“Before joining the IBEW, I spent three years working as a nonunion electrician while pursuing a pre-med degree in college. Growing up, I developed strong mechanical skills by helping my father, a NASA technician and car mechanic, work on cars. I enjoyed the hands-on problem-solving of electrical work. However, even though it was rewarding, I didn’t see a clear path for career advancement or long-term stability in the nonunion sector. I was looking to combine my technical skills with a career that offered growth, benefits and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. That search ultimately led me to the union.

I first learned about the IBEW through the Hard Hatted Women pre-apprenticeship program in Cleveland. HHW is instrumental in opening doors for women in the trades and helped me understand the value of union membership, in terms of wages and benefits and the solidarity, training and support it provides. 

Becoming a member of the IBEW was a rigorous process. I stood in line with more than 400 hopeful applicants, all eager for a chance to join. Then, I took a civil service test and had an interview with union officials. It was competitive, but I was determined, and I got in.

I went through an apprenticeship and worked on almost every substantial building in downtown Cleveland. I’ve had the privilege of working on projects like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ arena. I’ve represented the IBEW at the North America’s Building Trades Unions, Trades Women Build Nations and IBEW Women’s conferences. These experiences have deepened my commitment to equity and inclusion in the trades and inspired my work in adult education and workforce development.

I always wanted to give back, never losing touch with the community at HHW, and I became an instructor. I started teaching a pre-apprenticeship class, and when work got light in Cleveland and I was laid off, there were teaching opportunities for me. Some of the training was run by Union Construction Industry Partners, affiliated through Cuyahoga Community College, where I’m currently employed. 

My journey with the IBEW is the foundation of my work today. As program director for Aspire: Ohio Options for Adults at Cuyahoga Community College, I channel my values and standards as an IBEW member into the design of pre-apprenticeship programs to prepare adult learners for successful union-affiliated and industry-sponsored apprenticeships. These programs integrate construction math, jobsite safety, and essential soft skills, with a strong focus on underserved communities.

Holding an electrical journeyman certification through Local 38 continues to shape my approach to workforce development, grounded in equity, access, and learner-centered design. I carry the IBEW’s legacy with me as a recipient of the Women in Aerospace Awareness Award for educational leadership at the NASA Glenn Research Center, adviser to workforce organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together, and representative for Ohio as a state advocate for adult education fellowship.

The union didn’t just give me a career; it gave me a platform to help others build theirs. I’m proud to be part of a movement that builds infrastructure along with prosperous lives and communities.”