Community Partners
Milwaukee Tools Lends a Hand to TACC
The power of social media is real. Some may see platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram just as a way to share what you’re doing, what you’re eating, what you’re thinking, but it’s more than that. As an organization, we see social media as a way to share our mission, to inspire others, and to build relationships with not only with our individual followers, but with other organizations and companies. We are here to build a community with those who believe in empowering women, encouraging workforce diversity in the trades, and promoting visibility for apprenticeships among other core values… And build a community, we have.
We are so incredibly grateful for the wide variety of connections we have made through these social media channels. Late in 2017, we saw that little red “1” icon in the top right corner of our Instagram feed, signifying that someone send us a private message. The message read, “Hi! I’d like to get involved with your organization. Can you please point me in the right direction? Thank you!” Touched by the fact that someone went out of their way to reach out to us and express a desire to engage, we connected them to Lisa Palermo, our Development Director. Little did we know that this person worked for Milwaukee Tools, a distinguished power tool manufacturer from Wisconsin known for their innovation and high quality. As it turns out, the president of Milwaukee Tools had seen a post of ours on Instagram and was compelled to learn more about Oregon Tradeswomen and our mission. Wanting to support diversity in the industry as well as invest in the community, he tasked someone to make the connection with us.
In supporting the work we do, Milwaukee Tools made the incredibly generous offer to outfit our pre-apprencticeship program, Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC), with brand new tools! TACC students have been using the same rusty, second-hand tools for far too long, so this gesture was graciously received. They donated enough tools to replace almost all of our older, dilapidated tools. It is so important that the women in our program have more than adequate equipment so they can really learn how to use tools without frustration due to malfunction or poor quality. We want our tradeswomen to be job-ready and it means the world to us that Milwaukee Tools wants to help our students have the best experience entering the trades possible. 
What started as a simple Instagram message blossomed into a truly special partnership. We are humbled by the fact that a highly reputable company intentionally sought us out to get involved and help us on our mission. We extend our deepest thanks to Milwaukee Tools for donating their high quality equipment to our pre-apprenticeship program, improving the experiences of the women who we are training to enter the workforce!
BIKETOWN: Champions for a Diverse, Representative Workforce
Oregon Tradeswomen is grateful to BIKETOWN for their partnership and commitment to a diverse, representative workforce. We’re also thankful that they loaned us a small fleet of Biketown bikes for Oregon Tradeswomen staff to use at our annual Career Fair! The bikes were incredibly helpful to our staff and added quite a pop of color to the event!
Oregon Tradeswomen served on an advisory panel prior to Biketown’s launch in 2016, and since then, Biketown has employed five Oregon Tradeswomen pre-aprenticeship class graduates: Max Beyelia, Alex Styner, Cassandra Czubachowski, Anna Beck, and Heather Hogate.
Dorothy Mitchell, Biketown’s General Manager, was “forward thinking about Biketown staff, and from the ground up, built a vision for how the staff would look, how hiring would happen, and she was very thoughtful about who she worked with to connect with and hire employees”, explained Tom Rousculp, Marketing Manager for Biketown. “Dorothy focused on working with a few organizations, including Oregon Tradeswomen. She wanted to have a representative staff for the whole organization”.
Dorothy said, “Oregon Tradeswomen grads have exceeded our hopes and expectations from day one. OT grads come to us with the right skills and attitude to hit the ground quickly doing the hard work of keeping a bike share program running. They have been among our most dependable employees, and we value the diversity they add to our operation as we work to make bike share more equitable from the inside out.”
Alex and Max were promoted into leadership positions, at Biketown, and Max and Anna have been with Biketown since its launch in July of 2016. Max commented that: “Biketown has a primarily female leadership team and goes at great length to promote an equitable and diverse workforce. I could not speak more highly of their integrity as a partner to our community.”
Thank you again, Biketown for your incredible partnership! We applaud your work and the good you do for our community!
Fathers and Daughters: Rod and Melanie Belisle
Often times it is the son who follows in his father’s footsteps to a career in the trades, but the Belisle family is a bit different. Rod Belisle is the Executive Director at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center in Portland, Oregon and it is his daughter Melanie who has found success in the trades as an electrician.
