerable skills in strategic visioning, collaborative leadership, and outcomes-driven planning, and looks forward to expanding OTI’s impact in workforce development and building diversity in Oregon’s construction trades workforce.
From Left: Sharon Latson (Chicago Women in Trades), Kelly Kupcak (OTI’s Incoming Executive Director), Melissa Jennings (Volunteer), and Olivia Porter (Volunteer)
Most recently, Kelly served as the Director of Technical Assistance for the National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment at Chicago Women in Trades. She managed a highly competitive, multi-year U.S. Department of Labor ten-state regional grant-funded initiative and a U.S. Department of Labor contract, national in scope, to improve outcomes for women in nontraditional sectors through technical assistance to industry partners including employers, registered apprenticeship, workforce system, career technical system, and government entities.
Connie will continue to be involved with national policy by serving as co-chair of the Taskforce on Tradeswomen Issues and conducting training, providing technical assistance and other consulting services to help employers, apprenticeship programs, unions, and government agencies diversify their workforces, and assisting Career and Technical Education (CTE) trade programs to attract and retain more women and girls.
Kelly plans to visit the 25th Women in Trades Career Fair on May 19 and 20, 2017, and she will officially start in her new role with Oregon Tradeswomen on Monday, July 10, 2017. Kelly looks forward to meeting you soon, whether at the Women in Trades Career Fair or another event later in the year.
Visitors from Korea Learn about OTI’s Training Program!
A few weeks ago at Oregon Tradeswomen, we were honored to host 4 women from Korea who are leaders in journalism-print and television, government, and environmental policy. We had an engaging conversation about OTI’s pre-apprenticeship program and OTI staff answered all of their thoughtful questions about construction in the western part of the United States.
After our wonderful conversation about the construction trades, we suited up in our personal protection equipment (PPE: hand-hats, safety glasses, and ear protection) and took a walk to see OTI’s pre-apprenticeship students in action. We were lucky enough to see OTI’s class during their first “hands-on day” and got to see students learning to use a variety of tools including: jigsaw, chopsaw, table saw, safety lifts, and more! During a break for our hard working students, the Korean visitors had a chance to ask questions and hear directly from women planning to enter careers in construction. One of our students even got to practice her Korean language skills!
The Korean visitors were thrilled to meet our students and as staff, we are always excited to tell stories of how our graduates are breaking down barriers and shattering glass ceilings and concrete floors!
OTI’s Annual Meeting: February 2, 2017!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
RESCHEDULED to Thursday, February 2, 2017
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Oregon Tradeswomen
3934 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Suite # 101
Portland, OR 97212
OTI can’t exist without the support of our membership base, our allies, and supporters. We depend on members to support OTI’s efforts, to guide the decisions of the organization, to contribute financially to the organization, to volunteer, and much more!
We hope you can join us in January to enjoy some social time, great Mexican food from La Cocina, voting on new OTI Board members, hearing about the highlights from 2016 and learning what OTI hopes to accomplish in the new year!
OTI will provide dinner and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from the restaurant bar.
Questions? Please contact Lisa Palermo, Development Director at lisa@tradeswomen.net or 503.335.8200 x 38
You’re Invited to OTI’s Fall 2016 TACC Graduation!
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. cordially invites you to attend the Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class Graduation and celebrate our most recent cohort of pre-apprenticeship graduates!
Date:
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Time:
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Location:
PCC Metro Workforce Training Center
The Auditorium
5600 NE 42nd Avenue
Portland OR 97218
Click for the street address on Google Maps
Light appetizers & cake will be served
Fall 2016 Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class Graduates
Jay Broady
Lyssa Brosig
Chelsey Callaghan
Sabrina Carter
Dana Dee
Jinnie Freeman
Marcie Harris
Niki J Johnson
Alana Kansaku-Sarmiento
Kalise Kenyon
Tiffany Latham
Michelle Lifvendahl
Torre McGee
Ashley Magnus
Sasha Melendez
Shannon Olsen-Horchy
Liv Pollock
Linda Salholm
Becca Schulze
Shanti Speer
I.O. Stiles
Ginsy Stone
Brittany West
Funding for our program is provided by:
Autzen Foundation, Bank of America, Collins Foundation, Construction Apprenticeship & Workforce Solutions, Inc. (CAWS), DeArmond Public Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, IBEW Local 48, Joseph Weston Foundation, Multnomah County, Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Department of Transportation, Pacific Power Foundation, Peterson Foundation, Portland Development Commission’s Economic Opportunity Program, Portland Parks and Recreation, Samuel Johnson Foundation, Spirit Mountain Community Fund, The TJX Foundation, Trio Foundation of St. Louis, The Portland Water Bureau and Hoffman Construction through the Community Benefit Agreement, Women’s Bureau–U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Foundation of Oregon, Worksystems, Inc., industry donations, and individual tradeswomen and supporters. Thank you!!
