EPISODE · Jun 2, 2026 · 35 MIN
From Fast Food to Union Carpenter: Taylor Dobson's Journey Into the Trades
from America’s Work Force Union Podcast · host BMA Media Group
Taylor Dobson was a fast food shift lead being pushed toward assistant manager when she decided enough was enough. Today she is a first-year carpenter apprentice with Carpenter's Local 174 in Chicago, working on solar farm projects and building a career she always wanted but never knew how to access. On this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, Taylor walks us through her path from Dunkin Donuts to the union hall, the Hire360 pre-apprenticeship program that opened the door, and what her first months have looked like on a large-scale solar installation with Power Circle Construction. She also speaks directly to women who are curious about the trades but unsure whether there is a place for them. If you have ever thought about making the jump into a skilled trades career, this one is for you. Visit hire360chicago.com to learn more about the program that made Taylor's transition possible.
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What this episode covers
Taylor Dobson left fast food management for a union carpentry apprenticeship with Carpenter’s Local 174 in Chicago — and she did it through Hire360, a paid nine-week pre-apprenticeship program that connects workers to union locals across the Chicago area. In her first year, she has already completed a three-month solar farm project and earned an invitation to the next one. Her message to anyone on the fence about the trades: show up, work hard and do not let yourself be the reason it does not happen.
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From Fast Food to Union Carpenter: Taylor Dobson's Journey Into the Trades
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