Member Spotlight: Olivia Gillman

Olivia Gillman (Local 1847 – St. Paul, MN) did not grow up planning to become a pile driver, but once she found the work, she knew she had found her place. With more than five years with the union, Olivia has earned a reputation as a skilled and hardworking tradeswoman. She is known in the field for her drive to keep learning and her ambition to push herself further. 

Before entering the trades, Olivia was searching for a career that would challenge her both physically and mentally. She explored the college path but was ultimately drawn to commercial diving, captivated by underwater welding and the idea of never being confined to a desk. 

After high school, she moved to San Diego, CA to attend commercial diving school, making her dream a reality. Despite starting with limited construction experience, Olivia had already built a strong foundation learning how to weld in high school and working alongside her dad at his company as a fabricator. After graduating from diving school, she returned to Minnesota and became a pile driver out of Local 1847.

Hired by Veit Construction, Olivia started her apprenticeship with the Carpenters Union. She consistently went above and beyond in learning both in the classroom and in the field, and is a regular face at the training center earning additional certifications and continuing her education.

One of her instructors with the Carpenter Training Institute, Dante Vitullo, describes her as a member every contractor wants on their crew. “She is such a coveted member. Everybody wants to work with her,” he said. “Olivia is a great member and a great person to be around.” For Olivia, no two days on the job look the same. Her work ranges from welding and torching to concrete work, installing and removing piling, lagging, and fabricating. Known for her welding skills, she often takes on “hot work” roles, with union-earned certifications opening the door to technically demanding and high-profile projects. 

What Olivia enjoys most about the job is the people. Working alongside crews made up of diverse tradespeople has given her a deep appreciation for the camaraderie found in the union. She is equally drawn to the unexpected moments on the job, from uncovering historical artifacts buried deep below the surface to learning what different layers of the earth reveal as projects progress. 

One project stands out as a defining moment in Olivia’s career. While working on a job that required driving approximately 1,800 round piles, she was responsible for welding pile extensions so they could be driven deeper into the ground. Every weld required both visual and ultrasound testing, and Olivia was the only welder on the job site to pass every test without a single failure, an achievement that underscored her skill and dedication. 

As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Olivia has led with confidence, using every challenge as an opportunity to grow. With each new crew and project, she has proven that women bring valuable perspectives to the work, see problems differently, fill gaps within a team, and continue to raise the bar through skill and professionalism. 

Olivia encourages young women interested in the trades to show up hungry and ready to learn. Union work not only offers good wages and benefits, but pride, purpose, and the chance to build something that lasts for generations.