An Important Announcement from Connie at Oregon Tradeswomen
I wanted you to be among the first to know I am planning on retiring as the Executive Director of Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) in Spring of 2017 and scaling my involvement to allow for more work life balance.
Since 1989, I have dedicated my life to building and running an organization that has had an immense impact on the lives of thousands of women, girls, and their families. The work of OTI has also had a distinct influence on Oregon’s construction industry and other trades. I’ve come to the time in my life when I want more leisure for gardening, hiking, and spending more time with my spouse and other family and friends.
This transition has been well planned over the last 5 years with the help of the board of directors, consultants, staff, and a rigorous strategic planning process. It’s the right time for OTI because…
— I will still be involved with national policy through serving as co-chair of the Taskforce on Tradeswomen Issues and conducting training, providing technical assistance and other consulting services to help employers, apprenticeship programs, unions, and government agencies diversify their workforces, and assisting CTE trades program to attract and retain more women and girls.
— I plan to stay involved with OTI as a mentor, advisor, connector, and anything else the organization might want from me – just not the day-to-day oversight of the organizations operations. I, along with the rest of the OTI team, have accomplished a lot over the last 20 years:
- More than 1,000 women have graduated from our Pathways to Success pre-apprenticeship program
- We will host our 25th Annual Women in Trades Career Fair in 2017
- OTI has vastly increased visibility of the trades as a viable career for women. Oregon’s percentage of women in registered apprenticeship is 6.8% – more than double the national average, and the apprenticeship programs we work with most closely have over 9% women.
- Approximately 33% of all of Oregon’s female apprentices are graduates of OTI’s pre-apprenticeship program.
OTI is in the process of expanding the training and consulting services we will offer to employers, apprenticeship programs and CTE trades programs. Our services will assist employers in not only recruiting women, but also in helping those employers retain women workers and encourage them to advance in their careers.
OTI has a solid team of experienced and skilled staff, and our Board of Directors are strongly committed and represent a diverse group of tradeswomen as well as business and non-profit professionals. I have every confidence that they will continue their great work and keep OTI growing strong as a resource for our community.
I will be staying on full time until the new Executive Director is hired and will continue to work closely with OTI’s partners and collaborators. After the new Executive Director is hired, I will reduce my hours to part time until the new Executive Director is fully situated.
I want to thank you and all of our supporters, past and present. This work is far from over and I encourage all of you to stand strong with Oregon Tradeswomen into the future as we help prepare a strong workforce who just happen to be women. I hope we can count on you for your continued support and partnership, and your help in getting the new Executive Director situated.
In gratitude for all your past support and partnership,
p.s. Stephanie Basalyga, Editor of the Daily Journal of Commerce, published a story about my planned retirement. Read the story online!
UPDATE:
Here is a link to the ED job description and application instructions.
The Portland Tribune Highlights the Experiences of Tradeswomen
Portland Tribune reporter, Peter Korn, contacted OTI’s Communications Manager, Mary Ann Naylor, around the middle of June, 2016. He was working on a story exploring the terms misogyny and sexism, and how women in different occupations might experience either or both on the job. One of the people he was interviewing for his story about misogyny suggested that he really needed to get the perspective of tradeswomen, so he called Mary Ann.
Mary Ann referred Peter to Jenna Smith, an OTI TACC Graduate who attained her journeyman card as a power line tree trimmer, and later – after a fight – attained a second journey man card as a lineworker. After speaking with Jenna about her experiences, he was ignited to share her story more fully. Peter contacted Mary Ann to let her know he was embarking on another journalistic project to document some of the experiences of tradeswomen into a multi-part story to run in consecutive weeks. Mary Ann was, of course, more than happy to support the development of these stories by connecting him to tradeswomen, industry contacts, and providing photos to help fully tell the stories.
