Leigh: Vermont Works for Women

Meet Leigh Gamble, Vermont Works for Women, Trailblazers Graduate

Trailblazers learning about solar electrical systems.

 Originally from Maine, Leigh Gamble now lives and works in Burlington. After a stint as a teacher and a hardware store manager, Leigh had the goal to transition to a career in the trades and shift from selling power tools to using them. Despite having a degree in education and proven employment records, Leigh doubted those assets alone would convince a prospective employer in construction and related trades to offer them a job. Leigh felt the key to a successful transition into the trades would require resources, support and a roadmap. An online search turned up the Vermont Works for Women (VWW), Trailblazers program. “When I found what the Trailblazers program was supposed to do, I was like, oh, that's exactly what I was looking for. And it fit in very well with wanting to transition careers.”

Vermont Works for Women is one of four partner organizations including Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Audubon Vermont, and ReSOURCE that comprise Vermont’s Serve Learn Earn (SLE).  Trailblazers is one in a set of SLE’s workforce development programs that focus on building pathways for individuals to access non-traditional, high-paying jobs in the trades through affordable education, skills training and service-based learning opportunities. 

We recently reconnected with Leigh, asking them to reflect back on their training with VWW-Trailblazers.

Leigh learning how to use the chop saw during power tool training.

Training in technical aspects of construction is a primary focus of Trailblazers. All SLE workforce development programs incorporate the element of service to a local community or nonprofit. Trailblazers participants build those technical skills through work on projects which are then donated. Participants get hands on experience with power tools, reading and interpreting drawings, creating designs for the projects they build, and completing OSHA 10 training. In addition, participants learn wiring and electrical applicable to solar and the grid.

Leigh’s Trailblazers’ cohort built newspaper stands for a small local paper, enabling that paper to increase their footprint in and share information with the local community. Another project was an innovative reuse of materials including used cooking oil drums and old wooden pallets, repurposed to become rolling composters. “It was really cool that I could step into a market out in Jericho and I knew exactly how that newspaper stand got where it was and how people had easier access to information”. The rolling composter project also felt particularly salient for Leigh.  “It was really in alignment with Vermont's resources and renewable goals and composting is now law in Vermont. Getting to create those for following some state legislated stuff was really an interesting experience”.

Mentorship was a key component Leigh identified early on as critical to support their successful career shift.

“One of the biggest things that's really helpful about Trailblazers is the mentorship opportunity. Not only do you get professional skills like how to polish your resume and set it up for a job in the trades, you also get access to a really great community of people, who are currently, or have been in the trades and are willing to support you. Anytime I ran into something in my internship that I was unsure of, I had people that I could ask questions.”

Leigh had high praise for Missy Mackin, Trailblazers program manager, “I know I can always go to Missy for anything, she's an anchor in our community.”

Leigh’s goal of employment in the trades has been an amazing success. They are currently a field service technician for Control Technologies. They just finished their first year of an electrical apprenticeship, completed their propane heating licensure, their EPA 608 certification, and will soon begin classes and training for the natural gas heating licensure. They’ll soon be qualified to do installation service and design for natural gas heating systems, and work on refrigeration equipment from small packaged units to 20-ton chillers that are in office buildings and manufacturing plants.

Trailblazers, Mentor Night

Reflecting on the arc of their first year in the trades, Leigh is really excited to be in the role of a Trailblazer mentor, giving back and helping other individuals wanting to transition into the trades as they did. “I actually got to participate in a Mentor Night as a mentor. I came away from mentorship night going, man, I kind of want to be a teacher again. But I want to teach the trades.”

Leigh had high praise for Trailblazers and shared thoughts on the importance of the program and how instrumental Trailblazers was for their move into the trades.

“I'm direct evidence that it works. The trades are an incredibly important part of our economy and they've been hemorrhaging people for years. Without tradespeople, bridges don't get repaired, new housing doesn't get built, old buildings aren't preserved, we don't have beautiful things like our waterfront and our parks. Without people to do those jobs we just can't function as a state. We need truckers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, elevator repair folk. We need extra support for people wanting to get into the trades. Especially, for women and gender non-conforming people like me.”

Thanks Leigh and good luck with the next licensure and certificate you pursue!