Toledo Edison Supports Jill of All Trades Event
Supervisor Shantiel Jones, Regional Operations, Meter Services, helped represent Toledo Edison and promote careers in energy at this year’s Jill of All Trades career fair held at Owens Community College.
November 16, 2024
| What is Jill of All Trades?
Originating in Canada, Jill of All Trades was created in 2014 to provide hands-on experiences to young women in grades 9-12 and introduce them to the possibilities of a career in skilled trades. Owens Community College is the only institution in the United States that currently hosts an annual Jill of All Trades career fair. For more information, visit owens.edu/jillofalltrades*. *By clicking the links in this article, you are entering websites maintained by outside parties, which are entirely responsible for the sites’ content. |
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Though females make up nearly half the American workforce, U.S. Labor statistics show only four percent of women hold jobs in skilled labor trades.
The trades are defined as occupations that require workers to have specialized training and technical expertise to perform hands-on skills. Trades professions include fields such as welding, pipefitting, plumbing, construction and electrical work, to name a few.
To help young women in grades 9-12 explore potential career opportunities in the skilled labor trades, Toledo Edison employees recently participated in a Jill of All Trades career fair held at Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio. FirstEnergy was also an event sponsor.
Participating female students were split into 12 groups, with each attending three different career workshops exploring topics that included robotics, welding, machining, automotive repair, crane-rigging, diesel technology – and electrical-focused careers in energy.
Toledo Edison’s workshop included a demonstration of our Live Wire Safety Trailer, moderated by Larry Brink, Engineer IV, with safety scenarios enacted and performed by Ray Tilman, Senior Lineworker, and Patric Gase, Lineworker A.
The workshop session not only informed the young women about careers in energy, including line work, but also highlighted several common, potentially dangerous scenarios for them to be aware of involving downed wires and electrical hazards. Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions of our employees and visit FirstEnergy’s event tables offering brochures and handouts with valuable career information.