Kate Glantz - Scholarship Story

Speaker: Kate Glantz

Kate Glantz: Hi, my name is Kate Glantz and I would like to convey my most sincere appreciation and gratitude to Tom Donohue and his family foundation for awarding me a scholarship. I will be embarking on a very new chapter in my career. A full pivot if you will. And in just about uh two weeks, I will begin my program at Mesa Community College in the Carpentry and Construction department where over the next five months, I will be getting up to speed on all things, power tools, walls, ceilings, floors, and gearing up for what I hope to be a really exciting new adventure in the trades in a very full circle moment. I actually worked at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in the Corporate Citizenship Center where I oversaw programs very similar to what this scholarship is doing. I was the Senior Director of Economic Opportunity and Empowerment. So I'm just so delighted to be on the other side as a beneficiary of a program similar to what I would have played a role in managing. So it's really special me that there are organizations and people out there willing to make investments in people of all ages and backgrounds who want to try something new. I personally am most excited about learning more and, ideally, eventually addressing the pipeline of women, and young women especially, into the trades. I think there is a significant branding opportunity or rebranding opportunity to excite and empower and include more women. And for me, as someone who quite honestly can barely wield a hammer, I figured the most important thing I can do is walk the walk. So over the next five months, I will be doing just that as I try to network with as many women in construction and organizations supporting them. And then adjacent to that, I also think there's a really cool opportunity to foster more self reliance and empowerment for women like me in their thirties. Maybe they own their own home, they're incredibly self sufficient. But when it comes to anything maintenance related, they're typically reliant on a professional and it's typically a man. So I think there's a really beautiful community building, empowerment, building, fun activity to bring women together around workshops and learn new things. So I'm excited to explore both avenues, but it all begins with school. And this incredibly generous scholarship which really does help ease the burden of taking such a big leap into new horizons. So, thank you so much. I hope to stay in touch and keep you all updated on on my journey and sending you all the best for a very Happy New Year. Thank you.

Kate Glantz: Hi, my name is Kate Glantz. And I would like to convey my most sincere appreciation and gratitude to Tom Donohue, his family and their Foundation for selecting me as a scholarship recipient. In 2024. I am embarking on a massive career pivot. I have enrolled in a community college in Arizona where I'll be gaining very new skills in the trade, specifically a carpentry and construction program. And it, it really feels full circle. A couple of years ago, I had the honor of working under Tom's leadership at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation where I was a Senior Director in the Office the Corporate Citizenship Center. and I oversaw our economic opportunity portfolio. So while I wouldn't have necessarily administered this program, it's really special to now be the beneficiary of something very much in my wheelhouse from a program management standpoint. So I just, I know the work that goes into funding and disseminating these scholarships and to be selected, especially as a quite nontraditional applicant, really, really means a lot. It truly helps ease the financial burden of making this great career shift. And I am just so thankful for the opportunity and hopefully to stay in touch and share how this exciting journey unfolds. So, thank you again and have a very Happy New Year.