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Success Stories
King County provides funding to Port Jobs. In turn, Port Jobs has contracted with the Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Employment for Women (ANEW), one of the oldest pre-apprenticeship programs serving women in the nation, to operate the Apprenticeship Opportunities Project (AOP). This funding provides support services to individuals needing assistance to enter the construction trades industry. Below are stories of individuals that have received King County funding through AOP and the impact of this investment.
Leilanna B. is a prime success story of pre-apprenticeship training and King County's Priority Hire program. Leilanna is a multi-racial woman from Seattle, WA (98144). She lives in a King County Priority Hire Zip Code. As a result, she has worked on the King County Regional Landfill project in early 2018. Leilanna found out about ANEW from a former co-worker who went through the pre-apprenticeship training program. Prior to becoming an apprentice, she was working dead end jobs in customer service and was a single mother of two children barely surviving on minimum wage. Through pre-apprenticeship training and AOP support services, she was able to re-instate her driver’s license and create a successful career pathway ever since. In March 2014, after graduating from pre-apprenticeship training, she started out as a laborer apprentice. In July 2015, she transferred to the Operators apprenticeship program and is in her last year of her apprenticeship. She is currently earning $38.28 per hour as a 95% apprentice.
Jennifer M. is an Asian woman from Burien, WA (98168) who enrolled in ANEW after leaving her job in the medical field. She lives in a King County Priority Hire Zip Code. She was the sole provider for her family and needed a job that paid better wages and offered benefits. She had always enjoyed working with her hands, so she decided to pursue a career in the skilled trades. She enrolled in ANEW’s pre-apprenticeship program and was able to make it through training because of AOP support services. She was able to get gas support, testing support for apprenticeship applications, tools and boots. Jennifer was a standout applicant and was hired immediately. She started out as a plumber’s helper training for 6 months earning $17 an hour. She was accepted into the Residential Plumber apprenticeship in August 2017. She is currently working for SJS Mechanical earning $20.41 per hour.
Monique S. is a multi-racial woman from Shoreline, WA (98133) who was incarcerated for four years before enrolling in ANEW. She lives in a King County Priority Hire Zip Code. She lacked a high school diploma when she went to ANEW/AOP for assistance as a high school diploma or GED is a requirement for most apprenticeship programs. She enrolled in ANEW’s pre-apprenticeship training program and received AOP support services to take the exams needed to earn her GED. With this accomplishment, she applied to the Seattle Pipe Trades apprenticeship. After passing her math exam, doing well on her interview and passing the hands-on testing, Monique began working as a plumber’s helper trainee earning $21.67 per hour in January 2017 and became a plumber apprentice with the Seattle Area Pipe Trades. She is currently working for Hermanson Company LLP earning $26 per hour. She is extremely happy as she’s able to support herself financially.
Tanisha C. is an African American woman from Kent, WA (98030) who enrolled in ANEW with an interest in pursuing a career as an electrician. She had worked multiple jobs and attended a medical training program but knew it wasn’t the right fit for her. She has also worked as a Stockman with IBEW 46 to gain hands on skills while waiting for her apprenticeship interview and testing. Her employer was impressed and gave her an intent letter to hire once she became an apprentice. Tanisha succeeded in being accepted as an Inside Wire electrician’s apprentice in September 2017 earning $19.02 per hour. She is currently working for Fisk Electric earning $20.04 per hour. AOP helped her with support services, interview preparation, and being prepared to transition to the trades.
Keriann D. is a Caucasian woman from Issaquah, WA (98027) who had a background in advertising, but knew she wanted a career change. She was interested in the building and construction trades and knew that work was in demand. She graduated from ANEW’s pre-apprenticeship/Trades Rotation program and explored which trade was the right fit for her. She considered the Construction Safety Apprenticeship, but didn’t feel it was the right fit. She then participated in a 3-week carpenter’s pre-apprenticeship pilot program, which ANEW was part of. She completed the program and received direct entry into the carpenter’s apprenticeship in October 2017. Her first job was on the Sound Transit Bellevue Rail project. She is currently working for general contractor making $25.15 per hour. AOP support services helped Keriann to remove barriers for entering the apprenticeship pipeline, including career navigation and assistance with tools and work gear. AOP also assisted Keriann with her initiation fees that allowed her to begin her career in the trades and be ready for dispatch.