Heavy equipment industry sees rise in female operators like 'Teaspoon'

Her name is Lena Turek--but on the job site, everyone knows her as “Teaspoon.”

The 24-year-old is commanding some of the heaviest equipment on the highway.

At 5-years-old, while other kids were dreaming about unicorns, she was dreaming about bulldozers.

"I'm having these crazy vivid dreams and I mean I'm almost sleepwalking. I'm talking like I will literally wake up holding levers in my hand!" she said.

But it was her dad who sealed it.

"He always inspired me. He would be like, ‘Hey there needs to be more girls out there,’” she said. “So I gave it a shot."

At 22 she started her apprenticeship at Local 150 running heavy metal outside and inside. Today she can run six diesel beasts, bulldozers, excavators, skid steer loaders and more.

She also leads safety classes and women in leaders