Tricia Kagerer
January 22, 2021
Today on The Jay Allen Show, Jay speaks with Tricia Kagerer. She is a book author, a pioneer in the field, and the first female recipient of the CSP Award of Excellence presented by the BCSP. During the conversation, Tricia discusses her career, how she got to where she is now, and how The B Words' concept came about.
Enjoy it today on The Jay Allen Show.
Safety FM would like to thank Air Med Care for being the signature sponsor of this episode!
Today on The Jay Allen Show, Jay speaks with Tricia Kagerer. She is a book author, a pioneer in the field, and the first female recipient of the CSP Award of Excellence presented by the BCSP. During the conversation, Tricia discusses her career, how she got to where she is now, and how The B Words' concept came about.
Enjoy it today on The Jay Allen Show.
Safety FM would like to thank Air Med Care for being the signature sponsor of this episode!
[00:00:02] spk_1: this'd This show is brought to you by safety FM eyes streaming now on safety FM life Hello and welcome to another edition of the J. Allen Show. I hope everything is good and grand in your neck of the woods as we continue to do thes different things inside of the times that we are in inside of 2021. It seems like I threw some people off this week when I decided to move the mini to Tuesday. So I'm glad that it through some people off. That was the whole point of the sequence of events. Well, today it's really gonna be strange because the normal interview that we would have done on Tuesday we're doing today on Friday. But I have to tell you this particular interview that we have going on today, I'm glad we're doing it right now on Friday. So let me tell you some information about what is going on today. I have the honor and privilege of speaking to Tricia Kegger as the e v p. Of risk management for Jordan Foster Construction. Tricia rose through the executive ranks of historically male dominated construction industry, defined herself in a lonely place as one of the Onley women in the room. Now her mission is to change the dynamic by equipping organizations and individuals to create healthier work environments that celebrate intersectional diversity, reduced risk and empower future generations. Tricia created unauthentic life and career in her own unique way, all while raising a family. Over the years, more women have joined non traditional professions. Yet in many industries it is still uncommon to see women in leadership roles. Patricia considers herself one of the lucky ones to have navigated a career into the C suite and her goals to share her journey with others so she can open doors for the next generation of women, spark a conversation and a pass on key lessons learnt that will ultimately make a impact in a difference. Besides this, she is also the author of a book titled The B Words. Now I have to tell You have to take a read of this one if you have not done so yet. But let me tell you what happened. Yesterday evening, Tricia was recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as the first woman to ever received the CSP Award of Excellence So it is my privilege in honor Toe. Have you listen to this conversation with Tricia caterer and myself here on the J. Allen. Jim. So Tricia is I actually go down this I will just kind of ask all kinds of questions. So I apologize ahead of time. And I always tell people, if you don't feel comfortable asking, um, answering one don't hesitate to say I'm not answering that you wouldn't be the first person and probably not the last person to do so. But I normally normally start off with the most simplest question, which probably sometimes the most difficult one. What caused you to get involved into safety?
[00:03:23] spk_0: I literally fell into safety, as they say. It's my safety joke, you
[00:03:32] spk_1: say literally eso.
[00:03:36] spk_0: Basically, I worked. So I started out of college as a worker's compensation claims adjuster in El Paso, Texas, and that was my career of choice because they offered me a salary and a job after I graduated at 21 years old and
[00:03:53] spk_1: yeah, exactly. And so
[00:03:56] spk_0: then I went into manufacturing a few years later, and I was working for a stone washed denim jean manufacturing company in El Paso we had over 1000 employees, and, uh, they hired me because their workers compensation was out of control. They were actually gonna have to shut down if they didn't get under control. And I spoke Spanish. I grew up in El Paso. We had three or four incidents where employees were moving pallets of rocks out with their hands and needs from under these really large, gigantic washing machines. And I went out on the production floor and just asked the guys why they were doing it that way. And they told me that the pallet jacks were broken. So I marched down to the maintenance office and introduced myself and asked the maintenance man very nicely in Spanish if he could please fix the pallet jacks. And lo and behold, I saved the soft are the lower back strain issue within the company. A few weeks later, Ah, gentleman flew down from South Carolina and asked me if I'd like to be the safety director.
