Building the Blue Collar Dream

Building the Dream Trailer

Nancy was a sheetmetal worker for 18 years. Nancy now runs work as a superintendent at the company she started as an apprentice at. She is also a super mom who raised 6 kids while working in the trade. Nancy was a journeyman at the first union job I worked at. I salute her bravery in being one of my first interviews.

Leslie is a carpenter apprentice with Local 605. She has had challenges along the way but has an upbeat inspirational outlook on things. I really appreciated her bravery and honesty on tough issues. I think she brings a lot of much needed positivity to the trade and everywhere she goes.

Michelle is an elevator mechanic out of IUEC Local 11 Cincinnati Ohio. Michelle has been an elevator constructor for 29 years.

Grace is a queer 25 year old journeyman electrician based in Salt Lake City. 5 years ago, she dropped out of college and applied for an electrical job on a whim and hasn't regretted it since. She took to the work like a duck to water, despite the occasional challenges thrown her way.

Before coming into the elevator trade Fiona had a career in Pyrotechnics and worked with knots-berry farm, universal studios and paramount pictures. She then worked with the Millwrights union until she was called to join the IUEC. Fiona is currently a third year apprentice at IUEC Local 19. Fiona is one of the few Trans women in our trade. I commend her bravery and honesty on this subject. Like myself Fiona hopes to improve things for those coming behind her. I look forward to following her bright future in the IUEC.

At 29 years old, Kimberly began her five-year apprenticeship with IBEW local #332 in Santa Clara county. She has been working for Prime Electric since 2015 and currently works as a foreman. Kim plans installations, orders tools and material, directs a crew of journeymen and apprentices and documents daily construction activities. Projects she has worked on include Apple, Google, Linkedin, Amazon and Stanford. Kimberly currently lives in South County with her husband and three sons.

Michele Palmer is from NYC, is a second generation female in the elevator constructor's union for 24 years currently working as an journeymen. Her mother was the the first female in the same union in NYC, working mostly at the world trade center until 2001.

Bio: Diana Gruber is a Lead 3D Print Technician for Relativity Space. Her background in custom fabrication and keen eye for detail are what guides her to ensure work is performed to the highest standard. Her most notable accomplishments include restoration work at The Westbury Rose Gardens in New York state and fabrication of the skylight and custom bullet proof doors for the private art gallery one of the richest men in Chicago’s NYC residence. In her spare time she enjoys watching 80s and 90s horror movies and skating for the LA Derby Dolls.

I wanted something better in life, So I quit my job in healthcare and became a laborer working gas pipeline then doing demolition. I wanted to learn to weld so I went to the training center and started welding precast, I wanted to get my class A CDL so I got my class A CDL. I wanted to drive truck so now I drive truck.

This week I was lucky enough to get to interview Cynthia Wheeler. Cynthia is a 27 year plumber journeyman out of Local 38 San Francisco and an inspirational leader in her trade. Cynthia has three daughters and a son who have followed in her footsteps and also become plumbers and fitters. Her positivity is contagious and she is also amazing at double Dutch💕❤️

I am a member of UA 286 local plumbers and pipefitters out of Austin, TX. I am a 4th year apprentice plumber and welder. I’ve been married for 20 years and have three children. My oldest is a 1st year apprentice at UA 286. When I’m not running our women’s group, running kids around or working. In my free time I like to garden and make welding crafts.

Lacey is a Teamster general foreman at STP Nuclear Operating Company. Lacey survived a motorcycle crash that left her with a lower left leg amputation. She is an inspiring and mentally tough tradeswoman.

Elaine has a B.S. in applied physics from University of Arkansas. Elaine is a studio technician at the Crucible in Oakland CA. The Crucible is a cutting edge industrial arts school. Elaine operates and maintains the schools large variety of industrial equipment. Elaine is interested in a career in the Union building trades.

Jennifer Stafford was born in North Carolina. Her parents were public servants. Jennifer's dad was a school teacher and her mom was a school secretary. Jennifer became a mom in 1983. She attended John O'Connele School in San Francisco and responded to a job flyer looking for minorities for Westinghouse Elevator Company. In 1996 she got the word sister added to the union standard agreement. In 2001 Jennifer began working for the state of California Department of Industrial Relations Elevator Division.