Published November 2025

When Janice Mañalac was two years old, her family left the Philippines for California after her father enlisted in the U.S. Navy. “When I once asked him why he joined,” she recalls, “he said it was because he wanted to open doors for us that wouldn’t have been possible back home. His decision set the course for the life I have today, and I carry that sense of opportunity and gratitude with me.”

That mindset, rooted in gratitude and grit, has carried Janice through a major career shift. After years managing coffee shops, she’s now an Inside Wireman apprentice with the Denver Joint Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee (DJEATC).

Her path to the trades started with a moment of curiosity and a Google search. “I was at a crossroads in my career after years in coffee shop management,” she says. “I knew I wanted to build something more sustainable but didn’t know where to start. One day, I literally Googled ‘best inexpensive careers to get into in Colorado right now.’ ‘Electrician’ kept coming up, so I went down the rabbit hole of research and discovered the apprenticeship program to become a union electrician. It felt like a lightbulb moment—no pun intended.”

Janice built her strong work ethic the hard way: paying for college while working as a barista and eventually running a shop. But when the pandemic shook the service industry, she decided it was time for something new. “I’d taken a few electrical engineering classes in college, and I missed the satisfaction of working with my hands,” she says. “I also grew up helping my dad work on cars, so I wasn’t afraid of a wrench or getting dirty. The trades offered me a path that combined problem-solving, physical work, and purpose—all things that matter deeply to me.”

The transition hasn’t always been easy. “Balancing school, work, and family has been one of the biggest challenges,” Janice says. Her first assignment put her on an outdoor solar farm, clocking long days and even longer commutes. “By the time I get home, there’s still schoolwork, studying, and IBEW [union] commitments to keep up with,” she says. “It’s a lot to juggle, but I’m lucky—my wife has been incredibly supportive, taking on more of the household load so I can focus on this opportunity.”

That discipline has paid off. “I’m proud that I’ve been able to apply my previous experience in management to my new role,” she says. “On site, I’ve taken ownership of inventory tracking—making sure our crew never runs out of the materials we need. It may sound small, but it’s key to keeping projects on schedule and avoiding wasted time. Finding ways to contribute value early on, even as a first-year apprentice, has been empowering—it reminds me that every skill I’ve built in past jobs has a place here too.”

Janice is on track to complete her apprenticeship program and graduate in 2029, when she’ll become a journey-level wireman after passing the state licensing exam. Her goals are already clear: “My goal is to become a highly skilled, reliable journey-level wireman who’s known for their work ethic and teamwork,” she says. “Beyond that, I hope to mentor new apprentices—especially women—by leading with patience, clarity, and a strong sense of pride in our craft. I want to show others that there’s space here for anyone willing to work hard and learn.”

While she hasn’t received direct financial assistance from Emily Griffith Foundation, Janice credits Denver Workforce for providing crucial support. “That funding helped cover the essentials—tools, weather-rated work gear, gas, and groceries—so I could focus on learning rather than worrying about expenses. It made a tangible difference during my first months on the job.”

She believes that donors who support apprentices are doing more than just funding education; they’re investing in stability and purpose. “Your donations go directly toward people building better lives,” Janice says. “The apprenticeship path is demanding—physically, mentally, and financially—but it opens doors to lifelong stability and pride in what we create. Supporting apprentices means helping hardworking people stay the course when things get tough. It’s one of the most meaningful investments you can make.”

For Janice, the work is personal and transformative. “As a small woman stepping into a male-dominated trade, I won’t lie—I was nervous at first. But this has turned out to be one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve proven to myself that I have the aptitude, grit, and resilience to thrive here.”

Her hope now is to make that same opportunity visible to others. “I hope more women see stories like mine and feel encouraged to join the trades,” she says. “There’s so much space for us here—to learn, to lead, and to redefine what an electrician looks like.”