Tally this oil industry success story to the Phoenix Working Women evening program at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, ND:
Faced with the prospect of bringing up her children on her own, Dawn Van Horn made the decision to go back to school and train for a totally new profession. With the support and resources of the Phoenix program-an organization that helps women reenter the workforce in nontraditional jobs-she found herself, after a year of study, working as an operator at Texaco Inc.'s Montebello, Calif., technology center.
Recent past
It was in 1997 that she started to make changes in her life, reports the most recent issue of Texaco's bimonthly news magazine for employees, Agenda International. Divorced and with five children, she needed to embark on a career that would give her financial independence.
She turned to the Phoenix program at Bismarck State, a community college, where she was offered support and advice on finding a new career.
The program helps women of all ages and in all sorts of situations, Van Horn said.
Program coordinator Melba Millard, who has received accolades from the North Dakota state board of vocational and technical education for outstanding service and achievement in the program, was instrumental in offering information on resources and job-field options available to Van Horn. Millard also provided emotional support.
"The program helped me set realistic goals that I could achieve in the workforce," Van Horn said.
After taking some tests to check her academic ability, she decided that she would like to embark on a technological career and enrolled at the school to obtain an associate degree in process plant technology, an intensive 12-month course.
"I was very fortunate that I scored high academically, and a little surprised. I had previously worked in the public sector as a receptionist, a scheduling coordinator, and, before starting my family, a dental assistant. This was a totally new step for me."
She proved herself as an honor pupil and was named outstanding student of the year in process plant technology. And she was elected president of the college's Energy Club.
She finished the course in May 1998 and joined Texaco the following month. Since starting at the Montebello location, she says she has learned a great deal and admits that one of the hardest parts about the job was learning to use the tools.
"The first time I was asked to cut and thread a 2-in. steel pipe was a challenge, but my team trained me well, and it was actually a good experience."
Spreading the word
Women Work!, a national network for women's employment in the US, selected Van Horn as its 1999 success story.
Two months ago, she told her story to an audience of more than 200 persons at a conference in Washington, DC. The event was organized by Women Work!.
She received a standing ovation.
What about the future? Van Horn encourages other women to think about taking up a career in a nontraditional role.
