SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — During Women’s History Month, one local business owner is challenging expectations in an industry where women have traditionally been underrepresented.
At Punch & Die Metal Fabrication LLC, owner Tiffany Munford turned what started as a setback into an opportunity to build her own business in Syracuse.
“The company that we were working for got purchased by a German company and moved their operations to Boston,” Munford said. “My husband and I, all of our family and stuff are here, so we wanted to stay here.”
Instead of relocating or searching for new jobs, the couple decided to take a risk.
“They didn’t want to take the equipment with them,” she said. “So we decided, instead of being out of a job and looking for new jobs and stuff, let’s try it ourselves.”
Now, Munford runs a metal fabrication business in Syracuse, where the work is physically demanding and detail-oriented. But she says the challenges go beyond the job itself.
“It’s been hit and miss,” she said. “A lot of times I get the, ‘Can I talk to your boss?’ And then I have to remind them that I am the boss.”
While she says many people in the industry have been supportive, Munford believes the issue is larger than recognition.
“The challenge isn’t just about being recognized as the boss,” she said. “It’s about being seen as equally capable.”
For Munford, equality in the workplace should not be defined by gender, but by ability.
“I feel like women’s equality is, instead of thinking of it as per gender, I think you should just think of the job itself,” she said. “So as long as I can do it, a man can do it, you know, I think it’s just equal that way.”
Her story reflects a broader trend of women starting businesses and expanding their presence in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.
During Women’s History Month, stories like Munford’s highlight not only the growth of women-owned businesses, but the continued push for equality across all fields.