Doral Corporation Journeywoman Ironworker

Becoming a journeywoman ironworker was not the original plan for Chelsea Tappa.

“Although if I had known about ironworkers, it probably would have been… I always liked to build things and climb on things when I was little,” Tappa said.

Tappa originally went to college to pursue a career as a civil engineer in freshwater or wastewater treatment.

“I was going to college for a very long time. It was not working out for me. I decided to stop doing that. I was trying to figure out a career for myself.”

Tappa began exploring the idea of becoming an ironworker after a friend recommended it to her six years ago. She joined an apprenticeship program, which took four years to complete.

“So we go to actual class at our union hall, and then the main part of our apprenticeship is going and working in the field. Then you get mentored by the existing journeymen ironworkers, and they show you the ropes of everything to do,” Tappa said.

Tappa completed her training and eventually became a journeyman. She says as a woman in construction, her experience has been positive.

“I’ve certainly talked to other women who have not had a great experience. But most of the men I’ve ever worked with have been super supportive… the few people with whom I did have a bad experience, it was like, how do you think like that? How are you still living in the 1950s where you think that women can’t do the same thing that you can?”

Tappa says the construction industry needs more women.

“I think that we add not just diversity to the workplace, but I think that sometimes we think differently and we approach problems differently and that can be a benefit in the construction industry.”

She encourages her colleagues to be welcoming, patient and open to teaching women new things in the workplace.

She says being a woman in construction can be intimidating yet rewarding.

“You’re building something. You’re doing something with your hands all day long. You’re part of this big group effort to build a building or build a school or fix the street that you live on. Also, there’s the gratification of you’re getting a good paycheck that you’re bringing home. You’re able to support yourself. And that’s kind of hard to find these days.”