As a part of our ongoing series, we highlight exceptional women in the industry. There is a misconception that the auto industry is only for men, and it is time to break this stereotype. The most effective way to encourage women to explore career opportunities is by highlighting the success stories of women who have achieved success in the industry. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women comprise approximately 12% of all automotive technicians in the U.S. This figure, combined with an ongoing skilled labor shortage and a projected need for around 76,000 new technicians each year over the next decade to account for retirements and new job growth, highlights the importance of addressing this issue. One way to fill that gap is to increase the number of women in the automotive technician field. 

In this issue of Montana Auto Dealer, we are featuring Yetta Folsom, an automotive technician at Don Aadsen Ford. Yetta loves riding dirt bikes, snowmobiles and surfing. She has one daughter and lives life to the fullest. 

We recently sat down with Yetta and discussed her career, her experiences in the industry and what can be done to encourage other women to choose this career path. The following are excerpts from our conversation.

Please tell us about yourself.

I spent most of my childhood in the Wicks, Montana, area before moving to Ronan, Montana, which is where I graduated from high school. I immediately joined the military, serving six years in the U.S. Coast Guard. I started as a deckhand and decided that navigation and charting weren’t for me. I wanted to explore the engineering side of things, so I made the switch to diesel mechanics. 

After leaving the military, I attended school for a short period to further my education. I then stopped for a while. I went on to sell dirt bikes and enjoyed it, but was open to change. My friend told me about a job opening at Don Aadsen Ford and figured I could get my foot in the door there. I started as a lube tech, which involves doing the basics, oil changes, tires, etc. Because I had a military background, they said I’d be a good candidate for their military program, and they sent me to school to get my certifications. Now I am proud to be working as a mechanic here. 

What inspired you to go into this line of work?

My parents always encouraged me to keep an open mind and to learn from each experience I had. Additionally, my dad always taught me to take care of myself and not to rely on anybody else to take care of me. Self-reliance and independence were essential skills he wanted all of his children to have. Growing up, he taught us how to do a lot. We were his right hands when it came to working on things, changing oil or tires and basic mechanics to keep the vehicle running.

While I was in the military, there were very few female mechanics. So, I became friends with my male counterparts; that’s when I really found my passion for building things and fixing cars. 

As a woman, you are in the minority; what has your experience been like? What can be done to hire more women?

I feel like many women are intimidated when it comes to this line of work because it is a very male-dominated field. And from my experience, not all men want a female in the shop. When I was in the military, I had men refuse to help me because I’m a woman. They made it known that they thought a woman should not work in a mechanic shop. I don’t know if it’s because they worry that females could outshine them, or if they were scared because maybe a female would pick things up a little bit quicker or possibly slower, and they would have to help out. 

If you can look past those types of experiences, there are good people out there. There are good men who are more than willing to help you out and give you a hand to get you moving in the right direction. The guys I work with now have been very good to me. I’m just like one of them; they don’t see that there’s any difference. 

You can’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. As my mom says, “You’ve got to bite your ego a little bit because you’re not going to be able to do everything.” That advice applies to everyone. 

I enjoy what I’m doing because it gives me a chance to stand on my own. I have a set schedule, and the pay is good. I’m happy with what I’m doing, but I am always looking for opportunities to learn more. In fact, my boyfriend works on Dodges, and I’m a Ford person. I’ve learned quite a bit from him about working on Dodges. 

What do you love about the industry?

There is so much that I love about this industry, especially when I have been able to fix something — I’ve taken it apart and put it back together. It brings a great sense of accomplishment. 

What would you change in the industry if you could?

It might sound funny, but I sometimes feel that when the industry decides to build a new vehicle, it doesn’t look at it from the mechanic’s perspective. I feel that engineers sometimes place certain components in hard spots for mechanics to reach. On occasion, I find myself thinking, “Why would they do this? or “Why put that one thing there and not leave any room to get to it?” I hope that, as new vehicles are being designed, a mechanic or someone with experience in the industry who has dealt with design difficulties is consulted or has the opportunity to provide feedback. 

What advice would you pass on to someone entering the industry?

My best advice: If this is a career you are set on, don’t let the bad days or harsh comments get to you. Keep moving forward; you’ll find that there are many people who are decent and will help you along the way. Don’t get scared or give up on something that you want to do.