Shannon Guest, Mechanical Insulation Apprentice, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 6
Shannon Guest
Shannon Guest is a Pembroke, Mass. resident and a fourth-generation Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 6 member, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, uncle, father, and brother. A mother of six, Shannon waitressed for years to make ends meet before getting her GED to pursue a career in mechanical insulation, determined to build a better life for her family.
Now in the fourth and final year of her apprenticeship with Local 6, Shannon says she is thankful for the ways the union has changed her life. “The way I can provide for my family today is just absolutely amazing. At the end of the day, I know that I’m safe and that I’ll be going home to my family. I don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have to worry about my kids’ health insurance or about my future. If I have a problem, whether it’s inside or outside of work, I know that somebody has my back,” she says.
As a Heat and Frost Insulators Local 6 member, Shannon has seized every opportunity to get more involved in her community and her industry. She volunteers for various charitable initiatives supporting veterans, children and families and the recovery community. She also takes the the time to speak to other women and girls about opportunities in the union building trades at monthly Tradeswoman Tuesdays events.
To other women considering working in the building trades, Shannon advises, “If you’re thinking about it, take the chance and do it. Give yourself that opportunity because it is absolutely life-changing. You can be a mother and a wife, have a career, provide for your family, live comfortably, and have it all while being part of a team.”
