The 2019 Delegation is made of 12 women from the US and Canada and a researcher. They will be spending 5 days with the women of the Archana Women’s Centre and, the following weekend, with leaders and workers of KKNCT, the Kerala affiliate of the Builders and Wood Workers International (BWI) labor federation.

Delegation members will be posting here and keeping everyone informed on their facebook page, Tradeswomen Building Bridges. Follow and share the stories from these tradeswomen leaders.

MEET THE DELEGATES

Noreen Buckley

 

I am a 3rd year electrical apprentice in San Francisco – Local 6, co-chair of our women committee and was lucky to be part of the 1st delegation to India in 2017. I am excited to return this year and continue the good work of raising the visibility of Global Tradeswomen! 

 

Amber McCoy

Amber McCoy is a journey level Union Carpenter from Portland Oregon. They indentured into the Carpenters apprenticeship in 2006 and graduated with Honors in 2010. McCoy is an Instructor with Pacific NW Carpenters Institute and hold many positions, elected and appointed, in the Union and in Local politics. 

 

 

 

 

Amanda Kay Johnson

Has worked in construction for the last 6.5 years and is currently employed as a second year apprentice with the NYC District Council of Carpenters in Local Union 157.  During her time as an apprentice, she has both completed her Masters Degree in Civil Engineering and Construction Management at NJ Institute of Technology and been a part of multiple committees within her union and trades leadership conferences.  In addition to her life as a carpenter, Amanda Kay enjoys traveling all over the world, getting lost in nature, writing poetry and music, spending time with her family, and propelling the international tradeswoman movement forward. 

 

Jenna Lipinski

 

 

Greetings! My name is Jenna Lipinski, I am born and raised in Regina, SK Canada. I am a Bricklayer and Executive Board Member of BAC Local 1 Saskatchewan and Chair of the Build Together Saskatchewan Chapter. 

 

 

 

Kathryn (Katy) Rhodes

My name is Kathryn (Katy) Rhodes and I’m a fourth year apprentice electrician with IBEW 213. I’m a member of our women’s committee as well as Build TogetHER and am heavily involved in efforts to recruit and retain women in trades. With these organizations I have headed a volunteer work weekend to support WISH (an outreach centre for women of the downtown east side of Vancouver BC) as well as several trade shows and girl guide/brownie (similar to Girl Scouts) outreach. I’m so excited to be a part of this badass group of women working together to lift each other up. 

 

 

Antoniette “Ant” Yap

 

Always on the run but never from the law…Antoniette jumps towards any opportunity to explore, learn, contribute, and inspire especially in situations so far from her comfort zone. When driving in an air cooled beetle from Vancouver to Florida, Antoniette traded in her desk job for something a little more fun… being a union Millwright.

 

Julie Enman

 

Julie is a Red Seal Carpenter/farmer, who meanders between teaching, work in the humanitarian aid sector, and of course carpentry.  When not doing those things, Julie spends time playing fiddle or with fire.  Julie is also good at drinking beer while listening to brutal metal.

Veronica Godinez

 

JourneyWoman Cement Mason with 20+ yrs in the Trades as a Concrete Finisher, Instructor, later Safety Coordinator then Manager and now Apprenticeship Director. Member of Local 400 and the Steel Edge Women of the OPCMIA. Excited to join this amazing delegation with the common goal of empowering the advancement of all women.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denise Dauvin

 

My name is Denise Dauvin and I work as an Industrial Electrician at a Pulpmill in Prince George, British Columbia. I have worked in Industry for almost 30 years supporting my two daughters and myself. I am hoping to set an example and make changes in industry for future generations of young girls.
I am excited for this opportunity in India, and meeting the amazing women in this group.

 

 

Cassandra Klewicki

 

Cassandra is a carpentry apprentice out of Local 290 from Long Island, New York. This is her second time travelling to India. She is an organizer for Suffolk County chapter of the  Democratic Socialists of America and a member of the Suffolk County Planned Parenthood Emerging Leaders Council.

 

 

Jan Jenson

 

Retired ironworker – 25+ years!  1976-2003. Happily transplanted to Apache Junction, AZ

Photojournalist since 1958.  Dual career with ironworking – still taking pics & writing stories!

Health coach since 1968.

 

 

Chantal Krcmar

 

Chantal Krcmar is a PhD candidate in the Department of Global Governance, Human Security and Conflict Resolution at the University of Massachusetts – Boston. The focus of her dissertation is the Human Security of Indian women who work in the construction industry. Though her last port of call was Somerville, MA, Chantal, her husband Rahul, and daughter Anamika are currently living in Mumbai.

 

 

 

Susan Fischer

Susan Fischer is a professional florist. Over the course of her nearly 30 year career she has worked in every aspect of the industry. The need to document her creations and network with suppliers has led her to become an amateur photographer and a world traveler.