Lower Moreland Vice President Speaks on Women's Role in the Workplace

Lower Moreland Township Vice President Jill Blumhardt was selected earlier this month to speak at the Montgomery County Women's History Month Luncheon.

The sixth annual luncheon celebrated women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Blumhardt and two other speakers talked about the challenges of working in fields made up of mostly men.

"I had a direct call from Leslie Richards who asked me if i wanted to participate in the panel," Blumhardt said. "So I said sure, not really knowing what to expect."

She may have not known what to expect, but she was glad she was part of the conference when it was all said and done.

"It was an honor," she said. "I was really humbled. When I left there, I left there really empowered. Women need to empower and unite with other women. Especially when it comes to professions when you're the underdog. You need to bond together.

Blumhardt, who is only one of two women on the Lower Moreland Board of Commissioners, spoke about her experience in dealing with other men in the field.

"I spoke about the challenges of being in a male dominated field, specifically just trying to keep it real," she said. "I gave a specific situation where I'll go out to sites where there are drillers, contractors and I'm charge. if anything goes wrong its on me. I've learned to approach the situation and have learned to become friends with them."

Blumhardt joined Martha Custer, Nicole Levine and Laura Baehr, who spoke to a group of about 120 or so people at the Plymouth Country Club in Plymouth Whitemarsh on March 20.

"The common theme among all of us is that we are all in male dominated fields," said Blumhardt, who was appointed to the Montgomery County Planning Commission last February. "It's unusual to find someone with a similar background. It was good to connect with those women."

Recently Lower Moreland Township elected a new Community Events Board where Blumhardt appointed other women to join her on the committee.

"Trying to get more women involved on our volunteer board, like the Community Events Board, and trying to help through those channels."