empowHER - Wisconsin

This has been empowHER - Wisconsin’s most exciting and impactful year yet, filled with dynamic events, growing membership, and ongoing efforts to support women in the industry. Industry partnerships have been instrumental in allowing empowHER to thrive and expand our reach throughout Wisconsin. A huge thank you to all of our 2024 sponsors! ?? As we look ahead to 2025, we are eager to build on this momentum and strengthen our partnerships within the industry. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact on women in construction and drive meaningful change. To support empowHER's 2025 efforts, visit our website. Custom sponsorships are available upon request.?https://lnkd.in/gm_Qqhgq

Thank you to everyone that joined us for last night's Friendsgiving at Falls Axe! We had a blast throwing axes and meeting women from across the industry. Huge thank you to The Daily Reporter and our 2024 sponsors for supporting this event and others throughout the year! Shoutout to Saz's Hospitality Group for the great food and Carolyn Bukiewicz for the delicious dessert! #empowher #networking #holidayparty #buildingwisconsin

empowHER - Wisconsin participated in Building Advantage's career fair at Fiserv Forum. The event welcomed almost 1,200 high school students from across southeast Wisconsin. We had some great conversations about the benefits of registered apprenticeship and careers in the building trades ??♀? ?? ?? ??

Last night, empowHER - Wisconsin Northeast hosted its third annual pre-#NationalApprenticeshipWeek event, bringing together tradeswomen, allies, and industry leaders to celebrate the growing presence of women in construction careers. This gathering provided valuable networking, mentorship, and outreach opportunities for both current and prospective female skilled trade professionals. The evening started with keynote remarks from Heidi Pratt, Director of Learning and Development at Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., and Todd Remter, Electrical Engineer and Division Manager of Van Ert Electric Company, Inc. (Electrical Contractor, Telecommunications, HVAC, Arc Flash). Both highlighted the vast potential for women to thrive in the trades and shared their own journeys to leadership roles. This was followed by a panel discussion featuring experienced tradeswomen who shared their perspectives on the unique challenges and rewards of working in construction. Thanks to Melissa Heider (second year apprentice, IBEW 577), Shannon Pikka (Journeyworker, IUPAT DC7 Painters and Allied Trades Local 802), and Crystal Wudstrack (Laborer, LIUNA Local 330) for sharing your wisdom and knowledge. In addition to the programming, attendees enjoyed delicious food, refreshments, and the chance to win fantastic raffle prizes donated by our generous sponsors and member unions. We are incredibly grateful to all who attended and supported this year's event. Our continued growth shows the momentum behind recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in our industry.

empowHER - Wisconsin's President, Kilah Engelke, was invited to speak at WCREW - Wisconsin Commercial Real Estate Women and Women In Design - Milwaukee's Lightning Talk. This event featured women from a variety of industries showcasing their career and passion through 20 slides for 20 seconds each. The theme, Shattered Ceilings Paved Paths, meant something different to each of the women that presented, with many emphasizing the importance of honoring those who helped us reach new heights and the responsibility to uplift the next generation. For many of the presenters, including Kilah, they are the first or a minority in their roles and industries. Representation matters, and each of these remarkable women is a testament to what’s possible. As the saying goes, "empowered women empower women" ????♀? Thanks to Roberta (Robbie) Oldenburg for putting on this great event at Mortenson and to all the women that shared their stories last night.

Celebrate Friendsgiving and the close of 2024 with empowHER on Wednesday, November 20th at Falls Axe and Escape. Meet women and allies from across the industry while throwing axes and enjoying great food and drinks. Wear your favorite flannel or come as you are! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gUv4HBay Thank you to The Daily Reporter and our generous 2024 sponsors for supporting this event ?? *This event will be in lieu of our November empowHER meeting. #empowher #friendsgiving #holidayparty #axethrowing #sisterhood #networking

Thank you to Tom Hermann and the Southwest Milwaukee Consortium for hosting empowHER - Wisconsin and the local building trades at yesterday's career fair. We had great conversations with 800 middle and high school students about careers in construction.

Today is #ElectionDay! Voting is not just our right but a powerful tool to make decisions that affect our community and our nation. Let’s make every vote count and keep building a better tomorrow together! ?? Find your polling place: https://lnkd.in/d5e-J6XV ?? Encourage others to vote and share this reminder! #ElectionDay2024 #YourVoteMatters #BuildingOurFuture #Vote

Congrats to one of our founding board members, Tracey Griffith, for landing the new gig as Executive Director for SCBCTC! Way to keep on the grow!!! ??We’re so proud of you!

Join me for a chat with two rock star women in construction to talk about the important work empowHER is doing to recruit women into the trades, to retain them once they are in, and to encourage them to take on leadership positions in their organizations! Kilah Engelke is a cement mason who was recently elected the first woman Business Manager of the Operative Plasterers’ and Cement Masons’ International Association (OPCMIA) Local 599 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the co-founder and President of empowHER, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making tradeswomen visible and normalizing the role of women in construction. Christina Breitlow is a plumber currently working as a foreman for Mattox Plumbing in Madison, Wisconsin. She is the co-founder and Vice President of empowHER. She also serves as recording secretary and a labor representative for the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for Plumbers Local 75. https://lnkd.in/gmQNhePt Learn more about?empowHER at https://empowherwi.org/.