Still Building America: From art school grad to sheet metal apprentice

Elizabeth Schweitzer has established herself as a jack-of-trades in Detroit’s metalworking scene.

Josh Welton: Could you explain what kind of work do you do now? What got you started in your current position?

Elizabeth Schweitzer: I am in an apprentice program for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 union. My employer, through the apprenticeship, is CASS Sheet Metal in Detroit. My focus is the Architectural Building Trades. CASS specializes in welding, fabricating and installing copper and metal roofing/architectural details, and concrete panels. If there is a historic restoration to be done in Michigan, CASS has more than likely done the work. It's a very prestigious company to work for in the business. I'm over the moon to have been chosen to work here!

I was first introduced to Local 80 through the Women Who Weld program. I was selected to participate in the six-week subsidized welding program, which I completed. Our class took a few trips to most of the local unions to learn more about what each has to offer. At the tour for Local 80, I learned that my background software skills in AutoCAD and Revit could be utilized along with soldering, welding and fabricating metal. It seemed like a great fit. So, I took the entrance exam among 157 other people. The union called back 30 applicants for interviews and, out of that 30, the union selected just 15 to begin its 2019 apprentice program. I feel honored to have made the cut.

JW: How did you decide on your career path?

ES: I did some interior design work after college at Facility Matrix Group (now Marx Moda, a Herman Miller dealer), but when I broke my leg on a Slow Roll bike ride, they fired me. It was awful. After I healed, I needed a job, so I took a position in sales at a high-end furniture store in Bloomfield Hills. It wasn't challenging for me at all, but it paid well. After a few years of that, I took a few more sales positions that I just didn't like. Sure, they paid well but it really wasn't as much as I wanted to earn, and I didn't enjoy the work. I have always been pushed into sales because of my looks and personality. But I just wasn't fulfilled.

I had recently registered my side business with the State of Michigan to create unique, modern, and one-of-a-kind fine metal jewelry. But I need to continue working during the day to make money. While re-evaluating my career, I looked back to the welding skills I had learned at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit. I really enjoyed working in metal. I thought if I could get into a field with welding and fabrication, it would go hand in hand with my business idea that I expanded to include metal studio furniture and home accessories. With my background in interior design, I felt I was really on to something.

A friend of mine told me about Women Who Weld when I shared my idea for a new career path. I looked into the program, set up an interview, and was accepted into the program. I heard that about 50 percent of welders and tradesmen will be retiring in the next 6 years or so. With that in mind, I thought this would be an excellent field to get into with the extremely high-demand for workers expected in a few more years. Since then, everything has been effortlessly falling into place for me.

JW: What a way to combine your education and developing interests! Who were your influences?

ES: Back in the day (circa 2006-2007), I saw a Tumblr post of Debra Baxter's crystal knuckle rings. That inspired me to design some jewelry of my own. I feel like she started me on my path. Soon after that, I took a welding class at CCS and loved it! If I wasn't already in my junior year of college when I took the welding class, I probably would have changed my major. CCS is far too expensive to change your major unless you're from a wealthy family. Even though I had this jewelry idea, it wasn't until after CCS that I learned how to solder and work with softer metals.

Overall, I have a lot of people who have impacted my life. Of course, my mother. She is the kindest, sweetest, most genuine, most intelligent, and hardest-working woman I have ever known. She is also the greatest mother in the universe. I am extremely grateful to have her in my life. I owe her everything that I am.

Through the Sheet Metal Workers Local 80 union's apprentice program, Schweitzer works for CASS Sheet Metal in Detroit. CASS specializes in welding, fabricating and installing copper and metal roofing/architectural details, and concrete panels.

My grandmother loved nice dresses, scarves, and jewelry. She is the one who got me hooked on fashion and jewelry/accessories. I can credit her for my good taste.

My grandfather was a welder and a self-taught mechanic. Sadly, he passed away before I ever had an interest in learning to weld. I feel that what I'm doing now is just in my blood. I have a lot of other relatives in the trades, but none of them are women.

I have some very talented and amazing friends from CCS. They create beautiful, amazing art and always inspire me to not give up on making a living off my artistic talents. Dalia Reyes is one of my closest friends and she is a very talented painter. She is an inspiration to me in all spectrums and realms. I am so grateful to have her in my life.

My friend Jakki Kerouac helped launch the Detroit Design Festival. What she's done to bring artists together and her positivity as a friend has helped me a lot on my journey.

Other women in Detroit who have inspired me are Bethany Shorb (Cyberoptix), Amy Swift (Building Hugger), and Melinda Meme Anderson (Design Core Detroit). But I owe a great deal of gratitude to Samantha Farr, the founder of Women Who Weld and her husband Corey. They believed in me and selected me to participate in their training program which has put me on the fast track to a career in the trades. Another huge artistic inspiration for me is the husband and wife team behind Detroit Hygienic Dress League. I've been following them since 2007. I absolutely love their work! I met them at their first show recently and hope to help them weld some if their sculptures in the future.

JW: What type of background, training do you have?

ES: I was taught how to oxyacetylene weld at CCS, I was taught MIG in the Women Who Weld program, and I was taught how to solder at this little jewelry school in Franklin (Fritz and Friends, which is now closed). I wish I would have had more interest in welding while my grandpa was still alive. I would have loved the bonding time in his garage learning how to weld. But I learned all my welding or soldering in a class.

JW: What is your favorite thing about what you do?

ES: I really just enjoy working with my hands. The ultimate for me as an artist is designing, creating, and bringing to life something with my hands. Right now, I'm not designing anything at work, but I am using my hands and bringing a creation to life. Also, being physical and moving around, lifting, using my body feels great! I lost 20 pounds already just from working in the trades. It's great!

JW: What is the most challenging part of your career?

Schweitzer hopes to also grow her jewelry and metal studio furniture/home accessories business, Detroit Bijoux.

ES: Biologically, I am not as big in stature or as strong as the men I work with. It's disheartening for me when there are things I need help with because of my size or my lack of upper body strength. My hands are very tiny, even for a woman. That is a big challenge in my line of work. But I plan on getting stronger and learning how to compensate for those things.

JW: Have you come up against any specific challenges as a woman?

ES: Yes, the pop-rivet guns are made to open very wide. My hands are so small that they are fully extended and open when the pop-rivet gun is fully extended and ready to be implemented. I can't even use it because of the physics. I have to search for a smaller gun. The porta-potties are also difficult as a woman. I wear a lot of layers and overalls when it's cold. It makes for a trying time! Finding work gloves small enough to fit and clothing small enough is also difficult.

JW: What's your future goal for your career?

ES: My future goal in the union is to get my "journeyworker" card and possibly work with Local 80 in different ways, like using my knowledge of Revit or AutoCAD software. I also plan on helping to change the face of women in the trades. I see recruiting and public speaking in my future. On the side, I also plan on growing and expanding my jewelry and metal studio furniture/home accessories business, Detroit Bijoux. I see big things happening with my business.

JW: What advice would you give your peers if they wanted to find a similar path? Not even just specifically doing exactly what you do but in general?

ES: If you're a woman and you're interested in the trades for any reason, don't let the fact that you are a woman stop you. Don't let anyone tell you that you're not strong enough or big enough. Believe in yourself and do not let anyone stop you from living your life the way you want to see it. The trades are looking for diversity and they want more women to join the industry. It's a great career full of variety and a good way to earn a living. Don't be afraid to blaze your own trail. That's exactly what I'm doing.

Read more from the Still Building America series.

Slide Show | 5 Images