Meet Tami Gamble | Girly Shop Teacher| Instructor | Speaker | Trades Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tami Gamble and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tami, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I think the one thing about the construction and building trades that most people are not only unaware of but completely oblivious to is how these long-term industry careers affect the safety of their everyday lives. An immense amount of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in the construction industry impacts the safety, health, and wellbeing of all of us. Before getting out of bed in the morning, consider that the bed you are in, the floor you are about to step on, the room that surrounds you, the paint on the walls, and the temperature of your home are all impacted by the construction industry. Additionally, as you move through your day look around at the roadways, stores, medical facilities that were built by unsung construction heroes, with care and attention to details that keep all of us safe.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Aside from being a kid at heart that still loves Legos, puzzles, and Tinker Toys; I am still amazed that my childhood love of building has taken me around the world and afforded me the opportunity to become a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, an internationally certified construction and building trades instructor for both the NCCER-National Centers for Construction Education & Research and The Carpenters International Training Fund.

My journey with tools began when I was six years old, helping my dad build a concrete form for a new set of steps at our home. My appetite for building and creating with my hands was insatiable. However, schoolwork was always extremely difficult. I’m not exactly sure how my dad figured out how to blend the concepts from history, science and math into our home restoration projects but, he always found a way to correlate the concepts that gave me the most angst, with construction concepts that I enjoyed. He made reading the fractions of an inch a game by drawing out a fractioned hopscotch board on the ground. This action only reinforced my ability to read a tape measure causing me to fall deeper into the construction vortex.

My road to becoming the Girly Shop Teacher was by no means a direct route. After studying dental assisting in high school, I set off to Howard University to become a dentist. Sadly, I was extremely ill prepared to major in the sciences. Interestingly, just prior to my final college semester I learned that I had been living with dyslexia. Because of the observation and intervention of one of my professors, I was given the tools necessary to work with this learning superpower. One gift, dyslexia allows me is the ability to visualize images in 3D with great clarity. I am able to close my eyes and completely rotate objects just like using CAD-computer aided drawing. Encouraged by my professor, I changed my major to psychology with a minor in education. I thrived in my practicum classes and was afforded the chance to teach at an open-air school in DC.

Open air schools do not have walls between classrooms. The idea is that students glean from classes doing more advanced work easier when there are no walls between the rooms. Conversely, if a student needs reinforcement for a concept, they are encouraged to position themselves to do that without fear of penalty.

This model of, each one teach; one is also evident in the construction industry. Master trainers train instructors. Instructors train journeypersons and apprentices. Journeypersons provide hands on, on the job guidance to others in the field. Apprentices bring new ideas in technology to coworkers in the field which in turn migrates back to training.

I got where I am today in the construction education field because of my dad, a NCCER certified trades instructor, as well as a few great mentors and colleagues like Javaun Price-Educator, Dexter Johnson-Master Cabinet Maker & Craig Mitchell-Construction Foreman/Trades Instructor. Bear in mind the road to becoming a female trades instructor with a cocoa complexion in a predominately beige masculine environment has its own challenges. The level of doubt in regard to my skill, education and proficiency is always easy to identify. There is commonly a prejudice, undertone. Some of the insults are blatant, while others come in the form of twisted lips, side eyes, verbal snips or the denial of job and work opportunities. It’s fun to watch the minds of the doubters quickly change when I simply perform the task at hand or offer a bit of knowledge that they may not be aware of. I do find that being humble and always being a willing student goes a long way in earning the respect of new colleagues and forging lasting professional relationships.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I launched Girly Shop Teacher LLC and Girly Shop Teacher Foundation because that is what my former boss called me in a newspaper article. Former Duncanville High School Principal, Tia Simmons, ignited a spark in me with her words that have fueled my passion to put tools into the hands that need them. I derive the greatest joy when I help individuals achieve new skills and certifications in the construction and building trades industry.
Tia spoke a truth into my spirit that has opened doors for my presence in mainstream media. I was humbled to be a part of Disney+ inaugural season appearing as an instructor on the streaming show “Shop Class” and being invited to participate in the Apollo Theater’s-Apollo Education Series: Footprint in Sneaker Culture. I also earned a spot in the Duluth Trading Company’s-Real Women that Do Real Work campaign and cover story for Southwest Now Magazine. As a carpenter I have worked with Fortune 500 Companies including Disney, Home Depot, Capital One, Coke-a-Cola, and J.W. Marriott as well as the American Heart Association, True Value and NCAA. Each of these open doors have allowed me to work with young builders and organizations including Girl Scouts of America and Girlstart. Because of my presence in mainstream media, all of these honors combined have allowed me to serve as a trades advocate and speaker on diversity and inclusion in the construction trades.

