By Matthew Strader
When opportunity knocks, it sometimes arrives in work boots. In 2020, faced with an unexpected career crossroads, Samantha Da Silva found herself trading the promise of a dream job at a floral wholesaler for the unpredictable world of construction.
What began as a quick two-week stint assisting her husband’s new business, Miller Underground, quickly spiralled into a full-fledged career — one that would redefine both her ambitions and the industry itself.
Thrown into the deep end from day one, Da Silva took charge of operating a trailer-mounted flusher unit, towed by a Dodge 2500, with little prior experience.
“How hard could it be?” she mused. But as the days turned into weeks, and then months, it became clear that she was forging a new path. Now, five and a half years later, what began as a temporary gig has become a calling — one that she embraces with pride and determination.
A first love
Not long after her unexpected initiation into the trades, Da Silva obtained her DZ licence and helped Miller Underground purchase its first combo truck. She recalls the thrill of running her “first love”—a 2006 Sterling Vactor — and the bittersweet upgrade to a 2022 Western Star. The Sterling has earned a permanent place in her heart — and in the company’s growing fleet.
“The 2006 had its issues, but with enough love, it thankfully still runs like a tank,” Da Silva said.
Mastering the craft
Today, as Miller Underground’s Assistant Operations Manager, she operates a Vactor 2100i hydrovac flusher truck on a 2022 Western Star 4700 chassis, working alongside sewer and watermain crews to clean, inspect and repair both new and existing infrastructure. Her expertise spans air pressure and deflection testing, concrete chipping and everything required to get the job done. Beyond the technical, she plays a vital role in the day-to-day operations — running crews, scheduling, training new hires and even managing the company’s social media presence.
“I chip concrete and do whatever it takes to get the job done,” she said.
Her responsibilities extend to hydrovac work for locating services, digging up utilities and placing sonotubes for footings. Each task is approached with the same unyielding work ethic and pride in craftsmanship that has come to define her career.
Breaking barriers
As the only woman at Miller Underground — and frequently the lone female on site — she has navigated unique challenges.
Her journey led her to connect with other hard-working women in the trades, inspiring the formation of Tradeswomen Tribe: a group dedicated to mentorship, support and solidarity among women in the construction industry. Their monthly meetings are an opportunity for conversation and guidance, helping members thrive in a traditionally male-dominated environment.
“I take a lot of pride in my work,” she said. “My plan is to always grow and do better. Any opportunity I get to learn a new skill or hop in a new piece of equipment I am all there.”
A LiUNA 183 member, Da Silva credits the union with supporting her growth and opening doors to new experiences, including attending Tradeswomen Build Nations for two consecutive years — the world’s largest gathering of tradespeople, boasting more than 6,000 attendees this year.
Growth and opportunity
Da Silva’s vision for the future is rooted in growth — expanding Miller Underground’s staff, fleet and services, while seeking out new opportunities.
Whether it’s learning a fresh skill or hopping into the operator’s seat of a new machine, she is always eager for the next challenge.
For her, the sewer and watermain industry is more than just a workplace — it’s home. Colleagues have become family, fellow union members are extended kin and the tradeswomen she’s meets are cherished sisters in a shared journey.
Her story is one of resilience, pride and trailblazing leadership, proving that with grit and determination, anyone can carve their own path beneath the surface — quite literally.
”I am proud to call the sewer and watermain industry my home, my co-workers family, my union members extended family and my fellow woman in the construction my sisters,” she said.
