Hardworking. Smart. Determined. These are just a few words that describe Kimberly Bodding, an energetic carpenter apprentice in Fairbanks. Kimberly always knew she wanted a hands-on career, a job where she would feel satisfied by the measure of her work at the end of the day.

“I fall asleep in front of a computer,” she says. “I need to be active to be engaged.”

For years, commercial fishing fit the bill as she worked side by side with her father on his boat. But she developed an allergy to the medication for seasickness and was forced to look at other career options. Not one to sit still for long, she volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and traveled to Thailand where she helped build three houses. Back home, she saw Alaska Works Partnership advertisement for the Woman’s Affair show and decided to check it out.

Bodding now credits AWP’s Women in the Trades five-week Construction Apprentice Preparation course with setting her on the right career path as a carpenter.

“They were a lot of help,” she says. “In my thinking, I would have chosen a different construction career, one I wouldn’t have been as happy with.”

For each of five weeks Bodding had the opportunity to explore a different construction trade: Carpentry, Operators, Electricians. Pipefitting, and Sheetmetal work. During the week of that her class explored the carpentry trade, Bodding knew she had come full circle to the right career field. After all, she had already helped build three homes and was now living in a cabin she’d built herself. “I always fancied building something,” she says. Carpentry seemed a perfect fit.

The next step was to apply for an apprenticeship with the Carpenters union.

“Alaska Works prepared me to become an attractive applicant,” Bodding says. Based on her strong application, she was accepted into the Northern Carpenters Local 1243 Apprenticeship program. AWP then helped cover Bodding’s initial tuition fees, offered food cards and fuel, and gave Bodding a clothing voucher for rugged work clothes and steel-toed boots.

As part of the apprenticeship, Bodding is currently employed by Alcan General Contractors. Bodding says she works with a great team and has the opportunity to learn a variety of skills. To date, she has gained experience installing cabinets, acoustical ceilings, doors, windows and siding.

“I’ve always been somewhat of a driven person,” Bodding says. With a little help from Alaska Works Partnership Women in the Trades program, she is now in the driver’s seat of a fast-moving career.

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