By SHERI GASSAWAY
Correspondent
Renee Renn, a Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 journeywoman, has joined Missouri Women in Trades (MOWIT) as its first part-time administrative consultant.
In her new position, Renn will help with recruitment and retention efforts and track outcomes for the non-profit organization, which is dedicated to expanding opportunities for women to enter and succeed in apprenticeships and careers in the St. Louis-area building and construction trades.
“I’m excited to take on the position because I have a passion for helping others and put a lot of heart into what I do,” Renn said. “I’m looking forward to attending career fairs and talking to others about how the building trades can change lives and carrying on MOWIT’s momentum.”
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE
Renn knows firsthand how an organization like MOWIT can help women considering the building trades. She connected with the group Oregon Tradeswomen after attending college in the state for engineering.
The non-profit tradeswomen group offered an eight-week pre-apprenticeship program, which was similar to the Building Union Diversity (BUD) program in St. Louis. During that time, Renn was introduced to a variety of union trades, visited their training centers and learned about the work each trade entailed.
CAREER AS A SHEET METAL WORKER
From there, she was able to nail down the career that most closely aligned with what she had studied in college: sheet metal working. She began as an apprentice at a Portland Sheet Metal Workers union. Two years later, she moved to St. Louis and joined Sheet Metal Workers Local 36.
Soon afterward, she joined MOWIT and began attending meetings. Later, she served on the MOWIT board, helping to plan the organization’s inaugural Blue Collar-Black Tie Tradeswomen Awards Gala and other successful events.
‘FOUND MY PEOPLE’
“I found my people when I stumbled across Missouri Women in Trades and started attending their meetings at MoKaBe’s Coffee House,” Renn said. “Now it’s my turn to give back and offer other women my support.”
Renn is an active union member, serving as Conductor at her union’s meetings, and she has also taught part-time courses at the Local 36 Training Center. She is currently employed at Integrated Facility Service in Fenton, but is on medical leave following a shoulder surgery.
MOWIT
For more information on MOWIT, visit mowit.org or follow them on Facebook.
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