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In this episode: Christi and Angela welcome returning guest Faye Allen, now Managing Director at Rimkus and Head of Global Quantum Services, to discuss her book Building Women, released last June, its Goody Business Book Award, and its audio edition. Allen shares that readers’ responses—especially from men—have emphasized the book’s focus on working together and giving practical tools for improvement. She discusses allyship as an active role involving listening and calling out behaviors such as speaking over women in meetings and derogatory comments, stressing action in the moment. The conversation covers progress and remaining challenges in construction, including UK changes driven by #PPEThatFits, ongoing welfare issues like toilet facilities, industry stress from squeezed budgets and programs, poor payment practices, and mental health and suicide risks. Allen encourages accountability, apologies, and kindness.

Supported by: CIASP and NPK

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In this episode: Angela and Libby interview Diane and Ashley of Texas-based, women- and family-owned Tech Safety Lines about fall protection, rescue training, and safety equipment. Diane explains that she started the company 25 years ago after 9/11, networking with a Connecticut military manufacturer to bring a compact descender concept to firefighters and SWAT in Texas, later buying the patent and ensuring third-party testing to ANSI and EN standards. The company now has over 55,000 units in service across about 38 countries. Ashley describes their hands-on rescue training led by Dallas Fire Department technical rescue members, emphasizing “train until it’s muscle memory” and addressing the mental toll of rescue. Diane warns that relying on 911 is not a sufficient rescue plan due to limited specialized response capacity, and both share a mission focused on getting workers home safely.

Supported by: NPK

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In this episode: Angela Gardner and guest co-host Libby Mendriatta welcome Cheryl Cappelli and owner Rob Turner of Turner Brothers Construction to discuss leadership, culture, growth, and business development. Cheryl shares her nearly 30-year career path from receptionist to leading the Turner Brothers Greenville office by embracing challenges, asking questions, learning estimating and project management, and stepping outside her comfort zone through roles in business development and marketing. Rob explains how the company’s people-first “upside down pyramid” approach, core values (family, integrity, authenticity, heart), and mission statement (“remarkable people delivering superior results one yard at a time”) support a meritocracy across five locations, following a consistent “Chick-fil-A” quality standard. They discuss work-life prioritization, building client trust through relationships and performance, mentoring through industry involvement, investing in emerging talent, and connecting on LinkedIn.

Supported by: Groundbreak Carolinas

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