Beth Barton: Never Give Up
Date Posted: December 1, 2016
Posted In: People, Workforce,
From the Labor Tribune: The road to becoming a carpenter wasn’t an easy one for Beth Barton. In her early years, many job searches resulted in being laughed at, hung up on and told to go away because she was a woman.
But she persevered, and today she’s a superintendent at Tarlton Corporation. As president of Missouri Women in Trades, the Carpenters Local 1596 member uses her 13 years of experience as a woman in the industry to mentor other women in the trades and those considering joining.
She is also passionate about promoting the construction industry as a career choice for girls and young women and has spearheaded several Girl Scout badge days that teach girls construction skills and help build confidence. She is also an instructor for middle school girls at the Ranken Tools for Success construction camp.
“The trades are rewarding careers for women, and the need for workers is increasing,” Barton said. “While there continues to be barriers and obstacles facing women in the industry, there are also more opportunities for us than ever before and with persistence and the help of a female mentor, women can succeed.”
Before deciding to become a carpenter, Barton was attending St. Charles Community College in pursuit of a degree in nursing. An aptitude test in high school pointed her toward the field, and all her relatives were employed in the healthcare industry working as pharmacists and doctors.
“I was two years into the nursing program and wasn’t really loving it,” Barton said. “I was also a single, young mother who had just realized my son’s dad was not going to be a reliable co-parent. That’s when I became aware that I had to be independent and care for my son entirely.”
Barton had some help from her family, but she knew she couldn’t continue working overnights as a CNA making $9 an hour, going to school and caring for her son. Between house and truck payments, she could barely make ends meet, which eliminated daycare as an option.