Story Feature: Leticia (Letty)
Quote:
“Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities” - unknown
Leticia (Letty) shares that this saying comes to mind after a recent conversation with a coworker: “Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. If you don’t actively put in the effort or show interest, the universe won’t hand you the chance. You have to assert yourself to get involved. Be confident, trust your skillset, and remember that everyone starts somewhere. Everyone was new at one point.”
Highlights from Letty’s story:
Letty spent 10 years doing shop welding before stepping onto a construction site. When Letty first started on a construction job site, a sheet metal worker and a plumber approached her and said, “If anyone messes with you, come get us. We’ve got your back.” Shop experience was tough, but the construction world was a different experience. She shares the sense of sisterhood and brotherhood within the union. “I love my coworkers to death; they’ve got my back through and through.” Being in the union she also shares that throughout her journey, the union's BA’s and Stewards have always provided guidance and support whenever she needed help.
Letty grew up not fully realizing what her family did for a living. She would see her grandma come home in similar work gear and thought she worked in a warehouse. When Letty started as a welder, she learned her grandma had been a forklift operator at Ball Corp for 20-30 years. Before that, she worked at the Revlon Manufacturing Plant and was the first woman to operate a forklift in that job at the time.
Her dad tinkered with cars and worked at an aluminum factory. She always saw the work clothes but didn’t fully understand the trades until she entered the industry.
She describes herself growing up that she was as a bit of a tomboy, “I’m girly now” she says, but growing up in a culture centered around classic cars is what inspired her to pursue welding. She feels that she has had a huge amount of support from her parents and family when entering a male dominated trade.
After graduating high school in 2014, Letty didn’t have an interest in attending college and wanted something more hands-on. She enrolled in a welding school right after high school, completing an 11-month program. The following summer, she earned her welding technology certificate and learned classic car restoration, fitter welding, building stairwells and staircases, and building overhead cranes.
Letty is currently a 4th-year apprentice and has been a welder by trade for 11 years. She entered the union 2.5 years ago. Letty has the skills, confidence, and knowledge she needs and is no longer feeling like she is trying to prove herself. She hopes that when other women see her working with confidence, it encourages them to feel confident about pursuing a trade too.
She encourages others to enter the union. “I didn’t understand unions when I was in high school. If I’d known about them back then, I would have entered right after graduation. But with my welding certificate and the skills I gained, I was able to test out. The 5-year apprenticeship really sets you up for various aspects of the trade.” Every other month, the apprenticeship program includes a week of learning math, definitions, blueprints, shop time, welding, and CAD to develop and design ductwork, as well as servicing and installation.
Next Achievements in Progress:
She is proud to be 3rd year Apprentice of the Year with The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) and hopes to win again for her 4th year! With about 1.5 years left in her apprenticeship, once her contract is up, Letty is looking forward to becoming a Journeyman and plans to buy a house.
Letty and her best friend also started WeldHer workshop to bring women into the trade. The workshop aims to showcase the work they do— from fit-up welding to inspections. What started as a small group has grown significantly. They now have been partnered with Vern Lewis Welding Supply in Peoria, where they’ve been hosting with their welding booths at the workshop since 2019.
Representation holds a deep significance for Letty. When she was searching for a trade school or trying to find another woman who could inspire her, she found few who looked like her. "As a Latina entering this field in 2014, I noticed there were very few women around," Letty reflects. Her experience as one of the few women in the industry fueled her strong advocacy for non-traditional careers for women. She is passionate about seeing more diversity within the field, believing that it’s important for women to see others who look like them in roles they may not have imagined possible.
When Letty and her best friend were given the opportunity to start hosting classes, she saw it as a chance to show other women that they could accomplish anything they set their minds to. "It doesn’t matter where you come from or what you look like—there is a place for everyone in this industry," she says, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and opportunity.
Letty feels a deep responsibility to represent women in the field, especially given the life-changing opportunities it has provided her. "Not only has this industry been financially rewarding, but it has also allowed me to travel, teaching welding classes out of state," she shares. Through her union, Letty is also able to attend Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) every year, a major conference for women in trades, where she connects with other women from different fields. "It’s a privilege to be a part of this movement and to inspire the next generation of women in trades," she says.
You can follow or connect with Letty at:
https://www.instagram.com/weldher_workshop/
https://www.instagram.com/saguaroblossomjewels/