Local 83’s Jess Mendenhall
The MOST Project Management course was developed in 2003, with the first class held in 2004, and nearly all the participants have been men. Over the past 20 years, Jess Mendenhall of Local 83 (Kansas City, Missouri) is only the second woman to take the course since its inception.
Gerry Klimo, a retired member out of L-154 (Pittsburgh) who teaches the MOST Project Management course, was impressed with Mendenhall.
“I saw in her a very strong desire to progress and be great as a Boilermaker. It was evident watching her in the group. She’s outgoing and knowledgeable,” he said. “I’ve taught 30 or more of the classes. Sometimes there are people who really stand out, and to be a female in a male world personifies her as a strong person.”
Mendenhall’s journey into the Boilermakers began when her eyes popped at the cost of college.
“When I was 18, I did a semester in college. Then I got the bill for the next semester,” Mendenhall recalled. “I told my parents I’d join the Navy instead, but my dad suggested I try [the Boilermakers], so I did—and I’ve never looked back.”
In 2012, Mendenhall indentured into Local 83.
“I didn’t know anything,” she admitted. “I’m thankful and grateful I was taken under a couple of wings, and they showed me the ropes. I’ve never struggled with any brothers.”
One of her most memorable jobs was an emergency rebuild after an explosion in Toledo, Ohio.
“It was a complete rebuild on the fly—no planning,” she said. “It took about a month to six weeks to get it online. We rebuilt a fin fan at a refinery. I was over the towers. When the explosion happened, the I-beams were damaged, and we had to rebuild them. Normally, something like this takes six months to plan, but we had no plan. We were there on Christmas.”
She joined Local 92 (Los Angeles) briefly, working in California for a few years before returning to the Midwest and Local 83. In California, she rose to become a foreman, leading teams of up to 20 men.
Mendenhall took the Project Management course to further her education and expand her knowledge.
“What we’re learning in the course pertains to our line of work, but college is more general.”
She’s also a Certified Associate Welding Inspector, a credential that allows her to inspect welds and perform quality assurance in the welding industry. In addition, she’s studying business management and is close to completing her associates degree, with an end goal of earning a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
“I’m able to pay for school in cash and do something I love,” she said. “I’m not in a losing situation whatsoever.”
Mendenhall has primarily worked in refineries, but she’s also worked as a project coordinator for a subcontractor and the opportunity to be an instructor at the L-83 hall. She credits L-83 for being very supportive of women in the trade.
Over the past three years, she has received strong support from IVP-GL Dan Sulivan; Tom Burgess, apprenticeship instructor at Local 83; Kayla Vander Molen at Local 146 (Edmonton, Alberta), pre-apprenticeship instructor and many brothers and sisters she has met locally and across the country. However, she acknowledges that challenges she’s faced have required perseverance.
Her biggest struggle has been the lack of career progression and access to training opportunities.
“While I’m passionate about this work, I believe mentorship for women should be a greater priority,” Mendenhall said. “Too often, my inquiries about educational opportunities go unanswered or are met with dismissal, while promised opportunities either never materialized or went to someone’s friend or relative.”
She takes pride in seeing others succeed but finds it frustrating when advancement is based on connections rather than experience or commitment.
“It’s even more disheartening when those who do move forward fail to support or uplift others in return.”
Despite these challenges, Mendenhall continues to push forward, break barriers and advocate for greater opportunities within her trade. She believes that learning never stops in this craft.
“There’s always something new or different to explore, whether it’s on the job or a type of work I haven’t done before.”
Watch Jess's video on Boilermaker Brotherhood
