Jenny Graeber

With over 20 years of experience in Human Resources in the Industrial Construction Industry, I know this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m home here in beautiful Southern California with my boots and hard hat on, or my blazer on, depending on the day. My job is far from boring. There’s not a dull day. Like a lot of us in HR, I kind of just fell into it and fell in love with it.

My roots and heart are in the Oil and Gas industry. Because that’s where my journey began as a receptionist in my early twenties. Eventually, I worked my way up to an HR Project Manager position at a recruiting/staffing company. This is where I first earned a management title. After that job, I secured a position as a Human Resources Manager. Becoming an HR Manager was always my goal, and it's the accomplishment I'm most proud of. Throughout my journey, I've worked in various sectors, including oil and gas, mining, paving, asphalt, and staffing. Now I’m an executive leader and a proud 783 LiUNA union member. I’m the Human Resources Manager at The Laborers Training School of Southern California and Arizona. I am a Co-Chair on our Women in Construction (WIC) committee. In early 2026, I acquired my first professional certification. In mid 2026, I achieved my California Law HR Specialty Credential.

Being in Human Resources in the construction industry is very unique and niche. You have to be a little bit tougher, have confidence in yourself, and you better not be shy. The list of challenges is long and includes understanding complex California employment laws, investigations, navigating a unionized workforce with multiple collective bargaining agreements, and shaping a new culture in this industry of professionalism and skilled labor. This job has also expanded my learning to apprenticeship and student laws and regulations. The blend of office and field provides a good balance and change of scenery for me. This role is different because everyone here is unionized, unlike at my previous companies, where only field employees were.

Over the years, I've met lots of wonderful people, learned a ton, and seen the country. I know I've helped others, and that's why you do it. I did not get here by sitting in a nice, comfy office all day long. I got here by jumping from office to site, traveling, long days, strategic planning, and mental strain. I wake up in three o'clock hour every morning to be on the same schedule as the field employees. I remember working 16-hour days as HR on-site during a turnaround, traveling to the middle of nowhere in North Dakota in 19-degree weather to visit oil pumping stations, and demanding attention during mass onboardings of a hundred-plus employees who were ninety-nine percent male. And when you think you've seen it all, you haven't. You are always faced with a new challenge to figure out.