After fulfilling careers in the U.S. Navy and her state’s youth correctional system, Daun Williamson reinvented herself as a full-time student at the Pennsylvania College of Technology (Penn College), majoring in building construction technology. She completed her degree last spring and has achieved the following certifications from the Vinyl Siding Institute (VSI): Installer Trainee, Certificate of Achievement; Certified Installer; and Certified Installer Trainer.
In fact, an impressive 29 students, including Williamson, completed this program—the first offering in a new partnership between VSI and Penn College. “I was very impressed with Daun’s passion for vinyl siding and the fact that we have very similar backgrounds, having grown up in the trades,” says Rob Balfanz, senior director of workforce development for VSI.
With more than 800,000 jobs expected to be added to the industry by 2024 in the U.S., the vinyl siding industry has positioned itself as a leader in workforce development. Certainly the jobs are there: An estimated 3 million homes are sided each year, and vinyl siding is the most common exterior cladding used, found on more new homes being built annually.
A Skilled Trades Career Path
Williamson’s education in construction began many years ago when she worked for her father—a highly respected contractor. “My dad was in business for 54 years,” Williamson says. “I hung vinyl siding for him years ago, and my instructor worked with him 40 years ago. Cliff Jones, another professor at Penn College, also worked with my dad back in the 1970s and 80s. My whole family grew up around construction. I also have a cousin who teaches an award-winning construction program at our high school.”
While Williamson is qualified and willing to train aspiring vinyl siding installers to become certified, she is also interested in becoming an instructor at her college or possibly another good technical school. “We don’t have any female instructors in the department [at the college],” she says. “All the male teachers are great, but they will be retiring soon.”
With a strong foundation in construction, Williamson felt that vinyl siding was the perfect reason to return to school to study building and construction. Penn College professor Robert Gresko had a strong background in vinyl siding and encouraged Williamson to pursue the certifications offered. “I enjoy the vinyl siding aspect of construction,” Williamson says, “because it gives me so much versatility for employing it. It is one of the more accessible degrees to pick up that enables a clear-cut entry into the construction industry.”
In addition to teaching, Williamson sees her multiple certifications as assets she can market to contractors, home builders and other stakeholders who could benefit from using vinyl siding for their projects. “There are companies here that sell vinyl siding, and some contractors will use vinyl siding for occasional projects, but there are no companies that specialize in installing vinyl siding,” she notes. “That’s something I could do while I’m teaching. My ultimate dream, alongside teaching, is to perform vinyl siding installation and installation training, as well as doing custom carpentry, cabinetry and furniture.”
Journey Along the Ladder
After becoming a certified trainer, Williamson returned from Ohio and started analyzing all the homes in her community. She said she’s excited by the possibility of one day installing vinyl siding on some of these properties or teaching others in the trade how to ensure a quality installation. “I’ll be driving along and wondering why these homeowners didn’t use vinyl siding given the variety of benefits,” she said. “It’s cost-effective and doesn’t dent. It’s recyclable where programs exist and environmentally friendly. It can be insulated or non-insulated. If you’re putting in insulated vinyl siding, you’re adding more resale value to your home.”
But Williamson herself had no idea that vinyl siding included these features until she took the required coursework. “During the Vinyl Siding Institute’s training, we were shown how to close up a corner, cut it a certain way and how to rivet it so no animals or insects can get inside,” she says. “There is not one corner on my house that’s closed like that. And I see so many other homes with the same problem.”
A Bright Future
Having grown up in the trades with the “family business,” Williamson did not view herself as someone breaking gender barriers when she completed her teacher training certification. But she acknowledges that there are so many women in the trades—or who want to enter the trades—that could be inspired by what she has done (as well as non-traditional students like herself looking to start new careers).
“For me, teaching vinyl siding is a great way to create my own unique career path and eventually teach other areas of construction,” Williamson says. “I see myself becoming a greater asset to my community.”
