WOMEN IN WELDING
Tiffany Noel Orff lives in Corona, Southern California, USA. She is a former custom suspension shop owner/ fabricator who is currently working as a college welding instructor and founder of the Welding Women Syndicate. She began her welding career about 10 years ago as the owners’ girlfriend which quickly transitioned from as she describes “hand-me-that-wrench” to “shop girl” to co-owner within 3 years. She was part of every aspect of the shop from managerial duties to fabrication and strongly believes in becoming the quintessential “shopgirl” to gain as much knowledge as possible in whatever discipline of welding you choose to focus on. Tiffany also strongly believes in finding a strong support system which was one of the major contributing factors into creating the Welding Women Syndicate. It is a safe place to cultivate relationships with other welding women and to gather resources while also providing a platform to discuss and tackle the trials and tribulations associated to welding.
Tiffany Orff
What have been the major influences on your work? My mentor was my initial major influence. He was the owner of the custom suspension/ welding shop I originally worked at. His approach to welding seemed so effortless and he was so fearless. I wanted to learn it all aſter I met him. Aſterwards, I realised what a lonely journey it was as a woman in the custom automotive industry. I remember seeing Jessi Combs on TV one time, about nine years ago and cheered her on, knowing how much work went into building and went back to work. Gene Winfield for his tireless work ethic and notable style is one of my favourite fabricator/ automotive customisers.
Do you believe learning on the job is better than earning qualifications? I believe in a formal education when you can get it. Hopefully resources will increase for non-traditional vocational
studies. I also believe each job will dictate what qualifications you will need to get the job done.
Schooling and or formal qualifications/ certifications teach you metallurgy and the science behind welding which help you become a more valuable welder.
What special characteristics do you have that have made you a success in your chosen career? I am an ambidextrous welder formally trained in multiple process which has allowed me to cater to the multiple styles of each student associated to teaching as a welding instructor. There is a growing awareness of the role women are playing in welding now, how much of that do attribute to social media and the digital message being shared? I think the gender gap is bridged by social media because we seem to find each other due to the algorithm. Thankfully, due to vocational institutes and colleges becoming more intuitive to a demographic that hasn’t been catered to, I believe their strategic marketing has increased which places more women in the fore-front.
What is the way forward to getting more 12 / WELDING WORLD MAGAZINE - ISSUE 02 - APRIL 2021
women into welding and more girls into science and engineering subjects? I believe it’s necessary to show and highlight more welding women in key positions such as instructors, board members and business owners.
What jobs and projects stand out for you as something you are most proud of? I am most proud of all of my work but my work currently as a welding instructor and also as the founder of a world-wide syndicate that advocates for welding women.
What does the future hold for you? I am going to work towards earning my CWI/ CWE and currently In the process of turning Welding Women Syndicate into a non-profit organisation.
How would you like to be remembered in the industry? I want to be know as a woman of substance. A woman who worked her way through her welding career and then gave back as the opportunities arise so that more women could have more successful and positive introductions into welding. ■
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