Rod’s story began in high school when he worked for his father who was a general contractor. After Rod graduated, he continued to work for his father, operating heavy machinery. It was on a job, excavating for an electrical company that belonged to his father’s friend, when his interest in becoming an electrician was ‘sparked’. Both Rod’s father and his father’s friend encouraged him to pursue a career as an electrician. The rest is history: Rod has worked at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center for 19 years!
Rod’s daughter Melanie initially had no interest in doing what her father did until her mother encouraged her to visit Oregon Tradeswomen’s annual Career Fair. There, Melanie had the chance to speak with the now retired Executive Director of Oregon Tradeswomen, Connie Ashbrook, who talked Melanie into entering Oregon Tradeswomen’s Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC). Melanie was initially drawn to the sprinkler-fitter trade, but as TACC progressed, she found a new interest in the electrical trade.
Melanie’s plan to become an electrician actually surprised Rod, but he supported her decision 100%. To make sure she was serious about her career choice, Rod encouraged Melanie to work as a material handler as she awaited placement into the apprenticeship program. Because of her father’s high ranking in the organization, he made it clear that he would have to be completely separate from her at work to maintain professionalism and avoid any conflicts of interest.
In the five years Melanie has been part of IBEW Local 48, she has earned her own level of respect. She is now a journeyman wireman. She has had a good experience as a woman in the industry and was given her the chance to prove herself on her own merit.
Melanie values her connection with her father and likes having someone close to her who she can talk about work with and who understands what its like to be an electrician. Melanie also thinks its exciting to be following in her father’s footsteps all while breaking stereotypes of sons being the only ones to join their fathers in the trades.
Rod has always been aware of the need for more women in the trades and having Melanie pursue a career as an electrician just enhanced his dedication to supporting women to succeed in this male-dominated industry. His vision for the future of women in the industry is the expectation that any woman could apply for an apprenticeship and be treated exactly the same as any man. He would also like to see a social climate where it is not a surprising thing to see women working on a construction site. He also hopes the same for men who are interested in careers traditionally labeled as “women’s jobs”, such as nursing.
Melanie hopes to see more women in the trades, too, not only on the job site, but as supervisors, managers, inspectors, and other leadership positions. It is important to have all aspects of the industry reflecting the idea that women are fully competent and that trades careers are not just for men.
Rod is incredibly proud of Melanie for her hard work in establishing herself as an electrician and is glad that she chose to pursue it as a career. Her hard work and perseverance is apparent and Rod knows that his daughter has the right stuff to live her dream. He looks forward to the day when Melanie achieves her goal of becoming a foreman.
Rod sets a phenomenal example of how to be an ally and how to support a young woman to succeed in apprenticeship and a thrive in a career in the trades.
We wish Rod and all the other fathers a very Happy Fathers Day!
Oregon Tradeswomen and NAWIC Host Workshops for Girl Scouts!
On June 2, 2018, Oregon Tradeswomen was delighted to partner with the Portland National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) chapter to host a troupe of Girl Scouts in our classroom!
The Girl Scouts were invited to participate in two workshops focused on construction and building projects led by tradeswomen. In the morning, 9 Junior Girl Scouts took part in a gardening workshop and built planter boxes to be used as containers for their very own zen gardens they designed themselves. A group of 3 Senior Girl Scouts collaborated in a “Room Makeover” workshop in the afternoon. All the Girl Scouts had the opportunity to gain experience using hand and power tools as well as measuring, cutting, and assembling the pieces.
The goal of these workshops was to expose young women to the construction trades by having them learn how to use construction equipment, empowering them to use their hands to build functional items, and giving them the chance to talk to and learn from women who work in the building trades. Many women, old and young, have the impression that there is no place for them in construction. Oregon Tradeswomen actively works to change those perceptions and show women and girls that these opportunities are indeed open to them and that building is fun, rewarding, and that they can be successful!
The Girl Scouts had such a great time during these workshops that the Girl Scouts of Oregon and Washington are looking in to putting these workshops into the Girl Scout Program Guide for Fall/Winter 2018/19!
