In honor of Women in Construction March 1-7, Thompson Creek Window Company conducted interviews with four of its female employees who represent a variety of tenures and positions within the company.
At Thompson Creek, women make up a large portion of its workforce:
- 70% of the assembly team is women
- 54% have been with the company more than five years
- Four of five assembly team leaders are women
- President of Manufacturing is a woman
The Q&As
Miriam Flores
Assembler III
Tenure: 9 years, 7 months
Q: How long have you been with Thompson Creek, and what first brought you here?
“I’ve been here about 10 years at Thompson Creek. I feel very proud. This company gave me the opportunity to learn many things and to help my daughters move forward with their education. They have already graduated from college. Thanks to God and the opportunity Thompson Creek gave me, I was able to support them through school.”
Q: What do you remember most about your early days on the assembly team?
“I remember there was a lot of teamwork, and there was more work. We worked from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. For most of my years, I’ve worked independently. Today, I love what I do.”
Q: What has kept you at Thompson Creek?
“What has kept me here is the opportunity to give my children a better future. By the grace of God and this company, I was given the opportunity to work and to learn more about what we do here. Also, we work Monday through Friday, and on the weekends, we spend time with family.”
Q: How has your confidence changed since you started?
“What used to be hard for me, now I feel very confident doing. I’ve learned to stand out on my own.”
Q: When you see finished windows leave the factory, what goes through your mind?
“I think we’ve done a good job. It feels like we’re making our dreams possible.”
Q: What does doing the job right mean to you?
“It means feeling proud of the work we do, especially when people say, ‘Wow, you work at that company?’”
Q: What’s it like working on a team where many leaders and teammates are women?
“It feels good when we get along. But where there is ego, you can’t work well. Even though we are women, sometimes we don’t like being told what to do. We can be complicated. But I love my workplace.”
Q: What would you say to another woman considering this job?
“It’s a good company. If she comes here, she should give her best effort. She will learn new skills. There are opportunities to learn, good benefits, and better pay.”
Altagracia Enríquez
Assembler III
Tenure: 8 years, 4 months
Q: How long have you been with Thompson Creek?
“I have worked at Thompson Creek for nine years. When I first came, I felt nervous because I didn’t know anything about the work. They sent me to cut, and then to apply silicone.”
Q: What do you remember about your early days?
“I didn’t know how to punch in. I didn’t know how to use the measuring tape. I didn’t know anything in that first week. Little by little, I learned.”
Q: What has kept you here?
“The schedule allows me time with my daughter. I can pick her up on Fridays, help with homework, and spend weekends together. It’s very family-oriented.”
Q: How has your confidence changed?
“Since I started, I’ve gained confidence in myself and in the work I do in my area. I feel secure in what I produce.”
Q: When you see finished windows leave the factory, what goes through your mind?
“Thank God, we finished another project. Those windows are going to someone’s house, and a family will be happy.”
Q: What does doing the job right mean to you?
“The work we do every day should be like it’s for my own house. If I want good work for my home, I want good work for other homes.”
Q: What’s it like working on a team with many women?
“Working as a team means helping each other. If you help me, I help you. We try to form a good team to move forward. There isn’t envy between us.”
Q: What would you say to another woman considering working here?
“It can be a little hard at first, but you gain experience every day. One day you might be cutting; another day you might be punching. You learn something new every day. It’s a good place to learn and to have time for your family.”
Dixi Moreno
Assembler III
Tenure: 8 years, 4 months
Q: How did you get started at Thompson Creek?
“I came because of my aunt. She told me about the job. At first, I applied through a contractor. Later, I began working directly for the company. I’ve worked here for nine years.”
Q: What were your early days like?
“My first days were difficult because I didn’t know anything about making windows or using the machinery. I didn’t know how to use the measuring tape, and in my area that’s very important. At first, I was very nervous. I didn’t have much knowledge of English.”
Q: How has your role changed?
“I started in Sash, then moved to Paint. When Paint closed, I chose to move to the Grid area, and I’ve worked there for nine years. Over time, I learned the entire glass process and became line certified in multiple areas. Now I have confidence. I use the measuring tape very well, and I feel good about the work I do.”
Q: What has kept you here?
“I like my workplace. Last year, I was pregnant, and I really appreciated how they treated me during that time.”
Q: When you see finished windows leave the factory, what goes through your mind?
“I feel happy because we finished another day of work. I try to do my job the best way possible because I put myself in the customer’s place. If I want my work to be excellent, I want customers to receive the best possible product.”
Q: What’s it like working with many women?
“It’s nice working with many women. In construction, it’s usually more men, so people are surprised when I say we have many women. Sometimes it can be complicated because we have strong personalities and don’t always like being told what to do. But we work well together.”
Q: What would you say to another woman considering this job?
“It’s a very good place to work. The schedule is good. There are good benefits, paid holidays, and supervisors treat us well.”
Ana Molina
Sash Line Team Leader
Tenure: 25 years, 7 months
Q: How long have you been with Thompson Creek?
“I’ve been part of its effort and dedication. I’ve seen its achievements and the challenges it had to overcome. The company’s windows have always been distinguished by their quality and efficiency. I’ve been here 26 years.”
Q: What do you remember about your early days?
“The factory was in Stevensville. It was a quiet and very beautiful place. There were 12 workers on the plant floor and three in the office. It was a small group, but the work was very efficient. You could see that everyone made an effort to do a good job.
In 2000, the company purchased its first computerized welder. I think it was one of the best machines the company has had because it could weld every type of window. I feel privileged to have been the first to use it for many years.
A few years ago, they had to sell it. I felt very sad because that machine really did excellent work.”
Q: What has kept you here?
“From the beginning, Thompson Creek became part of my life. The schedule fit what I needed. It allowed me to balance my time between work and my family.”
Q: How has your role changed since you started?
“Despite my experience with windows, at first I felt incapable. Over time, I gained more skills in different areas of the work. I started as a welder, and now I’m a team leader of a group of workers.
I’m sure that in all these years I’ve gained the experience necessary to perform in almost any area on the floor.”
Q: When you see finished windows leave the factory, what do you think?
“Wow - what a beautiful window. I think about whether it will meet the customer’s expectations.”
Q: What does doing the job right mean to you?
“Doing the job right means commitment and responsibility. Since I started working here, the standards have always been high. To reach the required quality, the worker must feel committed and always seek quality in their work.
Personally, my commitment has increased over the years because I always make sure each window meets the standards required by the company.
If you do your work with love, it will always turn out well.”
