SheDig Events Promote Equipment Operating as Viable Career

by Jerry Marks, Triad Marketing & Media

‘They Really Don’t Know the Opportunities that are Here.’

As the SheDig participants made their way through the equipment stations the only thing seemingly growing more than their competency operating the heavy equipment were their smiles.

The smiles are what Evan Irwin says is the favorite part of the SheDig event for him and in his job as an instructor at the Ohio Operating Engineers Local 18 Apprenticeship & Training Center in Logan. “Just the smiles on peoples’ faces … They’ve never done anything like this before,” he said of individuals climbing in and operating multi-ton backhoe loaders and off-highway trucks. “They really don’t know the opportunities that are here.”

On this fall day, the smiles and opportunities “here” were at one of the 2023 SheDig events. Along with the Logan Training Center, SheDig events were held at Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training Centers in Cygnet, Richfield and Miamisburg.

Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training is part of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 18 (IUOE), which represents heavy-equipment operators running cranes, dozers, front loaders and other construction machinery as well as stationary engineers who work in the operations/maintenance of buildings and industrial complexes.

Shelby Black, who works with the Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training’s Curriculum and Outreach efforts, said the SheDig Program, which enjoyed its biggest and busiest year in 2023, is “an initiative for young women to get involved in the trades – specifically for ours – in heavy equipment.

“…What is most important to us is that the schools and girls in general know that this is an option … They are able to see programs like ours – apprenticeship programs, trades, different opportunities – for people to get involved in a career instead of necessarily doing college first,” Black said. “It’s the exposure to: ‘Hey, this is something that is totally a viable option, and I can be good at this just like anything else.’”

SheDig provides high school girls the opportunity to experience a day on-the-job of an operating engineer. Participants, which averaged roughly 100 in number at each of last fall’s six days of events, met with the regional training center’s coordinator, journeywomen and women apprentices to learn about the role of the operating engineer, the training and apprenticeship program and about what to expect in a construction career. Following a safety talk, where Black said “We definitely hit on three points of contact” with the participants, the day’s fun began – as the heavy equipment, which served as a backdrop for the SheDig events, took center stage.

Moments after her first try at operating a backhoe, Gabby, a student at Trimble High School, experienced a mix of relief, excitement and achievement. Though admitting to having initial butterflies when climbing behind the controls of the equipment, the sophomore said she quickly got the knack for operating the backhoe. “I was a little scared that I would mess something up or go the wrong way,” she said. “But once I got in there the instructors were really nice and they let you know what to do. The equipment itself is kind of easy to run once you understand the controls … It was very fun.”

Being early in her decision making of what profession she would like to pursue; Gabby believes it was important to see what SheDig was all about. “I wanted to just see the (industry’s) environment and what they do for work,” she said. “I’ve never experienced something like heavy equipment operations, but now that I’ve been out here, I think I’ve learned a lot and even maybe consider it as a career in the future.”

‘Considering it as a Career’

Those five words – Considering it as a Career – is what SheDig is all about.

“We were looking for ways to get women involved in the trades. We also wanted to get girls involved in NAWIC,” Black said. The National Association of Women in Construction is a Fort Worth, Texas-based group supporting women in construction through networking, professional education and mentorship. “We met with women at NAWIC in 2018, brainstormed, and put together the idea of, and calling it, SheDig – a specific day just for women,” Black added.

In 2019, SheDig began as a program specifically for girls in their junior and senior years of high school. The program has since been expanded to include freshmen and sophomore students – and even high school graduates.” (See “From SheDig to a Career,” page 15) “… If anybody asks to get involved, either younger girls or ones that have graduated, we always say, ‘Absolutely!” Black said.

Because of the size of the state’s Operating Engineers’ Apprenticeship Program and its number of training centers, Black said Ohio is one of only a few states, or perhaps the only, to host SheDig programs. The inaugural 2019 events were held at each of the IUOE Local 18’s four training facilities. And though the event was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic, SheDig has grown in the amount of events and participants since.

