Approximately 100 young female students planning careers in the skilled trades were encouraged to pursue their passion and help change gender stereotypes during a March 5 event at the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Center – Albany Campus.
The fifth annual Capital Region BOCES Celebrates Women in the Trades event featured women—including graduates of the Career & Technical Education Center—speaking about their careers. The panelists encouraged a room full of students from several local schools interested in those careers to pursue them and help redefine society’s gender norms for those professions.
Jessica Savignano, President of Savignano Construction, offered advice.
“In a male-dominated field, you may sometimes feel like you have to prove yourself. You might walk into a room where you’re the only female. But here’s what I learned: Respect comes from showing up, working hard, asking questions and being confident in yourself,” she said.
Sage Steenburg, an Automotive Trades Technology senior at BOCES, has been taking part in work-based learning at an area garage—Carl’s Advanced Automotive—which is owned by 2017 graduate of Capital Region BOCES Victoria Carl.
“This experience has confirmed that women can make it in this field, being successful and respected,” said Steenburg. Carl has been a speaker and panelist at past Women in the Trades events at Capital Region BOCES.
Lydia Waage, a senior in the Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation program from Cobleskill-Richmondville (CRCS), encouraged the students to not have self-doubt.
“Don’t listen to the voices in the back of your head. Don’t listen to the doubts. Get up and try something new,” she said.
Emily Gwozdz, an Electrical Trades senior from Sharon Springs, sounded a similar message in her speech.
“To all the girls here today–your story matters and your voice belongs in these spaces just as much as anyone else’s,” she said.
Joining Waage on the panel were Stacey Fitzgerald, a Senior Supervisor of Gas Operations for National Grid; and Elizabeth LaHart, a 2016 BOCES graduate who is a member of the UA Local 7, Plumbers and Steamfitters. Also on the panel were Megan Emerich, an Electrical Trades senior from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake; Ella Whitehead, a Diesel Technology junior from Duanesburg; and Manufacturing and Machining Technology senior Emma Weiland from Shenendehowa.
Giving a speech at the event besides Savignano, Gwozdz and Steenburg, was Savannah Traverse, a 2024 BOCES graduate who works at Jersen Construction Group and is a third-year apprentice in the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 158.
Amber Rangal, Director of New York Workforce Development at National Grid, moderated the panel discussion.
“Being a woman in this field is actually something I’m proud of. We bring different perspectives, strong communication skills, attention to detail and a fresh mindset to the job. And the industry needs that. There is room for us. There is opportunity for us,” Traverse said.
The young women who attended the event hailed from the Mohonasen, Berne-Knox-Westerlo, CRCS, South Colonie, Schalmont, Voorheesville and Sharon Springs schools.
They said they appreciated hearing the perspective of women about working in the skilled trades.
“It was good to hear about women in the electrical field, which is what I want to do. It shows me I can do it,” said Kendall McClurken, a ninth-grade student from Mohonasen.
Fellow Mohonasen student Madelyn Swint added that the event affirmed her decision to pursue a career in welding.
“I learned you can be powerful in the trades and even have a supervisory position,” she said.
The panel discussion was a key part of the monthlong celebration Capital Region BOCES is hosting for Women in the Trades Month.
An untapped resource
According to Workwave, women are in demand as an untapped resource for skilled workers in trade jobs because there is a predicted shortage of the labor force and anticipated growth in job opportunities. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational employment projection expects such employment to grow by 8.4 million jobs.
In the construction industry, just 14% of the workforce identify as women, and an even smaller percentage of women–just 4%–are on the front lines of a job site, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
Many opportunities at Capital Region BOCES
Capital Region BOCES Managing Program Coordinator-Business & Community Partnerships Nancy Liddle said she takes pride in the work of the women students and graduates.
“We are proud to help such trailblazers achieve their dreams as they enter the trades in non-traditional career paths,” Liddle said.
Liddle, one of the organizers of the luncheon, said “we love encouraging young women to be trailblazers in whatever industry they are interested in.”