Workforce Spotlight: Veronica Stark

Veronica Stark has always been good at crafting things with her hands. Before deciding to make the switch to a career in the construction industry, she worked in theater as a costume designer.

Now, Veronica is an apprentice electrician working on the historic Obama Presidential Center project where she’s putting her Chicago Women in Trades training to use, advancing her skills and helping construct one of Chicago’s greatest landmarks.

Lakeside Alliance spoke with Veronica about how she chose her trade, her experience as a woman in construction and more. Read on!

How did you get started in construction?

I spent the last ten years working in theater as a costume designer. I have always been good at crafting things with my hands. When I was looking for a career change that could provide me with more stability, I thought of construction because it’s not that different from what I used to do — the material is different, but I am still taking 2D and 3D ideas and making them come to life. I went through the Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT) program and they helped me get an apprenticeship.

What drew you to the electrician trade?

Through CWIT, I had the chance to speak with a lot of different local tradespeople and learn about the kind of work they do. I liked that electrical work applies to many aspects of owning a home and being able to do projects around your house. As an electrician, you also learn a lot of skills that apply to other trades. For example, the pipework and other work we do to secure everything is kind of like carpentry. It just felt like I would develop such a broad knowledge base by becoming an electrician.

What does it mean to you to be a part of this project?

I’m looking forward to coming back here and seeing the work that I did, plus the feeling of knowing that all of the lights in the building function because of what I accomplished.

What has been your experience as a woman in construction?

I am not only a woman, I am also on the smaller side. Because of that, I sometimes worry about needing to prove that I am physically capable of doing the same work as somebody who might be twice my size. But the people I work with directly have never made it seem like I am inadequate, so I just try to be like any other apprentice and focus on learning everything I can. As a woman in construction, it feels good that I was able to work on this project and have a lasting impact on the Center.

What do you enjoy most about the work that you do?

I enjoy learning new things every day. The journeyman I work with is always teaching me new tricks on how to fix things or be more efficient.

What advice would you give someone else starting a career in construction or the trades?

If you’re thinking about it, go for it as soon as possible. The earlier you start, the better your pension can be. And once you enter the trade, take time to listen to all of the advice people have for you!