Ryan Hewitt

Style #10877, Prospect Park, PA

Ryan Hewitt

Ironworker

For 27 years, I’ve been an ironworker out of Local 401 in Philadelphia. If it's made of steel and touches the sky— bridges, stadiums, skyscrapers—there’s a good chance I've had a hand in it. From the top of Citizens Bank Park to the beams of the Eagles and Union stadiums, I've walked the iron, welded the joints, and helped raise the skyline.

There's nothing like being hundreds of feet in the air with just your boots and your balance. That's why I've always worn Red Wings. The flat soles let me walk the beam with confidence. I've put these boots through everything: rain, heat, long shifts, and they've never let me down. They're on my feet when I'm welding on the job, riding my motorcycle off the clock, or just out and about. They've been to states all across the country, and they've carried me through a career I'm proud of. I even had one tattooed on me. That's how much they mean to me.

Being an ironworker isn’t just what I do, it's who I am. I'm a fourth-generation ironworker. My grandfather, my father, my uncle… they all worked the trade. Now I get to work side-by-side with my son, who's six years in. And my daughter? She's training to be an operating engineer. That kind of legacy doesn't happen by chance. It's something you build every day with your hands, your heart, and your name. I take a lot of pride in that.

It’s a balancing act, you’re up there like a ballerina with a sledgehammer.

RYAN HEWITT

When you're up on the steel, there's no room for shortcuts. I always tell the younger ironworkers: never step backward, always watch your footing, and look out for your brothers and sisters. I try to make time for anyone who's got a question, because passing on what you've learned keeps the job consistent, safe, and done the right way. We don't just build structures; we build each other up too.

Outside of work, I coached youth club teams for all three of my kids and even stepped in as the announcer at football games when no one else would. I just try to show up, do what needs doing, and be there for people. That's how I approach the job, and that's how I live.

I've had the chance to build big things with good people, and if my kids carry on in the trades with the same pride and care I was taught, then I know I've done something right.

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