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For 25 years, West Virginia Women Work has helped individuals gain the skills, confidence, and connections to build rewarding careers in the skilled trades. Amber Legg is one of those success stories.

What were you doing before you joined the Step Up program?

Before Step Up and my job at Marathon, I had a lot of retail and food service jobs and also worked in EMS. The Step Up program changed the entire trajectory of my life. I don’t think people in the state realize how important this is.

How did you find out about the Step Up program?

I learned about it on Facebook. I called the number in the post and talked to Regional Coordinator Nichole Stephenson. She was surprised that someone from my area was interested because it was quite a long haul from my home to the class. The program offers mileage reimbursement, which helped a lot, and I probably wouldn’t have been able to complete the program without it.

How did you land your job at Marathon?

Our Step Up class toured the refinery as well as the Marine. Their HR representative said they were going to hire soon, so I applied. Initially, I was interested in becoming an electrician, but by the time I was accepted into the union, I’d received a job offer from Marathon and decided to go that route. The class tour introduced me to the career opportunities at Marathon, which I may not have discovered otherwise.

I started as a Deck 3, which is what they call a Red Hat in Marine. So, I started at the bottom, but I worked on my certifications until I moved up to Deck 2 and then E4, which is an engineer position.

Could you describe a day in the life of a deckhand?

A full-time deckhand is doing tow work, cleaning the bow, making lines to catch fittings, laying wires, and doing basic housekeeping. You wear a lot of different hats when you’re working on deck.

I had to have my tankerman’s license to become a River Engineer 4 (E4), which shows I’m trained to fuel the boat, which is part of the engineer’s job. I became responsible for maintenance of the engine, generators, refrigerators, and anything else that’s electrical like the communication systems. I was also responsible for fueling the boat, keeping the engine room clean, and maintaining the steering system.

How did you prepare for these positions?

I like to know what I’m doing before accepting a position, so I stayed up late on my off-watch to learn how to fulfill the duties of each role. That kind of initiative is key to advancing in this field. You also need a letter of recommendation from the captain and from the engineer to get hired in the E4 role.

What is it like being an engineer at Marathon?

At first, I felt I needed to prove myself, but I’m proud to say I only received compliments on my work. Some people specifically requested me to be on their team, and that was an indication that I knew how to do the job well. Like most people, I sometimes have that little voice in my head that likes to say discouraging things to me, but it’s important to keep it in check.

Would you recommend the job to other women?

Absolutely. I love my job.

It’s important to know that roles in Marine are on a cycle that requires employees to work for 28 days on the boat and then go home for 28 days. The time away from home can be tough for some people. However, Marine is perfect for a woman who enjoys physical labor, likes being outside, and doesn’t mind getting dirty.

From Marine, you can go to other divisions like the wheelhouse or the engine room if you like mechanical stuff. I like to tinker with things so that’s why I moved to the engine room. You could also try transferring to the terminal, pipeline, or refining divisions. As for me, I’m transferring from Marine to the refinery soon.

What are some of your favorite benefits of the job?

It gave me a sense of accomplishment to start on a barge as a deck hand and work my way up to an engineer in two and a half years. A lot of the employees work as deckhands for several years before they try to move up.

The people on the boat become your second family because you see them more than you see your own family when you’re working that long 28-day stretch. I’ve made a lot of good friends and had great teachers along the way, and I wouldn’t have progressed to the engineer position without them. Marathon recognizes hard work and dedication. If you’re willing to put in the effort, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and advance.