Oregon Tradeswomen is incredibly thankful to Mr. Korn for his thoroughness and attention to detail in developing these pieces. These are important stories and many have never been shared publicly before now.
Week 1: Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Is today’s misogyny a ‘different, darker animal,’ or more of same ‘ol sexism?
Week 2: Thursday, June 30, 2016
The Worst Job In Oregon (If You’re A Woman)
Week 3: Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Over the line: harassment keeps women off the job
Week 4: Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Subtle sexism keeps women a step behind
&
Recruiting a better ending for women in the trades
Week 5: Thursday, July 29, 2016
Affirmative action fizzles for women in trades
OTI Awarded U.S. Department of Labor Grant for Women in Apprenticeship
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. Staff Members
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (OTI) is proud to announce that on June 14, 2016, we were awarded a Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations (WANTO) grant to continue our work connecting women with high wage, high skill trades careers through registered apprenticeship.
“Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. is honored to work with our partners, Seattle-based Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women and Oakland, California-based Tradeswomen Inc. through the Women in Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations program,’’ said Connie Ashbrook, OTI’s Executive Director. “Many women in our communities are passionately interested in working in the construction, manufacturing and utility trades, but don’t know where to get started. Our joint efforts to provide women with the education, skills, and connections they need support their access to and success in family-supporting trades careers, while at the same time helping apprenticeship programs and employers diversify their workforces.”
The $650,000 will be awarded over the course of two years. It will fund direct technical assistance work in the Portland, Seattle, and Oakland metropolitan regions, as well as outreach throughout the Western United States.
Under our prior WANTO grant, OTI was able to launch the Western Resources Center for Women in Apprenticeship website which supplements our technical assistance efforts and outreach to western apprenticeship programs.
With the support of the U.S. Department of Labor, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue this work and build on our partnerships with ANEW, Tradeswomen, Inc., and registered apprenticeship stakeholders in the western region.
Metro Hosts Screening of Sista in the Brotherhood
If you haven’t had a chance to look at positive news in Portland recently, Sista in the Brotherhood has become a big deal! Dawn Jones Redstone (Director), and and Roberta Hunt (Producer) have been invited to screen the film across Oregon and the US. The film won Best Short Film at the Portland International Film Festival. and was an official selection for the Portland Oregon Women’s Film Festival. It was also shown at the Women Build Nation Conference in Chicago!
Most recently, Metro held a screening of the film as a part of their new Equity Initiative and Plan. The film was screened at the Whitsell Auditorium at the Portland Art Museum, Tuesday April 19 at 12:00 pm. The film was followed by a panel discussion about government policy initiatives that could support women of color in the trades.
The panel was made up of industry professionals including:
- Dawn Jones Redstone, Director
- Dr. Roberta Hunt, Producer
- Gabi Schuster, Metro Procurement Manager
- Michael Burch, Community Relations with the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters
- Lauren Holmes, Project Manager for Lease Crutcher Lewis
- and our very own Amy James Neel, Construction Manager at OTI!
The video below is Amy’s response to one question about the impact of policies:
We are encouraged by the fact that Metro is engaging in this important work. It is critical as they develop their policies moving forward, that they consider the real life impact on tradeswomen of color.
2016 DJC Newsmaker – Editor’s Choice Award
Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. (Sam Tenney/DJC)
OTI was absolutely honored to be named a 2016 Newsmaker by the Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC). We were even more thrilled to be named as the Editor’s Choice!
The list of honorees are selected by the DJC editorial after they discuss the people, companies and projects covered covered during the previous 12 months as well as those expected to make headlines during 2016.
In an interview with DJC Editor Stephanie Basalyga, OTI’s Executive Director Connie Ashbrook explained that the services and programs OTI provides are more important than ever.
“There’s more need out there than we have the capacity to serve, both on the part of women that come in our door … and employers,” Ashbrook said. “When our students are ready, they just fly out the door. Employers are hungry for our graduates.”
Read more of Connie’s interview on the DJC website. Thank you to the DJC for this incredible honor!