The Lisle, Ill., Local 701 Women’s Committee hosted a gathering of area women to show them what a union electrician can do — and look like.

“The IBEW offers not only a family-sustaining wage but a rewarding career, and there’s no reason why women shouldn’t have access to that,” said Sixth District International Vice President Michael Clemmons. “Events like Local 701’s women’s expo are a great way to introduce them to all that the electrical trade has to offer.”

Attendees received a tour of the JATC’s classrooms and pipe shop and heard from a panel of women electricians at different points in their career: an apprentice, a journeywoman and a retired member. The panel was moderated by Women’s Committee founding member and event chair Debbie Erbach.

PowerForward DuPage Executive Director Karyn Charvat said the idea for the event came from their Trade Apprenticeship Expo, which started in 2018. PowerForward DuPage is the Labor Management Cooperation Committee for Local 701 and the Northeastern Illinois chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.

“Our annual Trade Apprenticeship Expo targets high school students and introduces them to all union building trades, so the rationale behind this exciting new event was to specifically highlight the electrical contracting industry and target women within DuPage County and introduce them to an alternate path to a viable, achievable and successful career, with or without a college degree,” said Charvat.

Erbach said they thought it would be great to reach out directly to women since they’re not always presented with the option of pursuing a career in the trades.

“Not everyone is destined for college and the trades offer great opportunities,” said Erbach, who is a safety supervisor at Continental Electrical Construction Company.

The event, held in late March, included opening remarks from DuPage County Board Chair Deb Conroy, Clemmons and Local 701 Business Manager Anthony Giunti.

“When women see what it’s about and that they can pull cable and bend pipe too, you can see it click for them,” Giunti said. “It’s a great thing to witness.”

Members of the Women’s Committee were also on hand to answer questions and lead the tour.

“There were a lot of questions about the apprenticeship and the different career paths available,” Charvat said.

Local 701’s Women’s Committee received its charter in 2019 and has hosted a number of events, including some that are open to the full membership. The events include a clothing drive for local charities, volunteering at a Special Olympics picnic and an animal adoption event, and making Valentine’s Day cards for the Ronald McDonald House.

“Our Women’s Committee puts its heart and soul into everything they do,” Giunti said. “And it’s great to see a bunch of burly electricians covered in glitter and glue from making Valentine’s Day cards.”

Erbach said it’s crucial to have leadership on board for events like the expo.

“Without buy-in from our leadership, we have nothing,” she said. “We’re an extremely small group within our local, accounting for just 1.5% of the membership. Having support from Business Manager Giunti and Vice President Clemmons makes a big difference.”

Giunti said that while electrical work is currently male-dominated, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

“There’s so much good talent out there,” Giunti said. “It’s important to let everyone know that there’s a spot for them.”

Charvat, Erbach and Giunti said they plan to host another expo next spring.

“The expo was a success because of the positive energy and enthusiasm of everyone involved,” Charvat said. “We’re already working on carrying that forward and making next year’s expo even better.”