It's no secret that a career in construction is predominantly pursued by men, with only 10% of the industry's workforce currently consisting of women. One local organization wants to change that, helping women break glass â and concrete â ceilings to succeed. Janel Herrera, a civil worker with Local 1309, is just one of the many women who have taken advantage of the services offered by Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles, or WINTER.
In the last 28 years, officials say that thousands of students have gone through the program, developing the necessary skills for success. 'Being a woman out on the field, we are kind of against the odds and they really help us focus,' Herrera said. 'Not be better or compete, but be able to hang with the guys on a full eight-hour shift.'Celene Rowe is enrolled with WINTER and participating in the sheet metal worker program.