Women in Construction Week 2018: Nancy Custer

Just a few years ago, Nancy Custer couldn’t have imagined that she would be a carpenter apprentice working for Sellen at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

“I love makeup and high heels,” she said. “This definitely wasn’t what I thought I would be doing.”

After moving to Seattle from Idaho with her husband and getting discouraged with the work she found in the service industry, Nancy was at a loss. That’s when her husband suggested that she should look into the construction industry. She joined her local union and her best friend encouraged her to apply at Sellen. She hasn’t looked back since.

“It has been the best thing for me,” she said, describing her experience as a carpenter apprentice.

Nancy plans to continue her career in construction, with the goal of eventually working in Sellen’s engineering department. She’s also interested in getting involved with her union’s mentorship program to help other women who, like her, thought they did not have any options available to them.

“I’m so excited to take my brain further and push myself,” Nancy said. “I get to do so much more than I thought I’d be able to and so many doors have opened to me.”