NIETC Is Hosting Apprenticeship Information Sessions!
Our friends at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center (NIETC) are committed to offering education and providing resources to help more students and career seekers access careers in the skilled trades through registered apprenticeship!
This year, they are organizing four informational panels which will provide a general overview of apprenticeship and an open discussion with Apprenticeship Coordinators from specific trades. Attendees will have an opportunity to connect with the Apprenticeship Coordinators and network with others at the event.
The dates for the Informational Panel for the Union Building Trades Apprenticeship Programs are as follows:
September 7, 2018
9:30 – 11:00am
Portland Sheet Metal Institute
2379 NE 178th Ave
Portland, OR 97230
Pre-registration is not required!
December 3, 2018
Two identical sessions:
Career Technical Education Center
3501 Portland Rd NE
Salem, OR 97301
Pre-registration for the general public is required unless you are a CTEC student or have arranged to attend through your Salem-Keizer school.
Our Students Help Build Four New Tiny Homes in Dignity Village
On April 4th, four new tiny homes were unveiled at Dignity Village, one of Portland’s oldest city-recognized camps which is a membership-based community providing shelter to more than 50 people. Many of the structures are more than 15 years old and have problems with mold, leaks, and pests. To help improve the situation, a few local nonprofits, including Oregon Tradeswomen and The ReBuilding Center, came together to build better homes for the camp.
Not only does this project benefit the community, but it gives our students the invaluable opportunity to get hands-on construction experience. This is incredibly important to our Training Director, Amy James Neel:
“Building small structures provides students with a unique opportunity to touch multiple aspects of residential construction on a condensed timeline. The building skills they develop during class prepares them to integrate into professional trades jobs where they will make a living wage. The partnership between the ReBuilding Center and Oregon Tradeswomen allows our students to build safe structures for our community while also building their own confidence that they belong in the skilled trades.”
We are beaming with pride for our students, both for their exemplary work and for this important contribution to our community!
DJC Launches Women of Vision Magazine
Every year, the Daily Journal of Commerce (DJC) honors exemplary Women of Vision who, through their leadership, hard work, and perseverance, are shaping our built environment with their leadership, mentoring efforts, community involvement and the promotion of industry diversity.
The DJC Honors a new group of such women each year at the “Women of Vision Awards Luncheon. While this is an important annual event, Daily Journal of Commerce Editor, Stephanie Basalyga, thought that these influential women deserved more than a single event:
“We at the Daily Journal of Commerce decided it was time to create Women of Vision magazine. Named after the awards program the DJC holds each fall, this new quarterly publication will tell the stories of women who are building our city, our state and our region.”
The DJC’s new publication will share stories about women of the past who shaped the world to be as how we know it, as well as the women of the present who are helping direct the future of the construction industry.
The inaugural edition of Women of Vision features women such as Nina Allen, a construction inspector for the Portland International Airport, and Lisa Patterson, recipient of the Mark O. Hatfield Architectural Award.
Do you know of a woman who deserves to be acknowledged for her dedication to the industry? Women of Vision magazine encourages introductions and submissions. Send email to: wovmagazine@djcoregon.com.
You may read their first issue online here!
PCC Honors Oregon Tradeswomen as “Employer Partners of the Year”
On April 11, 2018, nearly 100 people representing Portland Community College‘s (PCC) key employer partners gathered at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry for an early morning breakfast hosted by PCC. Three organizations were recognized as PCC’s Employer Partners of the Year: one small business (Blessing Landscapes), one large business (Intel Corporation), and one non-profit (Oregon Tradeswomen).
Marc Goldberg, associate vice president of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at PCC, stated:
“For PCC to effectively prepare its students for employment opportunities and careers in an ever-changing work environment, we need strong partnerships with local employers… The event was simply a means to thank our partners, whose input, support and guidance enables PCC to educate a skilled workforce — and this is what drives Oregon’s economy. PCC’s partnership with a variety of organizations, in many and varied configurations, enables the college to be a critical catalyst for the region’s economic success. All of us can stand to benefit from a thriving economy, and for that, we want to thank our partners.”