[00:05:06] spk_1: Nice. That's a change. Now I have to backtrack because I speak Spanish as well, but I don't know that I don't know that one word that you just referenced. How do you safe college in Spanish. No, this
[00:05:18] spk_0: is interesting. There's probably and I don't even remember the rial way to say it. There's probably, like, some big word, but in in El Paso, in the border, Spanish it was Got those. So So it says, which is also a cat, right? So, um, so they learned the slang word for it, and I asked the maintenance person to fix the Gatto's than he did. Um, but yeah. So
[00:05:41] spk_1: it's interesting that you say that because they also in Spanish that I'm familiar with. They referenced that as a jack, so I That doesn't make sense. It didn't trigger my brain until you said that that I was like, I
[00:05:52] spk_0: definitely speak border Spanish when I when I have tried to do things, you know, more grammatically correct or whatever. People don't understand me, so I just kinda do things my way.
[00:06:06] spk_1: So how did you enjoy living in El Paso? You made a reference to it quite often. There. So how long periods were you there?
[00:06:12] spk_0: I grew up there. I absolutely love Al Paso. I love everything about it. Jordan foster the company I'm worth with now. They're home offices in El Paso And, uh, my parents I'm in. I was born in the Bronx, New York. My all my grand parents were Irish immigrants. So my mom and dad grew up in the Irish neighborhood in the Bronx. And then when I was four, they decided to move to a paso. Like most Irish families dio in New York. That's
[00:06:45] spk_1: definitely a change of things for sure, E. I mean, and I lived through Texas. I've been through several of the different places and actually lived there for a long period of time. But that is sections that I had never had the opportunity toe live s Oh, I know that it's much different than the rest of it. So going there and being in El Paso growing up there. So you've seen some things. But you were there any reference right now Jordan Foster construction that you were there, but you left them for a
[00:07:13] spk_0: period. And
[00:07:15] spk_1: then I came back.
[00:07:15] spk_0: So I was here. Jordan. Well, it was See if Jordan, um, and Taco Jordan is the owner. Um and he him and Darren would He hired me, and I started out there as there safety and risk manager many years ago and stayed there about 11 years. And then I left and went Teoh a C i d. Doing risk management consulting of the risk management executive for a C i D. Which is a captive insurance company that focuses on Leon Construction. So I worked with nine different contractors across the U. S. Um, and so that was a wonderful job. Uh, funny before co vid I was traveling literally every week working at a C. G. And, um and my father is still in El Paso, and he needed some help. Um, and time timing. I had always stayed in touch with the folks that Jordan boss start. Um, they had had a change of ownership, but I'm still I was always in touch with them. We always kept in touch, and after a while timing. I knew I needed to make some changes Thio for family reasons. And, uh, they asked me to come back, and I did. So here I am.
[00:08:32] spk_1: Now you're not in El Paso. You're in the Yeah. Yeah,
[00:08:37] spk_0: Basically, the interesting thing is, So even the first time around, I was in all past, so I started there. We were. I was there for about four years. But of course, we had operations all over the state. And my husband is an engineer. He got a really good job offer here in the Dallas area. So we moved here. So I was one of the right. I like to say I was one of the first that that negotiated a flexible work schedule. I was always traveling, but working from home, but which made it available My myself very available for my for my kids as I was raising them. So it was kind of a win win When I went in and said my boss to my boss that my husband's job was going to take us to Dallas because, well, I guess my risk management safety department just is going to move to Dallas, then s
[00:09:30] spk_1: it was a really good. Yeah, so So let me ask the question then. So we're talking a few years down, the year are down the path of you going through this. You've been already in the safety profession for a while. So how does the thought off the B word come into mind? How does this whole star? How does this whole thing start and you say it's time to write this book. What's what's going on in the timeline?