It’s crazy the more I do on the trades education side, the more I see that needs to be done. I gladly invite those with the ability to support the efforts of recharging the construction workforce to partner with me to help engage the next generation and educate them in the building trades. The truth is these careers can be started at any age. I was only 6 years old when my dad put a hammer in my hand and had me pull nails out of wood planks. I have also helped retirees launch new careers because of safety and skills training, as well students that did not choose college or the military find a love for professions in the skilled trades.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am an Oak Cliff Girl so my tour would start where I played as a child at Twins Falls Park. There is a tranquil creek that runs through the park plus an amazing sculpture by my friend and Oak Cliff native, artist Jennifer Cowley. Since, I am a veggie lover I can’t tell you about the brisket, turkey legs or ribs, but I can tell you TD’s Barbecue has the best peach cobbler. Sankofa Kitchen is my go to for the Love of My Life Smoothie named after my childhood friend, Dallasite Erykah Badu and the Vegan Fish Po Boy. I can’t decide on a favorite from Recipe Oak Cliff because everything on the menu is so fresh it just tickles my taste buds. My sons and I regularly enjoy weekend afternoons in Deep Elum where everything is eclectic. I get to release all inhibitions at Slutty Vegan while my sons enjoy libations from Bitter End. Since my inner child is still very much alive I love Adult Night on Thursday’s at Southern Skates cause the music is pop-in and I love the way the air feels in my hair while I spin around the rink. Next a little time on my skateboard at 4DWN on Sunday morning and serving the community with Theresa Tumminia. She is the ULTIMATE survivor and GIVER! Her work spans into the construction industry and philanthropic arena, as the backbone of the 4DWN Food Rescue outreach. Her work allows close to 1000 DFW families a month to have fresh fruit and vegetables on their tables on a weekly basis. Salty Donuts, Gloria’s Latin Cuisine, and Casablanca in Bishop Arts all satisfy both my sweet tooth and Caribbean cravings. Lastly, no tour of Dallas would be complete for me without a stop at Dallas’ Old City Park where I am honored to serve as a board member. This historic landmark is riddled with history and building secrets of the past. Did you know Old City Park was the location of Dallas’ first park in 1876 and Dallas’ first zoo?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate this article of love to my late parents Dozier and Barbara Carter who bought the ugliest fixer-upper on Detroit’s west side. That home became my construction learning playground and serves as the catalyst and backdrop of my upcoming book, “Love Letters to My Toolbox.”

Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?
There would be no Girly Shop Teacher without the students I serve. A little credit is not enough to give to my sister-tribe of girlfriends. Becky Lewis, Schantelle Cason and Angelia Brown have been with Girly Shop Teacher since day one. Tracy Williams’ job referral predates Girly Shop Teacher and is a major reason for its inception. Graphics and photo credits to Miles Robinson, Percy Bryant & I’sha Gaines. Organization and planning would not be possible without Chrystal Smith, Veronica Moore, Mary V. and Dana Vilardi. My Howard University Sisters Joi Brown of Culture Creators, Trian Johnson, Raquel Woodard, & Karen Lucas the rest know who you are and always have the best advice. Love to my SisterWood aka sisters in construction. My siblings DJ Rob G at Radio One & KTSU in Houston, Cris, Erica, Daria & Adam keep me in line. Aunties Shari, Vanya, Felicia & Rozlyn & Uncles Jai and Henry are my best ears. All I’m gonna say is cousins, you know who you are, plus the Gilmore Family. Special thanks to my darling sons Titus, Barak & Caleb…my heartbeats. I thank each of you for graciously sharing your mom with so many other children and for your kindness when being VOLUNTOLD to perform Girly Shop duties.

Website: https://girlyshopteacher.com/

Instagram: GirlyShopTeacher

Linkedin: Tami Gamble-Gurnell

Facebook: TamiGam

Youtube: Garageschool.net

Image Credits
Becky Lewis, Shane Kirkpatrick