Women introduced to welding as a career through free workshop
Wallace Community College welding scholar Gina Mortimer poses for a picture at her work station on the faculty on Wednesday.
Gina Mortimer first realized to weld when she was 17.
She grew up in Miami and had a giant group of male pals who had been all welders and offered her early classes.
“They taught me how to help repair and build airboat cages,” Mortimer mentioned. “And that was it. So, I thought, ‘Oh well, I like doing this and this is fun.’”
She had determined to get a welding certificates, however in 1992 Hurricane Andrew destroyed her household’s dwelling and led them to relocate to Destin. Mortimer started bartending and made a career within the restaurant trade. Nearly 30 years handed earlier than she returned to the thought of welding as a career.
Of all of the American staff categorised as welding, soldering, and brazing staff, solely about 5% are ladies, in accordance to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But, there are efforts to carry extra ladies into the male-dominated discipline.
Two free workshops will likely be held in Dothan and Eufaula to introduce ladies to welding as a career. Wallace Community College Workforce Development, The Wiregrass Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) and Lincoln Electric have collaborated to create the Women in Welding workshops for females ages 16 and up. Wiregrass RC&D funded the grant for the workshops.
Along with some classroom security coaching, ladies attending one of many workshops will use the Wallace welding simulators and even get some hands-on welding expertise. The thought is to assist them decide if welding is for them earlier than they make a monetary dedication to a certification program.
