Women In Mfg Skilled Trades (WIMST)

Welcome to our resource page for women in the manufacturing skilled trades - and for companies interested in hiring more women into the trades.

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EVENTS

Check out our calendar for upcoming events.

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Annual Symposia

2026 Symposium (Feb 20 - Ohlone College, Fremont)

• Agenda
• Presentation Slides

AFTER EVENT

• Upload audio recordings here (give it the session name if possible)
• Feedback survey

2025 Symposium (Feb 28 - Chabot College)

• Registration (if you haven't already registered)
• Agenda / Map
• Implicit Association Test (Gender Careeer IAT)
• Breakout Session Input​
• PRESENTATIONS
  • General Session (Mark Martin)
  • Implicit Bias (Analexis Gaude) - summary slides only
  • AI (Angel Fuentes)
• Symposium Feedback Survey
• WiMST Mentorship SIGN-UP
• Manufacturing Volunteers Ambassador Program SIGN-UP

2024 Symposium (Feb 23 - Ohlone College)

• ​Agenda
• Breakout Session Input
• Symposium Feedback Survey​
• ​Keynote Speaker (Ariane Hegewisch) presentation
• "Advancing Women in Manufacturing" Research Report
• General Event (Mark Martin) presentation

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2020 Symposium (Feb 21 - Chabot College)

• Held a one-day conference in Hayward to discuss how to recruit more women into the mfg skilled trades.
  • Agenda

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Tours

2024 Mfg Tour (Nov)

• Lawrence Livermore National Lab 

2024 Mfg Tour (Aug)

• Kairos Power in Alameda

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RESOURCES

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WiMST Newsletter Sign-Up
If you haven't already, be sure and sign up for our WIMST Newsletter (and the Jobs Newsletter) to get updates on manufacturing topics. 

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WiMST Mentorship Sign-Up
We're looking for women in the mfg skilled trades who would like to act as mentors, and for those who would liked to be mentored. If interested, please fill out the form.

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Skilled Trades Organizations for Women / Girls

• Girls Garage (a nonprofit design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18)

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WOMEN'S PPE & WORKWEAR
​Women can sometimes find it hard to find welding gear and general work clothes that fit properly and are comfortable. Below are some suggested suppliers of women's workwear (thanks to Liisa - faculty at Chabot's welding program & others)

Welding Gear
Brands that produce quality women's welding gear include Lincoln, Miller, Black Stallion (AngelFire jackets), and Black Label Welding Apparel.

• Airgas (Airgas also provides a student discount)
• Arc Zone 
• Charm & Hammer (100% women-owned)
• Weld Fabulous 
• Welding Mart 

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General Workwear

• Ariat (women-owned - & they filmed a campaign at Laney!)
• Carhartt 
• Covergalls (woman-founded)
• Dickies 
• Dovetail (women-owned)  
• Duluth Trading
• Eve Workwear  (women-owned)
• Gamine​
• Red Ants Pants
• Truewerk

Boots

• Red Wing
• ​Xena

If you have suggestions for other websites or other types of gear, please let me know (click on the Contact link).