Gilliam, Kelli: - Kelli Gilliam is a North Carolina native, wife, mother of 5, and professional welder by trade. She is a United States Navy Seabee veteran; she completed 8 years as a Steelworker. Gilliam recently concluded 10 years of shipbuilding at the world's largest shipbuilding yard, where she achieved numerous recognitions including being their Apprentice School's first female Welding Craft Instructor. The Apprentice School at HII-NNS is where she was able to receive her welding apprenticeship and Associates in Business Administration. In 2018, Gilliam was 1 of 30, to receive the national recognition of Emerging Leader STEP Ahead award from the Manufacturing Institute in Washington D.C. In 2019, Gilliam was 4th Runner Up at the Mrs. Virginia America pageant. Through her platform "Changing the Perspective of Manufacturing" she speaks, mentors, and champions various STEM programs and organizations that bring about career exploration for K-12 students. She is the cover story for The WELDER magazine September 2018 issue. "Willow Discovers Welding" is her first book of many to come. The time she spent at her children's career days opened her eyes to the limited visibly of the many great career opportunities. After she became homeless for a period, with two small children, she had to rely on her welding knowledge for a job and it has since become a career, given her ability to build her family a brand new home, and now she gives back to make sure that others can be aware of the opportunities in the Manufacturing industry.