“There are definitely more girls involved, more schools,” said Black, “and through that more schools are reaching out to us and asking: ‘Are you having this again, because we would love to come back.’”

The Cygnet and Logan training centers have seen such an influx of participants in their SheDig events that both sites went to multi-day events in 2023.

“With the increase in participation, we added a second day to accommodate the interest,” said Cygnet Training Center Regional Coordinator Benjamin Brooks. “We are getting more interest from different schools to participate as well, which I’m hoping to increase our number each year by doing this outreach.”

As Cygnet’s SheDig has attracted more participants in the northwestern portion of the state with its two-day event, Logan Training Center Regional Coordinator Richard Groves has seen participation grow in the southeastern portion of the state and beyond. “We have a lot more schools involved,” said Groves, who blankets his 24-county district with invitations to every school district as well as publicizes SheDig on Facebook. “It is now a two-day event, and it may be a three-day event (in 2024),” he said of the Logan training facility’s program.

The interest in SheDig is just as strong at IUOE Local 18’s other training centers. Along with Logan’s 44% increase in participation to 220 girls attending in 2023 compared to 2022, Cynet’s 165 participants was a 51% increase from 2022. Miamisburg’s single-day 118 participants in 2023 were a 64% increase from 2022, and while slightly lower from a year ago due to travel issues by the schools, Richfield’s training center was host to 110 SheDig participants in 2023.

Matthew Fuentes, the regional coordinator at the Richfield Training Center, said his favorite part of northeastern Ohio’s SheDig is the “big picture” his training center’s event provides. “The Richfield program is successful because we interact with the young women and have hands-on teaching demonstrations with them,” he said of the journeywomen and instructors who provide their time. “My favorite aspect of the SheDig program is watching them operate the Manitowoc 8000 … We give them hands-on experience with one of the largest pieces of equipment,” Fuentes said of the 8-ton crane.

Where Have You Been?

Kenzie Tackett looked in amazement at the SheDig program going on in front of her at the Logan Training Center, where she called home for her four-year apprenticeship with IUOE Local 18. A heavy-equipment operator with Beaver Excavating Company, Tackett could only stand in astonishment at the size of the group gathered and the lineup of articulated trucks, backhoes, Mini excavators, industrial forklifts and cranes available to try out.

“I don’t think I ran half these machines during my apprenticeship,” she laughed, adding, that at the time, “I didn’t know there was this variety of machines that you could just get in and push a button and see how it works. Here, they have the area, the safe space, and they’re getting to run the equipment before they even decide if they want to be an operator … Just the opportunity to come out here, and that it is available to them in high school is great,” Tackett added. “I wasn’t aware (at their age) that there was a union specific to operating heavy equipment.”

Seeing the Excitement, Sharing the Excitement

The enthusiasm shown by not only their students, but all the SheDig participants has Pickaway-Ross Career & Technology Center’s (CTC) Janet Barrows and Allen Koker committed to helping their students pursue a career as an operating engineer.

“It’s amazing. These young ladies get to see the opportunities that are here,” said Koker, who serves as Pickaway-Ross CTC Job Placement coordinator. The 2023 SheDig was the second year the school has had students participate. “It’s really good for them to get that experience and it gives them another career choice to choose from.” While the students attending the event were currently involved in the school’s welding, auto technicians, diesel and carpentry programs. Koker said their career training could change to fit their interests. “If they are interested in this,” as he watched the students operating the different pieces of equipment, “then we will obviously help them take the test, apply for the apprenticeship program, etc.”

Barrows, the school’s Career Development coordinator, agrees about the power of SheDig. “… When they’re allowed to sit in the seat and they have somebody telling them how to do it, they are actually doing it. They’re seeing it for themselves: ‘This is something that I can absolutely do.’ It’s not intimidating, and I think having the camaraderie of all the other girls here helps with that. Instead of taking a backseat to boys in the class that have been playing with trucks forever, this time the girls get to.”

Girls Only

As it says in the name, SheDig is an event geared for women.

While women have been involved in the industry for generations, they are still considered “an untapped source of potential workers.”

