30 years ago today, I woke up to the sound of my roommate screaming in the middle of the night. That moment changed me, and it shapes how I advocate for safety in the workplace. In this episode, I share the story of that night, how it shaped certain aspects of my life, and how I bring that experience to work when advocating for workplace safety. This episode is meant to highlight why open communication and mutual understanding are essential for fostering a culture of collaboration at work.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Join the email list to Learn More and be the FIRST TO KNOW when the NEXT 14%ers box goes on sale!
Today's chat is with Sharron Halpert, founder of Halpert Life Safety Consulting. Sharron not only leads the "Build Better Crew" but is also the creator of the Firestop Coffee Break trainings. As we talk about her career and life experiences, learn how Sharron went from vagabond to passionate advocate for fire safety.
Let's dive into her journey, explore her passion for fire safety, and learn how proactive training can not only empower leaders and workers but ultimately enhance project integrity. Let’s make our industry safer—together!
PS... if you're a subscriber of the 14%ers, you can snag a special discount on her trainings through the coupon code inside your July 2025 14%ers box!
If you find value in this episode, be sure to share it with your network!
Build Better Crew Agenda and signup link
Firestop Coffee Break Training Link
Halpert Life Safety Consulting
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Join the email list to Learn More and be the FIRST TO KNOW when the NEXT 14%ers box goes on sale!
In this special episode I take you behind the scenes of the July 14%ers Box. If you’re new to the 14%ers community, this box is a quarterly subscription curated specifically for women in construction—packed with gear that fits, swag we will actually use, and a sense of belonging for Women in Construction.
I will walk you through the thought process behind each carefully selected item from the July 2025 box meant to support women in both the field and the office.
Already a subscriber? Now you can experience the unboxing on the go—no screen required! Not a subscriber yet? Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the Anniversary box goes on sale.
Rather WATCH the Live Unboxing? Click HERE.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Join the email list to Learn More and be the FIRST TO KNOW when the NEXT 14%ers box goes on sale!
In this Mental Health Awareness series, we're tackling a crucial topic: mental health in the construction industry, where suicide rates are alarmingly high.
This episode's guest is Dr. Ashley Smith, a renowned psychologist and speaker with profound expertise in mental health awareness and known for her book, *"The Way I See It".
Dr. Ashley breaks down the two main pathways of suicidal ideation; Gradual Despair and Abrupt Crisis. She also dives into myths around suicide, the role language plays in promoting understanding and compassion around suicide, and she provides practical steps and resources for those wanting to be part of the solution.
🌟Remember, a simple check-in can make a world of difference. Your voice matters—start the conversations, check in on colleagues, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help when you need it.
Get a free chapter of Dr. Ashley's book when you subscribe to her monthly newsletter: www.drashleysmith.com/subscribe
Suicide-related articles by Dr. Ashley:
"How to Talk about Suicide, from a Psychologist Who Lost a Loved One"
"What I Wish Everyone Knew About Suicide"
Articles about mental health more broadly
Dr. Ashley's BLOG
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? The JULY 2025 box is on sale now! Grab it HERE.
Part TWO of my conversation with Lea Rummel on Mental Health Awareness and will remind you that behind every project, REAL PEOPLE face significant challenges.
Lea talks about creative approaches, such as:
➡️ placing mental health resource cards in portable toilets
➡️and integrating education into first aid training to demonstrate a company or project's dedication to making mental health support accessible and relatable.
Let’s break the stigma and equip ourselves with the knowledge to support one another.
Where to find Lea:
Instagram, Watch her story HERE
Mental Health Resources:
Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP)
National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health by Ken Duckworth, MD
You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Your Child’s Mental Health by Christine M. Crawford, MD
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? The JULY 2025 box is on sale now! Grab it HERE.
Lea Rummel, a Mental Health Advocate and Electrical Estimator with Rudolph and Sletten dives into her INSPIRING career journey from a temporary front desk assistant to a key player in Preconstruction. We also discuss her personal experiences and how they have fueled her passion for Mental Health Awareness. the need is urgent to create open channels for discussion, accessible resources, and support systems in order to confront the mental health stigma within our industry. Join us for this two-part series, where we aim to make our industry safer for everyone. Remember, being open about mental health can save lives! Let's work together to change the narrative. 💪💚
Where to find Lea:
LinkedIn, Instagram, Watch her story HERE
Mental Health Resources:
Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters: The Science Behind Employee Happiness and Organizational Performance by Jan-Emmanuel De Neve & George Ward
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? The JULY 2025 box is on sale now! Grab it HERE.
Where did the idea for the 14%ers Subscription Box come from? What crazy things happened between the first idea and shipping the first box? Who is helping out behind the scenes? What vendors have I partnered with? If you are interested in the answers to any of these questions, THIS IS THE EPISODE FOR YOU!
Join HERE to Join the Waitlist before the next box goes on sale!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Join the Waitlist to be the first to learn when the JULY 2025 box goes on sale! HERE.
Rebecca Heustess is a talented tile setter with Grazzini Brothers and the president of her local NAWIC chapter. With over 17 years of experience in the construction industry, Rebecca has NOW made the decision to transition into leadership which her company leaders have been urging her to do for quite awhile. Transitioning into leadership can be daunting. Rebecca utilized the NAWIC Leadership Academy sponsored by Ambition Theory to help get her there. Learn her story and more about the Leadership Academy in this episode. NEXT COHORT STARTS APRIL 28TH, 2025!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Join the Waitlist to be the first to learn when the JULY 2025 box goes on sale! HERE.
