Andrea Crawford
DTE Energy
Breckenridge, MI USA
"Any bad day I’ve had at work—if I’m getting frustrated or upset, I’ve had a long week and I just need a breather—I’ll go on top [of the turbine] and that’s an instant emotional change."
Career Roadmap
Andrea's work combines: Engineering, Technology, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I highly recommend going to a trade school. My trade school program was only seven months long and significantly less expensive than a four-year college. My teachers were also very supportive, which made a world of difference in my learning. On top of that, the school helped us build resumes and prepare for job interviews, so I was able to find a job immediately after completing the program.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Certification
Wind Power Technician
MIAT College of Technology
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I learned about wind energy in my senior year shop class in high school and was immediately drawn to it because I hadn’t heard anyone talking about the wind industry before.
2.
I reached out to someone who had graduated a few years before me and was working in the industry—he explained the steps he took to get to where he is and I followed.
3.
I went to trade school at MIAT College of Technology, where I spent seven months learning to become a wind turbine technician.
4.
Straight after completing school, I started my career in wind energy.
5.
I thought I was only going to work in wind energy for a short period of time while I figured out what I ultimately wanted to do for a career but I ended up falling in love with it!
6.
I’ve been in the field for a few years now and currently work as a wind turbine technician for DTE Energy.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
No one is going to want to talk to me or work with me because I'm a woman.
How I responded:
When I first decided to become a wind turbine technician, I was nervous that no one would want to work with me. Not only was I a woman going into a male dominated field, but I was also more shy and smaller than most others. However, I discovered that my fears were unfounded! People were excited to work with me. Additionally, because I do have a smaller physique, I'm able to do tasks that others might not be able to—for example, I can get some bolts off more easily because my hands are smaller.