SMART Local 66 is proud and excited to highlight just a few of our amazing sisters during Women in Construction Week.
Name: Korin Courter-Folley (Apprentice)
What year apprentice are you? I’ve been in for four and a half years, and I’m a fifth-year apprentice.
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? Specialty/dream is detailing and/or teaching.
What company do you currently work for? I’m currently only working for the JATC doing the Revit class.
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? My favorite job has been the Microsoft job with Hermanson because I was able to work in the shop, detailing, install, and Trimble side of things. Learned so much from all the amazing crews that come together to make it possible.
Name: Crystal Heidloff (Apprentice)
How many years have you been in the trade? What year apprentice are you? I’ve been in the trade 2.5 years I’m currently a 3rd-year apprentice.
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? I would love to get into welding and specialty work, and possibly teaching wayyyy farther down the road. But I haven’t experienced enough to know just yet what I’d like to specialize in.
What company do you currently work for? I’m currently working for Blythe Mechanical out of Bellingham.
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? I don’t think I have a favorite job I’ve been on, I have enjoyed every job I’ve been on and the opportunities to learn new things.
Name: Elise Fowler (Apprentice)
How many years have you been in the trade? What year apprentice are you? I’ve been in the sheet metal trade for a little over 2 1/2 years and did one year in the TAB apprenticeship before deciding to switch to the service apprenticeship to deepen my knowledge of HVAC systems.
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? I specifically specialize in fire/smoke damper testing, and I enjoy the attention to detail it requires. I’m also involved with Local 66’s Women’s Committee as a Pillar Lead and am really passionate about strengthening our local’s membership by having an engaging and thriving community.
What company do you currently work for? I’ve been working for MacDonald Miller since I was first dispatched – I’m really happy I landed there.
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? The best thing I’ve done since joining the sheet metal industry has to be getting involved with the Women’s Committee – the camaraderie and community that I’ve been able to foster there has been amazing, and I’m surrounded by so many inspiring tradespeople because of it.
Name: Anna Do-Vinh (Apprentice)
How many years have you been in the trade? What year apprentice are you? I am a first-year apprentice, with no prior construction experience. Prior work experience was administrative & medical work (medical receptionist).
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? I am an HVAC/Test, Adjust and Balance technician, I hope to become NEBB (National Environmental Balancing Bureau) certified one day, there are currently only 3,025 certified individuals with this worldwide recognized certification.
What company do you currently work for? Macdonald-Miller
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? My favorite and most challenging project to date was balancing Bungie in Bellevue. Every time I do something I am scared of, it changes my view of what I think my limit is; now I feel like I really can do anything I put my mind to. For example, I had never been 30+ feet up in the air in a lift before this project. These past 3 months, I was doing just that almost every day.
Note: This photo is of Rachelle with a 5th-year class that went to help the Marysville RAP Program with completing their metal outbuilding intended for welding use in future classes.
Name: Rachelle Lynch (Full Time Sheet Metal Instructor)
How many years have you been in the trade? About 30 years – Shop, Welding, Field, Detailing, Engineering
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? Specialty: Detailing, (Construction software) & Engineering, Shop. I have a couple of dreams: 1. Getting the field (and shop) Sheet metal workers to understand the importance of where our Construction world is going (Digitally) and work on getting them “comfortable” with using computers and the software that’s involved to create and build our projects. 2. To work on making our training facility one that apprentices look forward to coming to each week for their classes.
What company do you currently work for? WWSMJATC
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? Microsoft when a large portion of their campus was first going in. I was Foreperson and part detailer, working at Hermanson and had a crew of 10, working weekends 12hr swing shift. I was fortunate, I had a lot of rockstar sheet metal field installers. Many of my crew I had worked under during my apprenticeship (my previous Supervisors) and when they showed up to work, it was like a reunion with all top-notch hands – respectful and good attitudes. It was fun and we made all our schedules ahead of time.
Name: Nicole Jetson (Journey Level)
How many years have you been in the trade? 16 Years
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? I wouldn’t say I have a specialty because I do a bit of everything. From HVAC to architectural. Both shop and field along with special projects.
What company do you currently work for? McKinstry
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? One of my favorite projects in the past was doing shell and core at 2 and U. I worked on generator duct, boiler rooms and large elevator fans L-7 on down to P-4. Very impressive, all the massive equipment. I really had a lot of fun on that job.
Name: Carolina Ambriz (Journey Level)
How many years have you been in the trade? 16 years
What is your specialty and/or what do you dream of doing in the trades one day? I don’t feel like I have a specialty, because I have tried to be well-versed in as many aspects of sheet metal that have been available to me. So far my favorite is Detailing. I would like to one day be more proficient in Revit and dream of one day becoming a BIM Lead or Coordinator.
What company do you currently work for? McKinstry
What is your favorite job you have been on, or have done since you’ve been working in the sheet metal industry? My favorite job was the Amazon Spheres project because I was able to do some detailing and work in the field. The project was complex and I enjoyed the challenges it had.
