Job / Trade Questions
What trades field are you currently in, and what do you do?
I own and run a drywall company. I am a drywall taper/finisher by trade we do all the taping, mudding and sanding, my job is to make sure the drywall is ready for painting. But I’m also the boss, I run the projects, bid the contracts, all while working on the jobs.
When did you realize you wanted to be in the trades?
I pretty much knew my entire life I enjoyed working with my hands and building stuff. My dad is a carpenter/floor installer, so as a kid I use to help him a lot so when I got into high school, I joined all the different shop classes I could even if I was the only female in the class (auto shop, metal shop, wood shop etc…)
What was the most surprising thing you experienced once you joined the trades?
That running a company while being the worker isn’t always fun it’s actually really hard work at times but over the years I’ve learned to stay focused stay positive and always remember my can do anything I set my mind too.
What would you like to see in your field 5 years from now?
More training seminars for different trades in smaller towns & larger city locations, so many always looking for a way into the trades but they still don’t know where to go or look.
What motivates you to go to work everyday?
I love what I do i play with mud all day it can get dirty at times but seeing my work completed and seeing a job painted gives me that amazing feeling that what I do truly matters in my industry because the only thing covering my work is a few coats of paint.
What do you normally have in your pockets on the job?
Depending on the day but usually a pencil, drywall joint knife and my Olfa knife.
What is your favourite and least favourite thing about your job?
Favourite thing is seeing the finished product its always impressive seeing my work knowing my hands crafted an entire large custom built mansions smooth. Least favourite - can’t hide from the Ontario humidity! lol. Sanding days are brutally exhausting on wild humid days during the summer.
What makes your job unique?
Being a female drywall finisher who not only runs the project but also works on the sites starting back in 2006 when there was almost no women on the job sites i ever worked on in Ottawa. It’s a job not just anyone can do well. Hawk and trowel, pan and knifes, auto tools and semi auto tools, take a lot of time and practice to learn and master. Now being on social media for the last 6 years I’ve helps shine more light onto women in the trades and our eye for detail.
What’s the one thing you can’t live without on the job?
Coffee
How does your clothing impact your performance and confidence on the job?
The clothing I wear on the jobs allows me to move freely without any restrictions on movement. I wear stilts, climb scaffolding and do lots of squats in a day. I also prefer to be more covered so I wear a lot of black or grey loose fitted pants or overalls and an assortment of comfy t-shirts keep the focus on my skills. Which I found has allowed my confidence to shine in my trade.
Women Empowerment / Advice
Do you have any advice for other women who may be thinking of getting an education or career in trades?
Do it and jump in with both feet. Don’t be afraid to get dirty, try new things and pay attention to the steps to do a job. If you enjoy a trade but not that workplace find another workplace sometimes it’s the environment you work in that makes you feel incomplete not your trade. Learn your trade and find your passion. The only limits you have are the ones you set for yourself push the limits.
Who are some women you look up to? What do you admire about them?
For “celebrity’s” I’ve always admired princess Dianne her strength and courage to break barriers and show that she could do anything she set her mind too even if the odds were stacked against her. I’ve met a few amazing women over the years that have inspired me to do things I thought I would never be able to do. My friend Amira is an entrepreneur and the CFO of her father’s corporate business. She has helped me out of some dark times in my past life and never let me down when I needed a friend to talk to or get work from. She has always helped inspire me to know my worth and never give up on myself cause I can do anything I set my mind too.
My friend Meghan (Meg’s drywall) she’s the owner of a drywall company in Owen Sound Ontario, I met her online via Instagram we met at an event in Toronto then the next thing I knew we did a job together and we’ve been good friends ever since, she a total badass drywall finisher that not only runs her company&she works with high schools in their co op program to give students both male and female an opportunity to learn a trade, works with her community etc… she’s just amazing she’s the only female drywall finisher I’ve ever looked up too!
Who are your favourite women in trade influencers or bloggers?
My friend Jamie, (@made_in_the_trade) she and I met online 4 years ago. We met at an event and been good friends ever since. She does a lot of motivational speaking about the trades at seminars and at elementary/high school events. I always found her confidence level impressive and how she’s a say it like it is type of person which I love women who represent and encourage others to join the trades. Jamie introduced me to Dianne, owner of The Dirty Seahorse, she is just amazing on every level from her dedication to finding and creating something from nothing and turning it into something special just for us ladies in the trade as I never had any women in trades to look up too but now I have an entire community of like minded women building this industry up with confidence and comfortable clothing.
General Questions
How do you get involved with your community?
I work with one of our local high schools in their co op program bringing students into the job sites to learn about different trades. I also get invited to be a guest speaker at that same high schools career class to give students insight to tools I use on the job why I use each tool, being a female business owner and teach them about taxes good sales and service taxes etc.
What are you passionate about outside of your work?
I love camping, sunsets, and making bomb fires. I really enjoy nature and swimming.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephew taking them shopping or camping. I don’t have any kids of my own so it’s fun spoiling my nieces and nephew when I’m not working!
What was your dream job as a child?
To be a criminalized lawyer, mechanical engineer, or marine biologist.
What’s one thing you can’t live without?
Coffee
What’s next for you?
I have lots of stuff in motion and there are lots of exciting trips and events I will be attending about women empowerment. All while working on the jobs.
Brand Specific
What has it been like to be a part of The Dirty Seahorse’s community?
What an adventure it’s been connected and networking with so many different trades women and working with Dianne directly as their brand ambassador.
What Dirty Seahorse product would you recommend?
I love their t-shirts and sweaters so comfy. And their overalls with the 14 pockets so it diverse to left and right handed and the coolest feature the secret pocket which is also built into their sweaters as well.
What Dirty Seahorse product would you like to try out in the future?
Im excited to try their reversible high vis jacket (black on the inside, high vis on the out side that also doubles as a vest cause you can zip off the sleeves. I seen it while I was with Dianne at skills Ontario in Toronto over the summer. Love this idea with a formal fitting jacket for us tradie ladies needing warm gear but we will also be able to wear it in the summer with the sleeves being zip offs turning it into a vest and it has secret pockets as well! lol
