Caitlyn Bieniak
Job Title: Apprentice Electrician
Company: Pieper Power
Location: Waukesha, Wis.
Age: 25
Years on the Job: 2.5
Interests: Hiking with her wife and dog, longboarding, and fixing cars. They have visited many states nationwide and enjoy finding new places to explore.
Caitlyn Bieniak’s dad, mom, and grandfather are all electricians, sparking her interest in the trade.
“Coming from a long line of electricians, I always feel a sense of added pride in my work,” she says.
Bieniak was born and raised in Waukesha County, Wis., and after enlisting as a diesel mechanic in the Marine Corps, she lived in California for four years before moving back to Wisconsin to start her apprenticeship.
So far, she has completed two-and-a-half years of her five-year apprenticeship program. As an apprentice, she has completed different labs and participated in simulations to be prepared for on-the-job situations. She also gained electrical experience while serving in the Marines, which molded her into a strong leader and instilled many positive traits in her — such as dependability, initiative, and drive.
“Working with electrical systems on vehicles in the Marines gave me important background knowledge that has proven useful in the field,” she says.
As a second-year apprentice, she enjoys traveling to different job sites and learning new skills. At the same time, she is challenged by adapting to the pace of the job site.
“Some days, the pace is very quick, and there is a multitude of tasks to get done,” she says. “Other days, you have to adapt to the pace of the other trades and work together to get everything completed in a timely manner.”
She is currently working on a full remodel as well as an addition to a church built in the 1860s. In the future, she envisions working as a journeyman running jobs successfully for her company.
“I plan to finish my apprenticeship and constantly find ways to improve my knowledge in the field,” she says.
