Women's power in Brandenburg's crafts

The number of women running craft businesses is increasing. In Brandenburg, almost one in four craft businesses has a female owner. Many of them engage in volunteer work, especially in recruiting young talent.

This article is part of the special feature on women in the trades.

International Women's Day on March 8th is often used as an opportunity to take stock of the extent to which women hold leadership positions in various sectors of the economy . Looking at the skilled trades in Brandenburg, one frequently encounters women who serve as owners , partners , board members , or managing directors . And this is by no means limited to "typical female domains" such as hair salons or beauty studios.

Corina Reifenstein, for example, has long been a familiar name to those in the political and economic circles of Brandenburg. The trained construction worker and graduate engineer has been managing partner of Terpe Bau GmbH in Spremberg for almost 14 years – together with her husband, Bert Reifenstein . This construction company has completed numerous building projects in the region, as well as in Mecklenburg and even on Mallorca . In her honorary capacity, Corina Reifenstein serves as President of the Cottbus Chamber of Skilled Crafts and Trades, where she frequently negotiates with leading Brandenburg politicians.

Dörte Thie , owner of the Dörte Thie Dental Studio in Blankenfelde-Mahlow, is one of the most prominent female figures in Brandenburg's skilled trades . Alongside her entrepreneurial activities, she is actively involved as the honorary Vice President of the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts , as a member of the board of the Central German Dental Technicians' Guild , and in various other skilled trades organizations. She is never at a loss for words when it comes to politics. In an interview with a daily newspaper, she said: "I don't want to be Chancellor (...). However, if I were Chancellor, my first priority would be to curb bureaucracy. So much time and energy is wasted on often pointless bureaucratic tasks that we could much better use for other things."

Dedicated advocacy

Mandy Rechenberger is one of the women who shape the guild activities in the state of Brandenburg . The beautician not only runs her master craftsman business " Angel Face " in Zeuthen, but is also active as the head of the Brandenburg State Beauticians' Guild and, especially during the difficult Corona times, ensured that politicians took note of the concerns and hardships of the beauty salons affected by months of closures.

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Two years ago, Anett Wahl stepped into the spotlight. The owner and managing director of the bakery and confectionery company Wahl GmbH, with over 40 branches and more than 230 employees, was named "Entrepreneur of the State of Brandenburg" in 2022. She learned all aspects of the bakery business from the ground up and took over the family business in 2017. Since then, she has not only been scrutinizing her products but also her production processes. She is consistently focusing on digitalization – from personnel scheduling and GPS-based fleet management to a networked bakery.

Creativity and experience

Sandy Fredrich, Commercial Director of HSW Heating and Sanitary Woltersdorf Photo: © Loreen Drewes

Sandy Fredrich has been active in the heating and plumbing industry for over 30 years . During the period of German reunification, she retrained as an office administrator. She completed her internship at HSW Heizung und Sanitär Woltersdorf e.G. (HSW Heating and Plumbing Woltersdorf) . A stroke of luck – for both sides . Sandy Fredrich worked in many departments within the company, initially advancing to customer service manager and is now the commercial director . In this role, she is responsible, among other things, for ensuring that orders are continuously acquired and fulfilled in order to keep the 68 employees employed. No easy task given the current sharp downturn in the construction industry.

Even after three decades, the appeal of this often somewhat rough industry hasn't faded for Sandy Fredrich. Quite the opposite: "I find this combination unique – the close contact with our customers on the one hand, the social aspect. And on the other, the constant technical innovations that exist in our field. And how our guys ultimately create a great product from the sophisticated technology and materials."

From restorer to paper artist

Sarah Steemers , who runs her " Paper Workshop at the Water Tower " in Beelitz-Heilstätten , is still at the beginning of her entrepreneurial career . For the trained conservator , who also learned bookbinding techniques , paper is both a passion and a medium. In addition to restoring books, documents, and medieval manuscripts, she has been producing unique bookbinding-related items and practicing artistic paper design in her workshop since September 2023.

In addition to her family, she also received support on her journey into daily business from the Potsdam Chamber of Crafts. The consultation included an analysis of her personal and business situation, as well as the planned start-up and the services offered. Sarah Steemers already feels "professionally settled." In the inspiring atmosphere of her workshop in Beelitz-Heilstätten, she can focus on expressing her creativity through paper-based work.

From florist to master confectioner

Katja Grünler-Erchinger, Managing Director of Grünlers Backstuben GmbH

Creativity has always been Katja Grünler-Erchinger 's driving force, and in more ways than one. Even during her school days, her heart belonged to floristry . However, 20 years ago, she gave up her floristry apprenticeship to become a confectioner , and promptly earned her master's certificate . She founded her business in Oranienburg at the age of 24. She has continuously invested in modernizing and expanding her company. In 2018, grants from the Brandenburg State Investment Bank enabled her to build a new production line right next to her main branch.

Today, the company employs a total of 32 people and trains apprentice bakers and confectioners . Katja Grünler-Erchinger has never regretted her decision to switch to the confectionery trade. She gives a lot back to the craft and is actively involved in voluntary work: as an examiner on the journeyman and master examination committees for confectioners at the Chamber of Skilled Crafts.

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