PCC staff spent a year and a half of planning and deliberation when considering which partners had the most impact on PCC students, graduates, and the communities to which they belong. Oregon Tradeswomen was selected in recognition of our partnership with PCC’s Swan Island Trades Center which offers programs in welding, machine manufacturing technology, and career pathways. Additionally, Oregon Tradeswomen’s Industrial Fabrication track (formerly known as “Women in Metals & Manufacturing” program) brings many women to PCC to advance their education in metal disciplines. Oregon Tradeswomen’s commitment to advancing equity in the trades has also influenced PCC’s partnership with Vigor and the Maritime Welding program where women are currently 50 percent of the students!
Oregon Tradeswomen staff: Abby Bandurraga, Pathways Program Manager (left) and Max Beyelia, Job Developer (right)
Amy James Neel, Oregon Tradeswomen’s Training Director, observed, “Our students tend to go off into a lot of different construction industries, some of which we are really well connected with, and some of which PCC helps us gain even better access to those connections. PCC has been able to bridge that divide for our pre-apprenticeship program, which prepares them for these entry-level jobs.”
Oregon Tradeswomen extends our deepest gratitude and appreciation to Portland Community College not only for this honor, but for being truly outstanding community partners!
Update 5/9/18: You can view PCC’s video about Oregon Tradeswomen here!
Waterleaf Architecture’s International Women’s Day Fundraiser for Oregon Tradeswomen
Our generous friends at Waterleaf Architecture are celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day like they did last year; by kicking off a fundraiser for Oregon Tradeswomen! You may have seen some of Waterleaf’s work at Lloyd Center as they were responsible for the much-needed facelift of the mall including the three story spiral staircase that was an homage to the original iconic spiral staircase from the mall’s opening in 1960.
Waterleaf has always been so supportive of our mission and wants to make sure that our Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class has the proper equipment for students to hone their skills in preparation for their apprenticeships! To participate in Waterleaf Architecture’s fundraiser, you can donate here! And don’t forget to mention Waterleaf in the “How did you hear about us?” section when making your donation so that they can track their fundraising goal. The fundraiser started on International Women’s Day, March 8th.
We send our deepest gratitude to Waterleaf Architecture for their ongoing support of our mission!
TACC Field Trip to Hampton Lumber!
In January, our Trades and Apprenticeship Career Class (TACC) had the opportunity to take a field trip to Hampton Lumber and tour their distribution center on SE Front St. here in Portland. TACC students got to have an inside look at what a day in Hampton Lumber’s transfer station is like. We saw the process as the workers cut the lumber to various sizes, package the lumber, and then load it on the rail cars. Students also talked with the staff about entry level work and the various jobs that are available at Hampton Lumber.
Founded in 1950, Hampton Lumber is privately owned by the Hampton Family with its headquarters here in Portland, Oregon. They own and operate 9 sawmills in Oregon, Washington, and even British Columbia. Hampton is deeply invested in each of the communities where they employ workers.
In each community, Hampton Lumber prioritizes affordable housing, youth and education, and the arts. They support organizations and causes by donating time and lumber to Habitat for Humanity, advocating for the arts in urban and rural communities, donating to the Oregon Food Bank and Adopt-a-Family, and working closely with local schools and colleges to not only provide workforce training opportunities, but create and maintain important relationships with the communities’ youth.
In addition to being patrons of their community, Hampton Lumber is an exceptional place of employment. Their employees are excited about the work they do and look forward to coming to their jobs every day. This enthusiasm creates a positive work environment that encourages worker retention. Because they care about their employees, Hampton Lumber provides many opportunities for education through training and apprenticeship.
Hampton Lumber is also dedicated to increasing women’s participation in the lumber industry and in the skilled trades in general. Hampton promotes a supportive workplace environment for everyone, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.
Those interested in finding out more about Hampton Lumber are highly encouraged to reach out and give them a call. The folks at Hampton Lumber are truly friendly and are more than willing to answer all of your questions as well as possibly show you around their facilities. Make that first move and come in to experience what Hampton Lumber is all about.
Don’t forget to check them out on Facebook!