“Right now, our apprenticeship is sitting at 10% to 12% women,” Black said of the number of females currently involved in the Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training Program. “… I’d like that to at least be 25% or closer to 50%.”

Though his training center, and Operating Engineers Training Centers around the state, provide site visits throughout the year to high school students, Groves believes the SheDig program offers a different type of insight for participants. “Logan has quite a few site visits, where schools come in and equipment is set up for students to try out. I’ve noticed where there will be just a few girls in the class and a lot of guys … A lot of time, the girls will stand in the back; that’s our reason to focus on the girls and get more women interested in joining our craft.”

Tackett agrees, saying, “I love that they have an event just for girls; so, they feel a little more comfortable asking questions that maybe they wouldn’t ask if there were males on the job.”

Groves also notes the advantage of having journeywomen, like Tackett, onsite at the SheDig events. “It’s always good to have someone the same gender to explain their side of things,” he said. “… It’s best to hear from how they got involved in the program.”

According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research’s article, “Numbers Matter: Clarifying the Data on Women Working in Construction,” the number of women working in trades occupations is at its highest level, at more than 314,000 nationwide … The number of tradeswomen (from 2016-2021) increased by almost one-third (32.1%). More women work as tradeswomen than as dental hygienists or veterinarians.”

Tackett said the industry has become more woman-focused than when she entered the apprenticeship program nearly a decade ago. “I love it. It is so much better,” she said, as she motioned to her personal protection equipment (PPE). “Just the vest I have on, It’s a women’s-cut vest. My first vest was an extra-extra-large … They (now) make gloves in my size,” she smiled.

However, despite the increase in women joining the trades, tradeswomen make up less than 4% of the total number of skilled workers. “Women are also under-represented in other aspects of construction,” according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. “… For the whole construction sector, including office and administrative staff, women comprise only 11%. With the current worker shortage, women are an untapped source of potential workers.”

A Woman’s Touch

The message: “Where there is a will there is a way,” seems appropriate if you listen to Irwin talk about becoming an operating engineer. “Anybody that is willing to learn can do this,” he said. “If you can play a video game or play on a phone, we can teach you how to do this.”

Dexterity, however, is one of those traits that may literally and figuratively give women an upper hand when it comes to equipment operating. Black mentioned a SheDig participant who was studying to become a pianist at the Toledo School for the Arts. “For whatever reason, she decided to come to SheDig as an individual,” Black said. “… She just seemed to have a knack for operating the equipment, because our coordinator and another instructor were like: ‘Man, we should get her to switch from music to this, because she’s really good.”

Along with the dexterity to be proficient at video games (or the piano), Black said several other characteristics stand out as well when it comes to being proficient as an equipment operator. “Another important trait is having ‘the focus for it,’” she said. “A lot of people will tell you that you’ll go far as an equipment operator if you have finesse … If you want to be a finisher you need an attention to detail in getting the (ground to) exact grade and aesthetically the final grade looks good.

“Overall, it’s the desire to be there every day,” Black added. “A lot of our contractors – while it’s definitely important to have the skill – but rather 100% skill they want someone that is going to be there early every day; that’s going to be reliable; that’s going to be loyal to (the company) if they are asked to stay late; and someone that wants to see the whole project finished. A person that will show their pride in a job after it is done.”

“They can do it,” Tackett said of women becoming operating engineers. “No one can tell them that they are no less capable than any of the men that they will see out on the job. There is nothing stopping them from going out there being as good, if not better, than their male counterparts.”

From SheDig to a Career

It’s no secret that SheDig not only serves as an introduction to being an operating engineer but also the possible first step to a longtime career.

“This is a career option, and it can be a lasting one. We have plenty of members that are what we call ‘Life Members,’” Black said. “A Life Member is what you’re called after you’ve been in the trade for 30 years. So, within our (Local 18) we have a lot of Life Members.”

