Page 50 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2019

weld-rounded
presented by South Mississippi Living magazine
Olivia Dodge Varnadore
Woman
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Olivia Dodge Varnadore
IRON
FEMALE WELDER EXCELS IN MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY
Always remember to surprise and challenge yourself. At the age of 24, Olivia Dodge Varnadore is already an inspirational force for herself and her two children. Varnadore originally started out as a project manager at a roofing
company, but has now expanded into a completely new career. Her new passion? Welding.
“I fell in love with it,” she said. “At the roofing company I worked at,
I would walk past the sheet metal shop everyday and think ‘that’s so cool’. One day I asked if I could start working in the shop and within the next week I started!”
Quickly, Varnadore became recognized for her skill and talent at welding, even becoming the southern representative for the Associated Builders & Contractors. After great growth within her field, she decided to pursue the profession even further. So far she is already on her fourth welding certification at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC).
As of this past year, she’s also decided to add the challenge of becoming a CDL licensed truck driver
through the Truck Driving Institute. “Working fifteen-hour days between driving classes and the workshop has been a big sacrifice, but it’s not forever,” said Varnadore. “It’ll be worth it once it’s finished.”
Through her exciting journey, she has been able to gain the respect of her peers in the field, being one of few women in the fields of truck driving and welding. “You can surprise yourself,” she said. “I never
thought I could be doing
what I’m doing. It’s a male- dominated environment,
but it just challenges me to
do my job as well or better
than they can. I never
realized how talented I was
and what I could do.”
Varnadore has learned how
to drive an overhead crane, forklift and a multitude of other machinery along the way. One day, she hopes to be able to spend more time with her children and to be able to enjoy her job while providing for her family.
50 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • September 2019 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net