03/10/2025
Women in Construction Week has passed. As March is Women's History Month, we will try to continue the theme, sharing tradeswomen's stories.
Shout out to Jennifer Johnson, Journeyman Operating Engineer, and Instructor for Operators Local 139, Wisconsin. Jennifer has worn throughout her 27 year career. This year she earned a place on the Red Wing Wall of Honor. https://www.redwingshoes.com/wall-of-honor.html
Congratulations, Jennifer! Read on, to learn more of her story.
In Wisconsin, women working with the tools are perhaps 4% of the tradesworker population. Tradeswomen are still trailblazers, still making history every day. IUOE Local 139 Wisconsin Building Trades Council
Women in Construction Week has passed. As March is Women's History Month, we will try to continue the theme, sharing tradeswomen's stories.
Shout out to Jennifer Johnson, Journeyman Operating Engineer, and Instructor for Operators Local 139, Wisconsin. Jennifer has worn throughout her 27 year career. This year she earned a place on the Red Wing Wall of Honor. https://www.redwingshoes.com/wall-of-honor.html
Congratulations, Jennifer! Read on, to learn more of her story.
In Wisconsin, women working with the tools are perhaps 4% of the tradesworker population. Tradeswomen are still trailblazers, still making history every day. IUOE Local 139 Wisconsin Building Trades Council
Meet Jennifer, Operating Engineer, and Instructor, Local 139
Q. How long have you been in the trades?
I have been in the trades since spring of ’98 (first 3 years were non-union)
Q. What did you do before the trades?
I was a waitress/stay at home mom.
Q. How did you come to the trades?
Two ways really. My stepdad was an Operator (Local 3) and always told us stories about what he did. It sounded exciting but also hard. But I remember he was always one of three street sweepers cleaning up after parades. I thought that was so cool. It left an impression.
Forward to when I got divorced, I knew I needed to have a career that paid better because waiting tables wasn't going to allow me to feed, clothe and house my kids alone. I happened to see an ad for apprentices (concrete/cement masons) and went in to apply. After about four months, I was hired but was put on an 815 compactor. Three months later they were going to put me in as a concrete/mason, but I asked if I could stay an operator. The operators apprenticeship was the first year they started doing it in Wyoming. That in itself is another story.
Q. What do you like about the work/life?
As I look back on the projects that I was a part of, I carry a sense of pride and accomplishment with me. Remembering the people I'd worked with, friendships that still carry on today with several. Is it always great? No, not always. I missed spending time with my kids when I had to work out of town, but was very grateful that my mom was there to help. Sometimes, you have to make hard choices in life, and at the time that was one, but the alternative was worse.
Q. Want to share a memorable experience?
I have so many memorable jobs and work experiences from over the years. From my first job re-shaping the highway exit and entrance ramps in my town in Wyoming, to operating a 637 Scraper through a pond in Idaho, which formed from the water table below us rising.
The ground was stony and we never sank or got stuck. I was running a haul truck up in the mountains above Logan, Utah, where we hauled boulders the size of Volkswagens.
One day we came to a complete stop for 45 minutes, so as not to spook cattle being driven to lower pastures. I met my boyfriend while working on the Light Rail (T-Rex Project) in Denver, CO. Since I have been in Wisconsin, I have worked some big jobs in Milwaukee, like the Canal Street Project, a tunneling job for Michels, the North/South I-94 projects including the Mitchell and Kenosha segment, and the Zoo Interchange, all working with Walsh.
Q. Share a success story.
A success story to me is that I have not let barriers deter me from being able to feed and clothe my kids and keep my house. I have grown into a secure, strong independent single mom through my career, and now that my kids are grown, I have peace of mind in knowing that I have a pension for retirement.
Q. What do you like to do, off the clock?
I am a runner. Running with my friends is probably the biggest thing. I love to garden, and I share the excess with neighbors and friends. During winter, since I can't garden, I get creative in beading, card making, painting and designing a variety of projects.
Q. Something that you would never guess...
I love skydiving.
Q. Do you have advice for someone interested in the trades?
My advice would be persevere. Learn your craft ask questions and be willing and open to learning.
Work hard, be humble, show up early (don't be a minute-man) always keeping honing your skills, even after your apprenticeship is finished, technology is ever changing.
Be involved in your union and don't take guff from anyone. Stand up for yourself. Help others.
My hope for the future is to see a higher percentage of women and minorities in construction, involved in their union staff (BA's, board members, instructors etc.) to a point where it is not a token member, but an honest diversity of people.
A mentor I have had: Mike Barker was my first foreman, out west. He taught me to listen, watch, and ask questions. Also two other people - a superintendent and a foreman for Walsh.
Both women inspired me with their stories. They taught me to keep training and to accept challenges given to me.
A mentee: A young woman I helped mentor has recently been in touch to let me know that she is running a loader, which is what she wanted, for the same company for the last six years and has found her place, her home with this company. I am proud that she didn't back down, and she took our advice.
