Katerina Ramirez
Beginning out as a summer season helper/runner for her grandfather’s plumbing enterprise, Gplumbing, Camino, Calif., Katerina Ramirez was not sure of her path. After ending her first 12 months learning Sports activities Medication at a neighborhood faculty in Sacramento, and taking part in for girls’s soccer staff, Ramirez actually loved working for her grandfather plumbing and says that her grandfather took an opportunity on her, instructing her the ropes on be a plumber in residential service and new development, and keep it up. Seven years later, she works full-time for her grandfather as she helps handle the household enterprise—from working immediately on the roles to billing, installs, bidding, working immediately with clients, to planning and administration.
“Most individuals are usually not meant to have their very own enterprise; nonetheless, I entered this commerce from the get-go to have my very own enterprise in the future. I knew I didn’t need to work for somebody my entire life. I needed to be a female-run and owned firm, and achieve success,” says Ramirez emphatically.
As a plumbing technician/installer, Ramirez’s background contains the whole lot from customized houses—each phase- underground, prime out tough, set end—massive remodels, residential and business service, water heater installs—tank and tankless—setting end/changing end, excessive strain air techniques, inner and exterior fuel strains, irrigation, and something plumbing associated in between.
Early Life
Rising up, Ramirez had a knack for at all times being hands-on—round energy instruments and household transforming tasks, constructing issues. At school, she at all times needed to make a bodily model of any college project, and you could possibly guess that Ramirez at all times gave 120%, and everybody she went to highschool with knew it. Sports activities additionally taught her life classes: perseverance, integrity, workmanship, accountability and self-control. “Working laborious got here simple to me, and plumbing just isn’t simple; I at all times needed a problem. I cherished the concept of being the one younger feminine recognized within the county. I needed to be a considered one of a sort,” says Ramirez.
A daughter to immigrant dad and mom—one from Canada and one from Mexico—Ramirez realized early on a robust work ethic, and being fluent in Spanish didn’t harm. “Residing in California, that may be a large attribute. Something that helps you talk with a bigger inhabitants wins you jobs,” says Ramirez.
And, it was the ladies in her life, particularly her mom and grandmother, that she credit as being robust mentors and paving the best way. “I come from an extended historical past of girls who can do something. The ladies in my household break limitations, are self-sufficient, artistic and robust. There may be nothing we can’t do,” says Ramirez.
As well as, considered one of her most iconic mentors was Rosie the Riveter, of whom she dressed up as for Halloween. “The limitations she broke throughout World Conflict ll nonetheless resonates with all ladies within the trades at present in 2025. For any feminine critically contemplating the trades, I’ve respect for as a result of on no account form or type is it simple for us,” says Ramirez.
Ladies within the Trades
Thankfully, Ramirez hasn’t obtained as a lot damaging criticism as different ladies might have, however she thinks any stigma perceived is from the older technology, women and men. “Most tradesmen inside my age group have given me probably the most constructive approval attainable,” says Ramirez. “I feel it actually has to do with the way you carry your self. Within the trades it’s important to be robust, it’s important to have robust pores and skin. So long as you present up, are wanting to study, work laborious and hold your head up, you’ll get the approval from everybody else,” continues Ramirez.
Ramirez says that many of the non-approving folks—largely previous males—are usually not approving of her till she proves them incorrect, “which isn’t the way it must be,” says Ramirez. However, Ramirez says she has had a lot assist from clients on her option to be a feminine plumber. “Most individuals do a double take after I inform them what I do for a dwelling. Most assume I’m so badass and simply an oddity, however in a constructive means,” says Ramirez.
And whereas Ramirez says that as an business we have to spotlight extra ladies within the trades, she thinks at present’s social media highlights the on a regular basis life of girls within the trades. “Ladies within the trades which have social media accounts actually do an ideal job of exhibiting professionals, cons, and on a regular basis life as a feminine tradesman. After I first began out plumbing, there have been choose ladies within the trades on social media, but none have been plumbers. It actually motivated me to begin my very own journey on social media to focus on ladies within the plumbing,” says Ramirez.
It’s that journey on social media (@KatThePlumber) that has helped Ramirez embrace her authenticity and showcase who she is on this occupation, and being a mentor herself. Ramirez says that she has obtained quite a few compliments from different ladies and younger girls for bravery on social media, and has had different ladies attain out to her on social media and say thanks for encouraging them to take the leap of religion into this business. “I consider a variety of ladies and younger males on social media within the trades consider it’s a joke they usually’re prancing round claiming they’re blue collar. I’m not a girl that can have my hair down, tight becoming work garments, make-up, and angles that present the whole lot. I’m not a girly lady. By no means have been, by no means can be. What you see on my social media is what you get in actual life. I used to be at all times a tom boy rising up. I need to get my arms soiled and sweat! I consider blue collar is not only a profession it’s a lifestyle,” says Ramirez.
Problem and Variety
Ramirez loves the problem and the range of the trades, and he or she says that daily is totally different and daily is a chance to develop and break limitations. “You by no means know what you’ll run into on the job and you’ll need to seek out methods to repair the difficulty. I consider you should be artistic, open minded, various and laborious shelled—not afraid to get uncomfortable, sweat and work laborious,” says Ramirez.
Ramirez says that she by no means needed to be behind a desk sitting all day; she likes with the ability to make a distinction. “Generally you don’t know what you’re strolling into or who you’ll be coming throughout. This might be somebody’s worst day and you’ve got the chance to present again and resolve issues,” says Ramirez.
In new development, Ramirez works on customized houses, from each stage of the home from the filth part to setting end. Whereas taking part in an important function in a brand new development undertaking from the bottom up, Ramirez says she additionally has gained beneficial information of all elements of the trades. Actually, Ramirez has at all times believed that each plumber ought to do a minimal of two years new development expertise the place one can see each commerce concerned, and achieve a information and a relationship with these different trades. “On this commerce you’re extra beneficial the extra you already know and the extra expertise you achieve in several areas. Don’t stop studying; the business is at all times altering,” says Ramirez.
Off the Clock
And when she’s not crushing it on the jobsite, Ramirez likes to go for walks, hitting the gymnasium, after which stress-free and enhancing her movies. She enjoys spending time together with her vital different, and her household and associates. Since she lives in Northern California, surrounded by forests and mountaing, Ramirez likes to go fishing, kayaking and tenting.
However is California in her long-term plans? Shifting out of California has crossed her thoughts, as it may be very costly. Large image, Ramirez would love an enormous home with numerous property and a few extra canine, along with the 2 she already has. And don’t put any of these issues previous Ramirez as a result of she positively has that ca-do perspective. “My purpose is to have 10 years of plumbing expertise earlier than age 30 and get my license. Ultimately, I’d like to have my very own enterprise and have women and men work for me. I additionally need to hold encouraging extra ladies on the market to hitch the trades,” says Ramirez.
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