Steel edge women of the opcmia
Cement Masons & Plasterers Local 528
MISSION STATEMENT
The Steel Edge Women of the OPCMIA is dedicated to the strategic retention and advancement of women by creating and maintaining an environment that recognizes, cultivates and utilizes the talent of its women members. Local 528 is dedicated to expand and create work opportunities to achieve long-term success.
The Beginning……
A motion was made on August 7th, 2018 at the General Membership Meeting for the formation of the Local 528 Women’s Committee. The motion was overwhelmingly approved. On November 6th, the Women’s Committee was tasked with organizing the 1st Annual Awards Banquet, which was held at the Snoqualmie Casino on April 20, 2019.
The Women’s Committee typically meets on the last Monday of the month at 5pm. We all bring some food to share and with a light agenda, there is plenty of time to socialize and get to know each other during the meeting. This group will only be successful with the participation of the women in this Local. I encourage all of the Local 528 women to make the commitment of supporting all of us in this typically male trade
The Trades Women Build Nations Conference 2022
The Trades Women Build Nations Conference 2022 was the best, women centric event I've ever attended. After two years of cancellations, it was especially exciting to see other tradeswomen, (and in record attendance!) The workshops covered informative topics and the attendees were always engaged and eager to participate. As a Business Agent, I will encourage the women who have never attended this conference to attend because the experience of engaging with so many other women in the trades makes you aware of how many women are out there overcoming the same obstacles that you are encountering. Wonderful!
Marilyn Kennedy, Business Agent
Local 528, Member since 1995
~528 SISTer stories~
Alisha Crespo
Alisha Crespo joined the Cement Masons in April of 2019. She became interested in becoming a Cement Mason while participating in a Pre-Apprentice Program at the Mission Creek Women’s Correction Center. The TRAC Program, (Trades Related Apprenticeship Coaching), is a 16-week course that the women can apply for to gain entry. Alisha’s instructor, John Brown, worked in the field for many years and brings real world expectations to the program.
Alisha experienced childhood trauma that included the loss of both her parents. Drug addiction and a life of crime to support that addiction led her to (3) incarcerations. She discovered a natural artistic aptitude by working in body shops, but ultimately lost these jobs due to her addiction. During her last time being locked up, she took a Behavior Modification Class and worked with a counselor to deal with her past trauma.
Upon her release, she competed with over (40) others to earn a place at the Cement Masons Apprenticeship. They admitted (20) and Alisha placed 6th, overall. After (2) years in the trade, Alisha has been gainfully employed and is currently working at Howard S. Wright. She acknowledges and is grateful to her co-workers in the field who continue to give her opportunities to learn and excel. Most especially, she is thankful to her instructor from the TRAC Program, John Brown. He keeps tabs on her progress and she checks in with him.
Alisha is engaged to be married, reestablishing her relationship with her daughter, has had a baby boy and purchased a home. She is grateful to the people and opportunities that have led her to this new chapter in her life. She has an admiration for the hardworking, respectable Journeymen who are mentoring the next wave of workers.
Malgorzata Wanzewicz
Malgorzata Wanzewicz (pronounced Mal-go-zata Vansow-veech), became a Cement Mason with Local 528 in April of 2016. She goes by Gosia and she came to the United States in 2002 from Wroclaw, Poland. Originally here visiting family on a tourist visa, she soon married and became pregnant with her daughter, Milena. She started to learn English by watching children’s shows with her young child. Her marriage wouldn’t survive the abuse and control, so she fled and struggled on her own with some support from family and friends. She got her first job in retail but then had an opportunity to become a certified materials tester with Hayre McElroy &Assoc., which she did for 5 years.
She became a Cement Mason at the suggestion of her union boyfriend (and the father of her son, Eli.) He told her about Cement Masons’, Marilyn and Alyssa who worked at Conco, so she went through the Hell Days tryouts and was hired by Kevin at Conco. Gosia has proven to be a reliable, skilled employee and tradeswoman who remains at Conco to this day.
Being a Union Cement Mason has given Gosia the financial independence to make good choices for her and her children and she has recently purchased her first home, by herself. She brings her hard work and perseverance to the job and has developed a personal strength and confidence which is evident to people who know her. She is artistic and she has a love for the outdoors and animals which she embraces enthusiastically with her children.
Juliette Haines
Juliette Haines has been a Cement Mason since October 2020. After completing high school, Juliette worked as a fitness instructor then got her real estate license. She sold real estate for a couple of years and an opportunity came up to work with her mother in the home health care field. She became a licensed CNA and for the next 20 years, worked with patients who needed rehabilitative spinal therapy in the home. Working flexible hours allowed her to raise her (4) daughters with her husband, Rhett who worked days in the Business Security sales, design and installation industry. They have been married for 24 years.
With her children nearly grown and out of the house, Juliette wanted to do something completely different. Her good friend had completed the ANEW Program and was working as a plumber. Juliette liked the idea of a physical job where she could work outdoors, and she was ready to learn something new. She graduated the ANEW Program and entered the Cement Masons Apprenticeship Program. She is about to be an 80% Apprentice and has worked on (2) big Sound Transit jobs, the E-130 and currently the L-300 for Skanska.
Skanska sponsored her to take an 8-week Foreman class through an outside organization, Arcade Wayfinding. She is very happy on the project she is working on and is anxious to see how much she can learn on this high-profile project.
Juliette has an outgoing and agreeable personality. She has always been a hard worker with a great work ethic, and she advocates for herself out in the field. Local 528 wishes her nothing but success and sees a great future for her in the construction industry.
