Member Spotlight
Joanne Lake: Finding a “Fitting” Trade
Third-year, 32-year-old Steamfitter apprentice Joanne Lake has proven that a woman can find success and acceptance in the trades. Driven to find her place in the trades, Joanne persevered through the hardships along the way, and is now very pleased with her new job in the Steamfitters 601.
After four-and-a-half years in a non-union electrical apprenticeship, Joanne moved onto college, but she still wasn't completely satisfied. “[College] just wasn't the most fulfilling thing at the time for me,” she said. Her days in the non-union trades didn't provide her with much more fulfillment, as she viewed the majority of them as lackluster. “Some men still have a hard time accepting women in the trades, and they would do their best to make sure I knew it. At the time, I let it bother me, but age and experience has helped me accept them,” she said. Joanne admits to letting the guys she worked with on jobs in the electrical trade get the best of her, which is why she chose to look for another career.
Despite these bumps in the road, Joanne knows she is now on the right career path. “My friend is a journey person Steamfitter, and she suggested that I get back into the trades. I wanted a fresh start, and steamfitting is one of the most powerful unions,” she added. Since starting her apprenticeship in 2006, Joanne admits she has found more respect and better training by patient, knowledgeable journeymen, and most importantly, happiness in her chosen vocation.
From benefits, to training, to general support when she calls the union hall, Joanne has found a healthy, engaging job within her union. She has even tried to pass on the good news to others, even if they aren't in need of a job. “People will ask me about being a Steamfitter, and after sharing the positive aspects of the craft and being union, they become interested,” she explained.” In fact, I am trying to get my brother into union carpentry as well.”
Joanne claims the wealth of knowledge presented to her now, and opportunities for future education, keep her motivated to remain with the job. “There is so much to learn with steamfitting, I plan on going back to college to specialize in specific areas of my trade to become more valuable to the contractors,” she added. Although she didn't enjoy college earlier in life, Joanne is looking forward to going back in the future to advance her education, skills and career.
In the end, though, the most important aspect of the job, according to Joanne, is enjoying an active career. She loves using tools and thrives on the responsibility, and pressure, of working in the trades.
Joanne believes it is this pressure that a lot of young people struggle with, as they grow accustomed to being part of a team and learning to work as one part of the full energy of that team. “It's tough,” she said. “It's not for the faint of heart or for people who aren't fully committed. But if you put your mind to it, the career is awesome.”
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