Kayla Phillips has only been with Waste Pro for a few months, but she is already making an impact asa welder at the Sanford Division. Kayla is a modern-day Rosie the Riveter, who became the face of thousands of American women who took over working defense-industry jobs so that men could fight in World War II. Like many of the Women ofWaste Pro, Kayla is doing a job that historically is mostly done by men. Welding is the metal fabrication process whereby two or more parts are fused togetherthrough heat, pressure or both forming a solid seam as the parts cool. Out of the 4400 employees within the Waste Pro family, 33 are welders, and Kayla is the only female.
Kayla grew up surrounded by her brothers and wasalways looking to tag along on their boy scout adventures. She credits her Boy Scout Master father for fostering her love for all things outdoors. She has always enjoyed working with her hands, both in previous welding jobs, as a landscaper, and construction worker. “I got into welding by transitioning from a previous job in HVAC. I knew early on that I would never work atraditional desk job, and when I first took up the torch, that’s when I found my passion. The fact that I can weld every day is a dream come true.”
It took 18 months to get certified and being the only female in her welding class, Kayla felt quite accomplished. While researching the next step in her welding career, Kayla was looking for something more than a job. Shewanted a career that offered stability, allowed her to do welding full-time, and that put safety first. That is what sparked her interest in joining the Waste Pro family. She jumped at the opportunity to apply for the welding position in Sanford and the rest is history.
“Her drive and work ethic are what comes across most. Clearly, she has a passion for welding, and I look forward to watching her continue to grow within her field. We are lucky to have her,” shares Eric Saxton DivisionManager in Sanford, Florida.
Kayla’s day-to-day projects involve everything from repairing front-load dumpsters, fixing bent or missing dog ears on metal containers, and repairing any holes or areas where containers have rust issues. She has also assisted with compactor installations.
Kayla is proud to be a part of the Waste Pro family, having seen firsthand their care and commitment to each other. When she was having car trouble, her Waste Pro colleagues jumped in to help. “This is a family, I am morethan just a worker, I feel valued and that I contribute to the team.”