Liz first discovered she enjoyed making and creating in 2012 when she was able to fit 4 credits of ceramics into her senior of college. For one short year following getting her bachelor’s degree, Liz entered her first male-dominated workplace, law enforcement. It was clear from the beginning this career field was not a good fit, and she quickly abandoned it.
After joining the Air National Guard in 2013 and being assigned the night shift, she discovered a makerspace on Wright-Patterson AFB that included a huge wood shop. Her experience as a hobbyist woodworker solidified Liz wanting to create things for a living.
After being able to return to civilian life, she enrolled at Washington State Community College to earn an associate’s degree in welding. While earning this degree, she took a 3-credit class in machining. Part of this class included a tour of a local business, Micro Machine Works, Inc.
Upon graduating in 2018, Liz decided she wanted to again broaden her skills as a CNC machinist and applied to work at Micro Machine. After some convincing, Micro Machine hired Liz as their first female machinist apprentice in their 29 years of business.
Liz has since completed a 3-year apprenticeship through RCBI and another associate’s degree in CNC machining. She is now a journeyman CNC machinist with 4 years’ experience and the main welder for Micro Machine Works. She is passionate about encouraging other women to challenge the norm in male-dominated fields.
She has previously taught a Women’s Welding class at the Athens Makerspace in addition to other welding classes there. Beginning next semester, she will be breaking into teaching as adjunct faculty at WSCC teaching welding and CNC machining. Liz is featured as a role model for the JASON Learning STEM curriculum.
When not making things, Liz maintains a small garden with her wife, Mariah, and tries to keep their 4 cats out of trouble.