During Women’s History Month, Inside Towers will check in with women throughout the industry who are both “inside the the fence” and in the corporate world of wireless infrastructure.
Kathy Gill, founder and CEO of Tower Safety in Phoenix is well aware of the level of acceptance for women in the tower climbing community. Gill trains men and women in safety and climbing skills on a regular basis, making them ready for the rigors of the tower climbing world. She feels she is uniquely qualified to give women trainees a good perspective on what to expect in a male-dominated industry that often takes on a “male machismo” persona when it comes to climbers.
Gill believes that as more women have become involved in the industry, the level of acceptance has gone up and a woman appearing on site is no longer the oddity it used to be. ”I believe there has been improvement,” Gill said. “I see more openness to hiring females than 12 years ago.” She said she has seen cases of more husbands and wives teaming up, traveling together, and making the best out of on-the-road situations over the past decade.
Although the slowdown in build outs has affected everyone, it hasn’t specifically targeted women or minorities. “It’s not about race or sex” Gill said. “rather, it’s a national tower concern for everyone involved within the cell tower industry.”
Gill said she appreciates having women in her Tower Safety classes as they offer unique perspectives and often have clever techniques for using equipment while climbing. But, in the end, she’s found that it’s not about age or the sex but rather the climbing mindset that makes a difference. “I’ve had students of all ages excel,” she said.
What are the biggest challenges women face working on-site? “Hah, bathrooms,” Gill exclaimed. “Bathrooms are essential, even for men, but the challenge lies in the fact that they do not always exist in the field.” Sparing the details, Gill said that area has seen some improvement over the years and various new options have been made available to accommodate women in the field.
Just recently, a contractor hired one of her students, his first female climber, and was pleased with his decision. “Everyone loves her on their site,” Gill said.
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