April Atkins, Carpenter, Safway Scaffolding

April Atkins, a carpenter for Safway Scaffolding, is one of several talented women working on the Transbay Transit Center Project. At a young age April became interested in building through her woodshop classes, and it became clear to her that construction would be her chosen career path. She started her career as a waterproofer and has now developed significant field experience.

As a woman in what has traditionally been viewed as a male work environment, April notes that you receive the respect you deserve by respecting others and having a “strong backbone.” For any woman entering the field, she advises that the job is not easy but “as long as you put your mind to it, you will succeed.”

April has been involved in numerous projects throughout the City including 535 Mission, Cypress Mandela Training Center and Oracle Arena. She has particularly enjoyed the Transbay Project because she has a hand in creating a transit hub that will greatly benefit the residents of her home city.