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Still Building America—Trisha Falconē rebuilds her life through welding

Pivotal life moments can define who we are. Trisha Falconē gathered up the broken pieces of her life after experiencing great personal loss and turned them into a career as a welder and fabricator. Here’s how she did it.

JW: What kind of work do you do? What got you started?

TF: I am a TIG welder and fabricator in one of the industry’s leading vacuum technology companies. I started here as a chemical technician. I found the parts I cleaned intriguing, and all I could wonder is how they worked and what purpose they served.

JW: How did you make the career jump from chemical tech to welder/fabricator?

TF: The company I worked for had gone through some heavy downsizing, and I was laid off. It was a very pivotal point in my life, because in the beginning of the year, my son had passed away. I can say I had a few years where I was completely down on myself. I felt lost. Everything I had loved and had passion for in my life was completely gone.

I knew the only way to get back to where I wanted to be was to pick my life up, get my diploma, and go to college. Most of my welder training was done at College of The Siskiyous in Weed, Calif. The real skill development and defined abilities with TIG welding took place on the job.

JW: How did you know that welding was the path for you?

TF: I knew welding was it for me because I wanted to feel some sort of order and control in my life. With my newfound passion, I fabricated the remaining pieces of my life together with a cutting wheel, a TIG torch, and a die grinder to smooth out all of the rough edges where pieces could never be again. I found a way to create structure with a broken frame and missing pieces, and with a smile on my face. I can say, so far, that I've passed that weld test.

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

TF: I graduated from College of The Siskiyous with my associate degree in science and welding technology and an array of certificates of completion. My real training in my particular field started here at work (and I still learn new things every single day) alongside my boss, Joaquin, who was the lead welder and now a manufacturing supervisor.

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

TF: The most challenging part about welding and fabricating in the vacuum technology industry is the very little tolerance you have to work with, especially welding with the manifolds. We are talking 20 or 30 thousandths of an inch. That's when you really begin to grasp weld manipulation to make sure you stop and start your weld to where your part doesn't warp out of tolerance.

JW: What is your favorite part of the job?

TF: My favorite part of my job, aside from the unwavering loyalty of the company and its employees, is to look at a finished product and know the majority of what I created will be around and functioning long after I'm gone.

JW: What's your future career goal?

TF: My future goal is to work at Harley-Davidson, welding up custom motorcycles. This company defines the loud and powerful American Dream. We are talking about an elite brand that's been around since 1903. My dad owned one, my family and friends all have owned them and still do. To be able to build something that has such a high impact and great family meaning would be the biggest honor to my name and legacy.

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?

TF: First and foremost, take constructive criticism from the people in the field who are above you in talent and seniority. Keep your head down when you’re at work and your ears open when learning. Know that the machines you’re working with are just that. Don't fear the equipment, but learn to use it efficiently, correctly, and safely. Machines won't hesitate to do their job if they are correctly maintained; one wrong move could cost you serious injuries, or worse. Last, keep your hair up, ladies (and gents if it pertains)!

All images courtesy of Trisha Falconē.

About the Author
Brown Dog Welding

Josh Welton

Owner, Brown Dog Welding

(586) 258-8255