In this interview with Structural Construction Manager, Casey Hoyt, he dives into actionable steps men can take to promote inclusivity in the workplace, from mindful language to raising awareness about the benefits of diversity around both plan tables and conference room tables. Heartfelt anecdotes about his journey, the role of mentors, being a girl dad, and the influence of strong women in his life provide a personal touch and underscore the importance of advocacy.
This episode can also be found in the 2025 WIC Week Audio Summit. Click HERE to get access to the full Audio Summit titled "Women in Construction...from the Guy's Perspective".
To hear more about the Sami Wallace, the female Sr. Superintendent that Casey talks about in this interview, check out Episode 35.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Join the Waitlist to be the first to learn when the JULY 2025 box goes on sale! HERE.
Lia Lamela is a trailblazing electrician whose journey from adversity to empowerment is nothing short of impressive. She shares her personal story of overcoming domestic violence and how an all-women apprenticeship program opened doors for her as an electrician. This conversation emphasizes the impact of how female camaraderie in this industry can transform jobsites and offices and create a sense of belonging that moves women forward.
Listen to Lia's Podcast: The Sparky Life Podcast
Learn more about the services Lia provides through: Sparky Life Solutions
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
It just doesn't have to be that hard! Pittsburgh architect Katelyn Rossier host of the podcast **Mentor Dino** and I talk from completely different angles about the complex yet crucial relationship between architects and contractors. We shed light on communication gaps and offer actionable strategies for creating collaboration in project environments.
Want to hear the Mentor Dino episode where Katelyn interviewed Barb? Click HERE.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
Have you, or someone you know or work with, needed maternity workwear in construction? In this episode, Svetlana Blancher, the founder of Rugged Peach Workwear, and I dive into the often-overlooked world of maternity clothing and PPE for pregnant women in the construction industry.
Svetlana is on a mission to redefine women's workwear experience during pregnancy and postpartum, and has a new line of safety workwear for pregnant and post-partum women coming out very soon! This is an episode you will want to share.
I can't wait to be able to provide her products in a future 14%ers box curated specifically for Pregnant and Post-Partum Women in Construction!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
🗝️How do you capitalize on what 2024 taught you about YOURSELF? A part 2 from the last episode, let's dive into The Power of No, The Need for Connection, and the Importance of Accountability and Reminders to help you capitalize on what you learned about yourself in 2024...to THRIVE in 2025.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
🎙️✨ End-of-year reflections are here! Let’s ask ourselves: “What did I learn about MYSELF this year, and how can I capitalize on that for 2025?” 🌱
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
Jessi Lynn, author of *The Truth About Being a Woman in Construction* and CEO of #PivotHIGHHer is my guest on this episode. We talk about how storytelling and open dialogue are essential for a more inclusive construction industry. Telling YOUR STORY can empower the next generation of women in construction....so start telling!
Find Jessi Lynn on LinkedIn | Pivot HIGHer.coach |www.thetruthwomaninconstruction.com
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
What season is your career in? Are you going through a rough patch? Or soaring high? We all go through seasons in our careers. They are ever changing just as the leaves. This episode is your reminder that you aren't alone!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
How do we increase retention and successfully prepare the next generation of construction industry professionals? In this episode, I sit down with Lee Glavaz, the dynamic CEO and and one of two founding partners of Metroscape, a residential construction management firm in Toronto, Canada. During the episode she shares her inspiring journey from customer service to construction leadership and we talk about the effects of respect, acknowledgement, real world expectations, openness, and inclusivity in order to retain and better prepare the future generations in our industry. As a bonus, discover how Lee broke barriers in the construction industry and made her mark as the first female project manager on a five-story wood-panelized construction project in Toronto.
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
Not for little ears! Let's talk for a moment about the societal "rules" that keep us from actually making progress and how we can overcome the paralysis that they sometimes cause. Let's move forward!!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
Are you dwelling on your setbacks or using them for motivation? In this episode with Cammie Beckert, Managing Partner and Owner of Cameron Custom Homes and Renovations, we talk about how her journey with failing forward started with a punch in the gut comment from a high school counselor that motivator her to prove him wrong. Cammie has been using this mentality to propel herself forward ever since and she wants you to know how life changing it can be for you as well!
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
Consensus versus Compromise, and why it's important. In this episode, Doreen Bartoldus, Sr. Director of Client Services at Brown & Caldwell, and I dive into the art of building consensus in a world that feels increasingly divided. Sharing insights from her experience in managing multimillion-dollar projects, Doreen highlights why fostering unity among diverse perspectives is essential for effective collaboration – both professionally and personally.
Click HERE to learn more about the Leadership Academy
Looking for a Construction Industry Speaker that has Real Construction Experience? Someone your audience can truly relate to? Check out my Keynotes at ConstructionBarb.com and let's start a conversation to ensure your next event gets rave reviews! Barb@LevocityForChange.com
Have you heard of the 14%ers Quarterly Subscription box curated SPECIFICALLY for Women in Construction? Learn more and Purchase the APRIL 2025 box HERE.
