As a Foreman for Stoner Electric, a PRIME company based in Oregon, Lilly leads with resilience, accountability, and a steady confidence earned in the field. This year’s Women in Construction theme, “Level Up. Build Strong” mirrors her journey. For Lilly, leveling up has never been about titles; it’s been about meeting challenges head-on and building strength through them. Long before she was leading crews on projects, she was proving that mindset in a moment that could have easily stopped her before her career even began.
One week before her apprenticeship aptitude test, Lilly learned her homeschool high school diploma wouldn’t qualify. If she wanted to sit for the test, she would need a GED, immediately. For some, that news might have been discouraging enough to walk away. For her, it was simply the first obstacle to solve. She completed her GED in seven days, returned to take the test, and didn’t just pass, she excelled. “I was #11 out of several hundred, so I was one of the first people to go to work that cycle.” That week set the tone for what would become a defining trait in her career, when obstacles appear, she meets them head-on and builds from there.
It’s pretty incredible to go from barely knowing how to use a drill to planning out an entire bank project.
Early in her career, Lilly worked under a foreman who demanded precision and accountability. “He held me to a high standard that I still strive to meet.” That guidance taught her more than technical skills, it instilled the importance of asking questions, leaning on experienced electricians, and absorbing knowledge wherever she could. “It’s not just mentorship when you’re an apprentice — it turns into continued friendship and shared knowledge.” Those relationships provided ongoing support and insight as she navigated new challenges on the job. Today, Lilly draws on those lessons in her own leadership, approaching projects with confidence while valuing collaboration and guidance that comes from working closely with a skilled team.
Lilly is currently working on a high-rise tenant improvement for OnPoint Community Credit Union in downtown Portland. The goal was to modernize the space while preserving the building’s historic character, but the existing conditions added layers of difficulty. Asbestos above ceilings limited access. Glass-walled offices eliminated traditional wall space for switching. An unfamiliar underfloor raceway system required creative thinking. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, Lilly broke the challenges into manageable pieces. “If I see something I haven’t experienced before, I take a step back and try to bite off just a little piece of it first.” That approach guided the team as they installed wireless lighting controls to minimize invasive demolition and redesigned circuits to work within architectural constraints. Every decision was driven by careful verification in the field, ensuring that what they planned on paper would work in reality. Even as the project nears completion, seeing the systems come together and knowing each challenge has been addressed continues to be a source of pride.
I’m thankful to have a job that lets me take good care of my family, and to work with people who care about you as a person, not just a co-worker.
Midway through her career, Lilly stepped away from the field to welcome her daughter. After nine months, she returned to work balancing foreman responsibilities with motherhood. The transition came with understandable nerves. “I felt vulnerable — but everyone was very kind and very understanding.” The support she received reinforced something important about the culture she had grown within. “They care about you as a person, not just a co-worker.” With her husband serving as a stay-at-home dad, she navigates leadership at work and motherhood at home each day, grateful for a career that provides both opportunity and stability for her family.
When asked what she would tell women considering the trades, Lilly’s advice is straightforward, “Show up early and have a good attitude.” She also emphasizes accountability, saying that if you own your mistakes, people will respect you. In a field built on teamwork and performance, those principles carry weight and they are the same habits that have guided her own journey. From earning a GED in a single week to leading a high-rise renovation, Lilly’s path reflects what Women in Construction Month celebrates: growth, resilience, and leadership. She continues to raise the bar for herself and those around her, leveling up and helping shape a stronger future for the next generation.
