August 26, 2018, marked the 98th anniversary of women in the United States winning the right to vote. And although the leadership at MasTec Network Solutions embraces diversity and equality in the workplace, many people still struggle with the concept of women doing tough, grueling, and challenging work.
I spoke with three of our female tower technicians to find out what drew them to our male-dominated industry and what inspires them to climb.
Adria Brunn is a Tower Technician I who works out of the East Syracuse, NY region.
“For eleven years I worked in a factory conducting electrical testing,” Adria said. After working and going to school full time to earn an electrical engineering technology degree, she knew she needed something more challenging. She was drawn to tower climbing.
“I love being outside, I love the hard work, the exertion of having to climb a 300 foot tower. I wanted to be defying the odds – doing a guy’s job just to prove that I could.
When asked about working with all-male team members,” she said. “They respect me. They don’t coddle me and it’s a great feeling to work beside these guys who have been doing it for years. Look up the statistics online and the female applicants are few and far between, and I take a lot of pride in that.”
Adria had options to work for other companies, but other companies are not as open and accepting of diversity. MasTec never questioned her strength or her determination to climb, and her teammates have never doubted her ability to hold her own, even at hundreds of feet off the ground.
“This job doesn’t make you muscular, but it will make you strong. It’s the hardest job I’ve ever loved,” Adria said.
Britney Leblanc was shopping for boots when a manager found her. Boots with no laces that are easy to climb in, she told the store clerk. A crew manager overheard her and asked what kind of climbing she did. Britney was a certified climber and bucket operator, cutting tree limbs for a living. That crew manager was willing to hire a green hand and after training, she was on a tower.
“It came naturally to me. I don’t want to be on a laptop or a phone all day.” Britney is now a Tower Technician III working with “one of the best troubleshooters in all of Louisiana, on a tiger team alarm-clearing. That’s my bread and butter.”
When asked why she works for MasTec, Britney said she prefers a corporate company because it’s a guaranteed job. “At the end of the year and beginning of the year, I’m going to be busy. I’m going to get at least 40 hours a week.” She also likes that MasTec has more training available at every level. When asked about working in a male-dominated industry, Britney said, “I’ve been working in a man’s world my whole life. I enjoy doing a better job than the guys. I’m 110, 5′ nuthin’ and here I am.”
Chelcie Botzan, a Tower Tech I in the Baltimore and Washington market, has climbed for as long as she can remember. As a volunteer firefighter and an outdoor sports enthusiast, she has never had a fear of heights. “The climbing is my favorite part. The traveling is pretty great too. Going to a different town every day, you meet a lot of different people. You get to see a different part of the world every day.”
When asked how it feels to be working in a male-dominated industry, Chelcie said, “It feels really freaking good. Just because I’m a female doesn’t mean I can’t do what you can. It’s a good feeling to show that woman can do what men can do.”
Here at MasTec, Chelcie is glad to have a team that challenges her to do better every day. “They are pretty understanding and willing to teach me. If there is something I haven’t done yet, they push me to find a way to do it. They root me on.”
I see women like Adria, Britney, and Chelcie in the gym every day. They are lifting weights, taking MMA classes, rock climbing, hiking, running marathons, kayaking, and more.
If you or someone you know, male or female, enjoys working outside, is looking for a challenge or just a change of pace, check out the technician and foremen positions at: mnscareers.mastec.com. We are building a Tech-Centric culture and would love to have you as part of our diverse, dynamic, and driven team.
By Tiffany Keller, Sr. Marketing and Communications Manager at MasTec Network Solutions
September 25, 2018
