Hazard Girls:
Women in Non-Traditional Fields

Host Emily Soloby, founder of Juno Jones Safety Shoes, interviews women who have successfully broken barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields. These dynamic women share their stories and advice for the next generation. Emily's goal with this podcast series is to show listeners that there are many ways to be successful - and being successful often requires hard work, community, and creativity, even when faced with adversity.

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Sn5 #3 Kaylin Leas: Journeyman Welder, Rodeo Cowgirl and sometimes… Wonder Woman

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On this episode of Hazard Girls, Host Emily Soloby welcomes back to the show Kaylin Leas. Kaylin is a Journeyman Pipe welder for TDIndustries in Fort Worth, Texas She is their first Leadwoman welder. and Empowering Women in Industry initiative’sTradeswoman of the year 2021.

Kaylin and Emily catch up on Kaylen’s work with projects including everything from airplane hangers to hotels. Kaylen fills us in on her rodeo and pageant experiences and her appearance in Reinvented Magazine’s Princesses With Powertools Calendar. Reinvented Magazine is a publication all about women and girls in STEM and every year they publish a calendar featuring women in STEM and trades dressed up as their favorite princess or warrior. Kaylin talk about how she relates to her chosen warrior Wonder Woman. Despite how far she’s come, Kaylin acknowledges there is always more to learn.As she puts it, “If ya ain’t learnin’, ya ain’t livin’” Well said Kaylin!

MEET YOUR HOST

Emily Soloby

Emily received her BA in Women’s Studies and JD from Temple University. Early on, she worked as a legal advocate for women in domestic violence cases. After practicing law, Emily began working on the business side of things. She is the co-owner of AAA School of Trucking, a truck and heavy equipment safety training firm, which she has spent the last 10 years growing into a thriving national business through government and military contracting and corporate partnerships.

As an executive in the transportation industry, darting from client meeting to trucking range required safety boots that met her style standards, and when she couldn’t find them anywhere, she created Juno Jones Shoes. Emily trained in shoemaking in Cuernavaca, Mexico and at the Brooklyn Shoe Space, and assembled a powerhouse team of designers, consultants, and industry experts to bring Juno Jones to life. Through Juno Jones Shoes, Emily is fulfilling her dream of not only providing women with safe, stylish footwear options for their jobs but of helping to normalize and empower women in traditionally male-dominated fields.

For more information go to junojonesshoes.com.


SPECIAL GUEST

Kaylin Leas

Kaylin is a Journeyman Pipe welder/Fitter for TDIndustries in Fort Worth, Texas. As one of TD’s top welders, Kaylin works on large-scale industrial and commercial projects in Fort Worth and surrounding areas. 

Kaylin, who is from Las Vegas, Nevada, grew up as a Rodeo Cowgirl. This is how she eventually made her way to Texas by being offered a rodeo scholarship at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas.  Kaylin has always been a hand, in and out of the arena.  After college in 2011, Kaylin decided to change her career path. She had always had an interest in welding, which she got from her father. She knew that she had to “start from the bottom” but she set her sites on her new goal which was mastering the art of welding. With the help of welders on her first few jobs and by practicing after hours, Kaylin was able to pass any test in front of her, including brazing and soldering copper, and becoming certified in several new ways to join different types of pipe. Kaylin continues to learn new skills on the job, as well as continuing her education in other aspects of construction. Currently, she is a straight A student in the classroom, as she is taking the NCCER pipe fitting course in the evenings.

Kaylin hopes to use her story to inspire any and all young women who want to learn about the trades. She hopes to light that spark in others, to be as hungry for success as she is and not be afraid to go after goals, no matter what they are.                                                            

Kaylin isn’t done with her hustle. She has her next goal set to become TD’s first Leadman (Leadwoman) and then continues to become Foreman, and in the next 10 years become a Superintendent. With the opportunity and support of her company (TDIndustries), Kaylin believes her goal is within her reach… and like she has all her life, she will work for it. 

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