November 2025
Walsh Construction Operator Lena “Teaspoon” Turek Featured on WGN-TV for Breaking Barriers in Heavy Equipment Operation
Chicago, IL - Walsh Construction is proud to recognize Lena Turek, one of our talented heavy equipment operators, who was recently featured on WGN-TV for her inspiring journey in the construction industry.
On the job site, Lena is known as “Teaspoon.” At just 24 years old, she is operating some of the heaviest machinery on the highway. She can run a bulldozer, excavator, skid steer, roller, compacter, and telehandler, equipment that moves earth, shapes roadways, and builds the infrastructure communities depend on every day. Her passion for the work began early, encouraged by her father who often told her, “There needs to be more girls out there.” With that encouragement, Lena stepped into the trades and hasn’t looked back.
Today, as a proud member of Operating Engineers Local 150 and an operator with Walsh Construction, Lena is not only operating machinery, she is helping lead safety sessions and women-in-leadership workshops, supporting a movement to welcome more women into the trades. She’s helping lead the way for more women to step into heavy equipment roles, and she knows her presence matters, especially to the young girls who wave from car windows as they see Lena in the dozer. “It’s incredible to be able to inspire,” she says. “I just love this so much.”