What began as a lighthearted post on social media has turned into a mission for Angie Cacace. In 2015, at the start of her first year in a building technologies program, she posted a hashtag that struck a chord—and it’s been gaining momentum ever since.
Angie’s entry into carpentry started not long before that first class. After buying a fixer-upper in North Carolina, she took on the kitchen renovation herself, handling the cabinetry and carpentry while hiring out the plumbing and electrical, learning as she went. Her work won Best Kitchen Remodel in This Old House magazine’s reader contest and sparked a new passion.
Encouraged, Angie enrolled at Central Carolina Community College. On her first day, she was surprised to find that half her classmates were women. Seeing other women learning the trades showed her, in a way words never could, that she belonged there too. That night she made a lighthearted post about it on Facebook: “Fun fact: half the people in my construction class are women. #MoveOverBob.”
The hashtag went viral and quickly became a way to connect with women in the trades around the world. “I learned there were many other women like me pursuing this very male-dominated industry, and it was really powerful for me,” Angie says.
As her career grew, eventually leading to the launch of her design-build firm, so did her mission. She began reposting stories and writing profiles of other women in the trades. In 2020, she launched MoveOverBob.com, publishing more than 80 articles highlighting women in skilled trades and the value of trades education.
“I learned there were many other women like me pursuing this very male-dominated industry, and it was really powerful for me.”
– Angie Cacace, Co-Founder, Move Over Bob
Still, Angie wanted to do more—to reach beyond women already in the trades and connect with girls still in school who might not realize a career in the trades is even an option. In early 2025, she closed her design-build business to focus full-time on Move Over Bob. She partnered with Kate Glantz, who has a marketing background, to expand her outreach to middle and high schools.
To reach students, Angie and Kate had to reach those giving them advice—counselors, teachers, and parents. With shop classes missing from schools, many of these adults lack the knowledge to present the trades as a career option. To change that, Move Over Bob has created downloadable guides for educators and recently released its first print magazine, distributing 15,000 copies to schools and libraries.
“This is the magazine I—and a lot of women I speak with—wish I had in high school,” says Angie. It’s just the beginning of Angie’s mission to help the next generation of women not only see a future in the trades but feel equipped to get there.
— Jennifer Morris; FHB editorial assistant. Photo by Geoff Wood.
Keep Craft Alive is our campaign celebrating those who have chosen to passionately pursue a career in design, building, and remodeling. Find out more and show your support by visiting KeepCraftAlive.org, and use #KeepCraftAlive to share your passion for the cause.
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