Airport’s PIT2Work Program Launches Careers in Trades

Carrie Francis felt nervous as she used a welding torch for the first time, but she needn’t have worried.

“She picked up right away on everything I was giving her,” said Eddie Green, Francis’ instructor at Steamfitters Technology Center Local 449. “Within five to six minutes of training, she excelled, and I was very impressed.”

Francis was grateful for the praise.

“I don’t think anyone has told me I’m a natural at anything, especially something like this,” she said. But Green was bullish on her future as a welder.

“If she can learn this way with just a few demos here and there, what is she going to be able to do in 18 weeks?” he said.

Francis is a participant in PIT2Work, a five-week pre-apprenticeship training program at Pittsburgh International Airport. She signed up because she’s looking for a new career.

“I had been struggling with my mental health… Through talking with my therapist, I realized that I was not happy with my career,” Francis said.

She stared working with a career counselor, met Chaquita Barnett – a PIT2Work instructor known as Miss Chaquita to participants – and applied for the program. When she got the call that she had been accepted, it was an emotional moment.

“I’m actually doing this. This isn’t just an idea that I had,” she said.

 

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