Danielle
Green -
Cement Mason
Danielle Green has been a member of Local 528 since April of 2000. Her Cement Mason brother, Richard Gregoire, was the motivator to join. During these hard times, she was trying to raise her 3 children while struggling to earn a living. She started with Larusso Concrete and then spent the next 10 years, on and off, with Mid-Mountain Contractors.
She comes from a blue collar, construction family with four generations of union workers. Danielle’s Grandmother was a Rosie, her Dad a Cement Mason and her Mom a welder. Her son is a union operator. She has held a Foreman position at several different companies including Mortenson. Danielle is active with the Local and currently holds an Executive Board position.
Danielle is very generous with her time and always finds ways to give back to the community. She finds great satisfaction in donating her time to helping the elderly and those in need.
“I’m in construction not because I’m building a building; I get to build hospitals, churches and schools.”
ROXANA OROZCO -PLASTERER
Roxana Orozco has been a Local 528 Plasterer since September, 2012. She was working as a server at Olive Garden and decided she wanted a job that offered variety, working outdoors and working with her hands. The waiting list for the Carpenters was too long, so she looked to the Cement Masons. Frank Benish directed her to the Plasterers for better job opportunities at the time. She loves the ornate aspects of being a Plasterer and has become very well rounded working at PCI. She worked on the King Street Station, the Space Needle and is currently working on the retrofit of the Seattle Town hall building.
Roxana loves working out, backpacking, cooking and she is an avid reader.She has recently become engaged and will be getting married this August. Roxana and her fiance are looking forward to starting a family.
Marilyn Kennedy- Cement Mason
After working for 12 years at different retail jobs, my good friend asked me if I'd like to come work for them at their small business. I didn't really know what her husband did for a living but I was adamant about changing professions. In 1995, I started my Apprenticeship making more than I had been making in retail. As my wages increased, I became financially independent and was able to raise my 2 children on my own terms. After being a Union member for about 6 years, I decided that I was going to attend my union meetings on a regular basis. Within 6 months, the Business Manager was having me fill in for the Recording Secretary and I was eventually appointed to the position. I have held the position for 17 years, running unopposed for each term. Holding this position helped prepare me for my interview for my current Business Agent position.
In the field, I spent the last 13 years at the Conco Company and was a Foreman there for the last 10. I have been the President of my HOA for the last 13 years, and active on that Board for 17 years. My daughter is a Journeyman Cement Mason and my son is a vertical Foreman Carpenter.
I am passionate about introducing our craft and this opportunity to young people, particularly women. I actively solicit women coming out of incarceration and I participate in the trade shows that are targeted toward women. I was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 by the Washington Women in Trades organization. (I am clearly much too young for such an award!!) Helping to create a space for women at the International level would be a satisfying career achievement!”
Giday Adhanom Cement Mason
Before entering construction, Giday Adhanom was a nursing assistant and was advancing in the medical field. Giday completed ANEW, which is a program dedicated to improving the access and advancement of women in non-traditional career pathways. She became a member of Local 528 in 2005. She took a break in service in 2009 to have her third child. She came back into the trade in 2013 and became a journeyman in 2014. Giday is a well-rounded Cement Mason and has worked on many large projects in the Seattle area.She is a devoted mother of three children.She volunteers her spare time with different organizations including Village of Hope and BPC, (Black Prisoners Caucus.)She also a coaches for the Boys and Girls club. She is currently taking classes related to Project Management.
Remembering Rebekah Lyons
b. 2.28.91 – 7.20.21
Local 528 is sad to announce the passing of Apprentice Rebekah Lyons. She was on her way to a successful career as a Cement Mason. She had many people who were confident in her abilities and loved her job over at Conco. She had a tough and unfair start in life but was finally on the right track to being the best she could be. In 2020, she was nominated and won the Josie Dunn Apprentice Award, (https://www.wawomenintrades.com/awards). We were all so proud of her and excited to see how far she would go. Thanks so much to many of the Foremen at Conco and Brothers and Sisters who believed in her ability and gave her the opportunities she thrived on.
Check out our YouTube channel and subscribe, one of the many places we showcase our women in the trades.
Follow us on Instagram! To see trade related pictures of Local 528 Members.
International Women’s Committee
Seattle, Local 528 submitted a Resolution to the International requesting the formation of an OPCMIA International Women’s Committee. This resolution came to the floor at the 2019 International Convention and was approved enthusiastically by the delegates in attendance. Women from a number of Locals met via teleconference to work on Women Committee presentations at the Business Manager’s Meeting to gain support for the formation of this committee. We spent time generating ideas for the International Steel Edge Women web page and discussed the long-term goals for this long overdue committee.
Pregnancy and Maternity Leave Resources link.
Here is the Maternity Leave Application in PDF.
Maternity Leave Booklet from OPCMIA in PDF.
Last updated October 21, 2023
Washington Women in Trades
Standing monthly meeting. The third Thursday of the month, 6 pm. At Alaskan Copper, 2958 6th Ave. S. Seattle
Survival Day
Apprenticeship tryouts that we typically hold in the spring & Women are encouraged to apply!
ANEW
Apprenticeship and non traditional employment for women, ANEW is the oldest, continuously running pre-apprenticeship program in the nation with a unique and successful reputation for training people, primarily women, to enter the construction industry.
ANEW partners with over 17 apprenticeship programs in the Puget Sound region.
TRAC Program
Trades Related Apprenticeship Coaching, a program that gives opportunity to women who are transitioning from the justice system.
building the northwest
