Office of Civil Rights News
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"Every day is different"
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Women in Construction Week takes place the first week in March every year. To celebrate this week, we are highlighting some of the women who are participating in MnDOT's on-the-job training program. Today, we spotlight Lolla Gangl, an apprentice equipment operator.
Lolla Gangl grew up in Chisholm, Minnesota, “The Heart of the Iron Range.” Her father worked in mining and encouraged her to follow his line of work. But that didn’t appeal to Gangl. By the time she was in high school, she knew she wanted to pursue a trade and started exploring options. She did not have a guide to help her research. Gangl narrowed her search to the construction field, where she found her focus.
“I just wanted to really go after the whole construction thing,” Gangl said. “Although my parents were supportive, I did this all on my own.”
She got a job at Vic’s, a heavy haul shop in Hibbing, and there she discovered a special interest in cranes. To get crane experience, Gangl was told, she could go the oil refinery in Rosemount, where Vic’s is a subcontractor. But they didn’t have any openings there at the time. Gangl was told to keep calling, so she did. Her perseverance paid off. Vic’s sent Gangl to Rosemount where she became a crane oiler on a turnaround assignment. After that, she joined Lunda Construction through MnDOT’s on-the-job training program.
Each state has an OJT program, under the umbrella of the Federal Department of Transportation. On-the-job training programs are required by federal law established in 1968 to meet the need for skilled workers in the quickly growing highway construction industry.
“The OJT program encourages contractors to recruit and hire people they might otherwise not consider,” Chris Clarke, coordinator of MnDOT’s on-the-job training program, said.
Historically, women faced barriers to employment in highway construction work. The number of women workers is increasing. In recent years, Gangl would likely have been the only woman operator on a project. Today, she says, she works with four or five women operators on site. In 2024, nearly half of MnDOT’s 244 on-the-job trainees were women.
“It’s nice to see that these women OJT trainees are being retained, not just hired, but retained year to year as they progress through their apprentice programs," Clarke said.
"I’m the paper pusher,” Clarke said with a laugh. “I credit the program’s success to the contractors who, seriously and with a level of care, want to reach the OJT program goals for hiring women, people of color and disadvantaged people. I give credit to the OJT trainees themselves for trying something they haven’t been a part of, traditionally. Road construction is a challenging industry, and hard work.”
As an OJT trainee, Gangl is a crane oiler, learning crane operation. Most of her work has been on the Highway 610 project at I94. Whenever there is time between setting things up, the certified crane operator gives Gangl time in the seat. He teaches Gangl how to maneuver the crane for different tasks and supervises while she tries her hand at them.
“It’s pretty cool,” Gangl said.
Gangl is beginning her second apprentice year and working toward crane operator certifications with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49. A typical day begins with getting on site early. Gangl starts the equipment, including the crane, forklift, anything needed for the day. Then there is a pre-work meeting and a safety review. After that, every day is different.
“That is what I really enjoy,” Gangl said, “That every day is different.”
More information
For more information please visit www.mndot.gov/civilrights/ojt-program.html
Photo: Lolla Gangl, equipment operator. Photo provided by Lolla Gangl.
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