• Posted: May 8, 2025
• better careers, better communities, better construction, Chicago Tree Lighting at Millennium Park, Community Building, Gibson Electric, IBEW Local 134, Kristen Calhoun, Kristen Lugo, Mothers Day, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), women electricians, women in the skilled trades

Work-life balance can often feel elusive in today’s fast-paced world, especially as a parent or caregiver. IBEW Local 134 journeyman electrician Kristen (Calhoun) Lugo seems to have grasped a sense of harmony between her career and her family life that so many long for. As a mother of three, IBEW Local 134 member, and Gibson Electric employee, Lugo represents a growing number of women discovering that the electrical trade offers both financial stability and the flexibility to be present for life’s important moments.

“In general, the trades, and [IBEW Local] 134 specifically, really offer that flexibility for a great work-life balance,” Lugo explains. “I don’t miss out on any of the big events in [my kids’] lives. I’m able to be home by 3:30, and most practices, games, graduations and plays happen after those hours.”

Lugo’s path to the electrical trade wasn’t traditional. After high school, she initially pursued social work, driven by a desire to help others. However, watching her father, a longtime IBEW 134 member since 1986, come home and share stories about his workday sparked her curiosity.

“I was like, ‘Do you think that’s maybe something I could try?'” Lugo recalls asking her father. “And he said, ‘Well, there’s a program called the helpers program for people who need to learn about the trades before they get in.'”

After joining the program in 2015 and entering the apprenticeship in 2016, Lugo discovered a passion for transforming spaces from the ground up. While she’s worked on many impressive projects, nothing compares to her experience with Chicago’s Millennium Park Christmas Tree.

“I got to be a part of making magic happen for so many people during the holiday season,” Lugo shared with excitement. “Thousands of people showed up to see something I had done and stared in wonder. I even got to place the star on top of the tree.”

The emotional impact of seeing her work bring joy to so many Chicagoans left a lasting impression. 

“I even got a little emotional at the tree lighting,” she admits. “I think that was definitely the most fun project I’ve ever been a part of because of how many people’s lives it reached.”

The culture of family extends beyond the job site. For Lugo, the connections formed with fellow tradespeople have created an invaluable support system, especially as a mother. When her three-month-old son was hospitalized with RSV, a female coworker pulled her aside, spent time researching the condition, and supported her through the frightening experience.

“They rally around you and help you and rejoice with you,” Lugo says of her union sisters and brothers. “If you’re ever feeling unsure if you’re making the right choice, they’re always there to let you know.”

This culture of support translates to the union’s policies as well. Lugo highlights IBEW Local 134’s progressive maternity leave policies as groundbreaking in the construction industry.

“134 is really paving the way for women in the industry with our new maternity leave policies,” she notes. “They’re really making space for women. I think anybody that is a mother or wants to become a mother and is a woman in the trades — this really is the most supportive environment you could ask for.”

The financial benefits have been equally significant. Lugo speaks passionately about the security her career provides for her family — a 15-year-old daughter, seven-year-old daughter, and three-year-old son.

“I know without a shadow of a doubt that we have one of the best insurance packages,” Lugo says. “My kids can go to the best doctors, and with [our] competitive wages, I can provide them extra support without worrying about it breaking the bank.”

Her career has come full circle in many ways. Her father, who introduced her to the trade, has since retired, but remains her trusted advisor. Her husband is also an IBEW 134 member (though they work for different contractors). And perhaps most meaningfully, she’s showing her children what’s possible.

“I am teaching my children every day that as a woman, as a mother, I can go and do this job and provide for you,” Lugo explains. “How you’re building with Legos today could be skyscrapers tomorrow.”

As the electrical industry continues evolving, Lugo represents the changing face of construction trades, proving that with the right support system, women can thrive in skilled careers while raising families.

“If my children were to choose this path in life, I would be thrilled,” she says. “I think anybody who has the courage to step outside what is typically considered the traditional route knows how rewarding it’s going to be.”

Explore our industry programs page to learn more about Powering Chicago’s apprenticeship program.