Portrait
Women Making Strides in Non-Traditional Roles
by Kalei Munoz
In honor of Women's History Month, Intake is highlighting three female LADWP employees currently in trade positions and living proof of the success of the highly regarded Utility Pre-Craft Trainee (UPCT) program. Each woman featured here was a successful UPCT and is now reaping the benefits of a permanent civil service career. They all navigated the program that is the joint collaboration of IBEW Local 18 and LADWP, which led to their roles today. Although each has a different story, they all embody courage and resilience in exploring opportunities in skilled craft and a male-dominated industry, and encourage others to fearlessly do the same.
Learn more about the UPCT program on the IBEW Local 18 website.
Stephanie Vega: Maintenance Laborer
Intake: How did you get into this line of work?
My cousin told me about IBEW Local 18’s UPCT program. I applied and was offered the opportunity to join LADWP as a UPCT in October 2014. I was then hired by LADWP full time and worked with the Landscape team for six years, and recently I joined the Building Repair group at JFB as a Maintenance Laborer.
Intake: What do you enjoy most about your job?
In my new position, I’ll spend most of my time helping maintain our headquarters, the John Ferraro Building. I look forward to helping set up conference rooms, moving chairs and tables, installing soap and paper towel dispensers, building cubicles and partitions, and much more.
Intake: What role do you see women playing in the trades?
I feel that women are very meticulous in their work and have a lot of potential in trade careers. As time progresses and more women are exposed to these jobs, I see the opportunities only further growing and increasing the number of women in these roles.
Intake: What challenges have you overcome in your career?
Oftentimes in male-dominated fields, it’s challenging to work with different personality types. Women working in trades are often the only female employees on a team - including myself in my current role. In my previous role, I was often in the field (i.e. in a trench with a shovel, using power equipment) and I believe that various field environments are another challenge I had to overcome.
Intake: What would you say to other women thinking about going into the trades?
Keep your head up, have a learner’s mindset, be hands-on, adapt, and stay busy. It’s important to not be afraid or regret the opportunity to learn something new. Find someone to shadow and mentor you that will help you grow. Always remember to have “thick skin” and be confident in yourself and your capabilities. There are so many paths that LADWP offers, and I encourage women to explore and not be intimidated by non-traditional roles. Men can bake cakes, just as much as women can bake cakes. Men can make cement, just as much as women can make cement. A fun fact is that both tasks share a very similar process! They just use different ingredients. Women should realize, they don’t always have to be behind a desk. They shouldn’t be scared or intimidated to apply for hands-on positions in the field. You won’t know until you try!
Alainna Rawles: Custodial Services Assistant
Intake: How did you get into this line of work?
I came in through the UPCT program. My sister works for LADWP, and she told me and my brother about the program, so we signed up. It’s a program that allows you to rotate into different positions every six months and helps people decide what career path best suits them. During that program, I gained experience by working for many different internal teams, including Warehouse, Custodial, Building Repair, Underground Conduit, Water and Electrical Repair Shop. At the end of the program, I was given the opportunity to apply for the current custodial position I hold today.
Intake: What do you enjoy most about your job?
I’m a clean person myself, so I love being able to ensure that everyone at work can have a clean environment to work in. It makes me feel good. Every day we make sure the bathrooms, hallways and offices are all maintained.
Intake: What role do you see women playing in the trades?
The opportunities are limitless at LADWP. Women hold positions such as lineman, electrical mechanic, warehouse, and management, just to name a few. I can see women doing every role LADWP offers - including trade positions.
Intake: What challenges have you overcome in your career?
Learning a different skill set was a bit of a challenge. I learned things I’ve never done or thought I would be exposed to. It was challenging but still, a valuable experience that helped get me to where I’m at today. I’ve also had to learn how to best work with different personalities. In my career, I’ve also had to step out of my comfort zone, especially being in a male-dominated industry. I’ve often found that being the only woman working with a team of all male employees can be challenging.
Intake: What would you say to other women thinking about going into the trades?
Women might look at trade careers as a “man’s job,“ but that’s not true. I believe these career paths are just as much a “woman’s job” as it is a “man’s job.” I consider myself a “girly girl,” but I’m still willing to do the work my position calls for. I feel that the Department is a great place to be and have a long-lasting career with competitive wages and benefits.
Mayra Canales: Plant Equipment Operator
Intake: How did you get into this line of work?
I found out about LADWP through a member of my church, who told me about all the opportunities available, especially in trade positions. She was the individual who encouraged me to apply for the UPCT program, which is how I got my start in the Department. This was a great program for me to gain experience and learn about the different positions available. It gave me the incentive to explore my options outside of office-type jobs. The program gave me the resources to apply for the Steam Plant Assistant position and I was then promoted to my current position of Plant Equipment Operator at Haynes Generation Station, which I’ve held for about five years.
Intake: What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy that my position allows the opportunity to work with a lot of other people such as Electricians, Mechanics, etc. I get to work with different work groups that work inside and outside of the plant every day. Working with different groups and seeing what they do and how we connect is very fulfilling.
Intake: What role do you see women playing in the trades?
Women have a great opportunity to be in any role, especially in the Department. If women choose to want to be in a “non-traditional” role, LADWP has the resources and supportive environment available to do so. I believe it’s important to remember that women are a force and can be great at any position - it all comes back to having the right mindset.
Intake: What challenges have you overcome in your career?
I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome this, but I’m working on my communication skills when it comes to talking about myself and my experience as a woman in a trade. I’ve been actively stepping out of my comfort zone to better connect with people and do interviews similar to this. Some women may feel intimidated to apply to a non-traditional role, which was the case for me. I want to overcome this challenge and be able to motivate other women to apply for careers similar to mine because they’re great jobs and provide amazing opportunities.
Intake: What would you say to other women thinking about going into the trades?
I would encourage them to apply and do it. Every experience is an opportunity to learn. Even if you decide a role isn’t for you, there’s always something to be taken from the experience. Knowledge is powerful, and no one can take that away from you. As long as you learn something along the way, that’s what matters. You’ll gain more than you think.