Nancy Brown could be considered a life member of the health profession, having spent 35 years on and off working in the medical industry. But at the age of 53, that changed when she attended a SheDig event. Having worked as a lab supervisor in a hospital, Brown said that with her children grown she decided: “I want to do what I want to do now.” So, in 2022 she attended the SheDig event in Logan and several months later found herself in the apprenticeship program.

“I did the big change because of SheDig,” said Brown, who recalls listening to journeywomen at the event and heard a familiar story. “A lot of the stories were the same as mine: ‘I stayed at home while my kids were little, and now I’m doing it.’ I thought this sounded better and better. Then we went outside and got on some of the equipment, and the more I did it the more I thought, ‘Yes, I’m going to do it!’” Within months she was enrolled in the operator engineer’s apprenticeship program and has been working since March 2023 in central Ohio operating track equipment 100 feet below ground.

Brown’s advice to herself now if she was in high school? “Go for it now while you are young.’ Because if they get into it now when they’re 18-, 19-years old, by the time they get in their 30 years they will have their retirement built up; their health insurance; they have tons of experience under their belt … Their whole life will be made. If you start young and that’s what you know you can build a family around it.”

Female or Male, Demand is High for Equipment Operators

Black does not hide the fact the SheDig program not only is an event to introduce participants to the activities of an operating engineer but also a way to recruit them toward a career as an equipment operator. “Oh, absolutely,” she agreed.

Regardless of gender, the heavy construction industry is in need of operating engineers. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an estimated 160,000 heavy-equipment operators among the nation’s workforce, estimates show a need to add an additional 51,000 a year through 2030 due to construction demand and pending retirements.

According to heavyequipmentcollege.edu, “More and more people are reaching retirement age, leading to a significant gap in skilled labor. While this is a serious issue for the industry, it’s also a huge opportunity for anyone looking to start or switch careers.” The training school’s website added, “With the right training, you help solve the labor shortage and reap the rewards of a career in heavy-equipment operation.”

“Just getting people exposed to operating equipment is the key,” summarized Black. “We say, ‘You become an operator because the world can be your playground.’ It’s like when you’re a kid playing with your Tonka trucks. You can do it and get paid really well for it.”

According to Irwin, the aspect of enjoying what you do and getting well paid goes for all the skilled trades.

“… Yes, we would like to see a lot of these participants come our way, but don’t disinclude any type of skilled trade at all,” said Irwin, who is entering his 15th year of being involved in the skilled trades and sixth as an instructor at the Logan training facility. “If I had known about this when I was in high school, I may not have gone to college. I would have at least looked further into (the skilled trades) …,” added Irwin, who after earning his college degree and starting his career decided it wasn’t his passion. “Take an honest look at this, keep an open mind about any of the trades – whether it is us as operators, laborers, ironworkers, plumbers or carpenters. The industry is booming, and positions are available to anybody; and you can make a very, very good wage.”

In 2025, the Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training Program will be celebrating 60 years of helping meet the demand for heavy-equipment operators in the construction industry. The four-year apprenticeship program to become a journey-level operator is available at no cost to participants. The training requires 640 onsite training hours of classroom, field and shop training. The reason the apprenticeship is available at no charge is because the program is industry sponsored and funded through the IUOE Local 18, the Ohio Contractors Association and the Ohio Building Chapter of the Associated General Contractors.

Along with having no tuition fee, apprentices can also earn credits toward a college degree – also at no charge. “The Operating Engineers give out millions of dollars to scholarship funds each year to their members,” said Groves, adding, “(Apprentices) can continue their education; if they decide to become an operator they can work and continue to go to school and get their college education for free …”

The first step to becoming an Operating Engineer is just a click on a website away at https://local18training.com/apprenticeship_applications/.

“We tell them to start the process go onto our website and fill out an application – it’s easy, it’s just two pages on the computer,” said Black. After the initial application is received, a computer based test is scheduled (at a cost of $20 for applicants) in mathematics, reading and mechanical comprehension. Those receiving a 70% grade or better are next asked to schedule an interview.

Information about the Ohio Operating Engineers Apprenticeship & Training program is available at https://local18training.com/main-home/ equipment_operator_apprenticeship/