[00:09:57] spk_0: Well, uh, I have this First of all, I have to say I'm a writer, so I write all the time. It's kind of my hobby. Other people gulf. I get up early on Sundays and and write stories. And I really love Thio, especially write stories about women and empowerment, because I believe that that's how if we can create role models and other women contend, ISI, that someone that's done something that they're interested in doing, they can move forward. So I That's just something I'm very passionate about, and I love to do it. So I also have a safety geek, So I write a lot of stuff on risk management and safety things. But I'm always thinking, and I like to do research and write articles. So that's what I dio. I had a nice idea for a long time, probably, uh, as I got better at my job and I moved up in my career and I was more confident in my knowledge and skill set. I call it the babe to bitch phenomenon that happens eso you know, from kind of being young and just starting out. And, um, in a way, naive about how things were going. And then as you become, I became more of an expert in my field, and I became more confident in my opinion. Suddenly, you know, then all of a sudden, in in some cases, being a woman in construction and in in safety world from time to time, I was referred to as a bitch. I had this idea for a long time story of the baby to bitch. But then I realized I had a lot more to say. And as I was speaking at conferences, you know, go to conferences and talk about construction, risk management or safety technical things There would always be as more women got into these fields. There was women waiting for me at the end of a talk and asking me questions like, how did you negotiate a flexible schedule? How did you talk to your husband About your career in his career and kind of that whole finding a way to make it work for both of us and right. E had this idea for a long time and then a friend of mine and I were at lunch and I thought the B word is a great because everyone knows which were referring to right. But it's a great title. And then we came up with the B word, and then I just started thinking about what do I wanna say, Um and what's a B word that goes with it? So each chapter kind of stand alone. It's a book that you can pick up and read a chapter on balance. Or you could read a chapter on the one that I think I'm very happy I threw in, and I think it's one of the most powerful is the Bridges chapter. It's how men and women can work together to create opportunities in the future for inclusion.
[00:12:54] spk_1: Well, let's talk a little bit then about your career as you're doing this. And, of course, you're saying that you're a writer. Come Sunday morning, that's something that you enjoy doing. So it's a passion, which is great to hear. But as you take a look at this, you're in a male dominated industry, at least at the time of this conversation. That's how it's mostly is Hopefully, things of course, will change into the future. But how difficult is this? As you would spanned over your career and take a look back off, You're going from the bay to bitch, as you put it as people's in people's perspective, how does that have an impact on?
[00:13:26] spk_0: So I think it had a pretty significant impact on me. I have a lot to say about it, so, you know, subsequently. That's why I wrote a book about it. But I also think so. Two things. One, Um, we still have work to do, and somehow I was able to navigate this career. But I never had anybody to ask for advice, and I called in the book. I call myself the only Right. I was always the only woman in the room. I was always the one thing. Good news is, I didn't have to wait in line to go to the bathroom, right? I was always only. But at the same time, there was nobody to ask for advice. There was nobody for me to kind of Thio even say, Well, that's weird. Or or how am I supposed to navigate that, um, as more women gravitate towards industries like construction. I think that part of my journey is Thio. Open more doors and give back. And if I could do that by sharing stories the interesting thing. As as I started writing the book, every chapter has kind of like a premise of what I think is going on. Um and then I have stories to support that. And then I have breakthroughs. Okay, what can we do to make a difference, whether it be personally or in a business environment and but just the idea of going out and meeting other women and hearing their stories? I realized that I wasn't alone, and the stories resonate with women in our industry, and so that's how I ended up doing it. I also have to say, I've been very fortunate that I've had a lot of great men that have opened doors for me, but I'm very cognizant of the fact that it has. If it hadn't been for people giving me a chance and opening a door, I wouldn't have had the amazing career that I have today.
[00:15:18] spk_1: But let's talk about that for a moment. How difficult is it being the first woman in the room. How difficult is it to have for you to be the person that has a male open the door? Because that's the way that you that you phrased it and go in. How difficult is that? Because, let's if we're going back, let's say, for instance, late eighties early nineties people have a total different point of view than what they do now in 2021. So what are you going through at the
[00:15:44] spk_0: time? I think a lot of it. Well, first of all, I was raised by an Irish. My mother was Irish woman. I mean, first generation born American, But grandmothers, grand parents, all from Ireland. I'm very strong, very determined, very no nonsense woman from the Bronx. Right. And I remember a lot of how I conducted myself and how I show up in the world. I learned from my mom, and I remember specifically at one point having a very difficult day and and really thinking that I didn't belong in construction and first thing so So since when do you ever let anybody push you out? So she was just, like, just just keep going, you know? Just move on and keep going, eh? So I think that tenacity is important. I also think I was very I did everything I could to be the expert in the room Toe learnt my craft. So if I could if they were doubting me because of my gender or, um, it didn't show up because or my education and my expertise and the letters after my name, if you will gave me the credibility, um Thio stand to stand and stay in the room. And I think that was really, really important.
[00:17:03] spk_1: So And I know that as we do this professionally, we have Of course, this will say I want I don't want to call it a persona, but we have ah portion of our personality that we put in public. So as you're going through this And of course, keeping in mind being the first woman in the room which I think is important to the story, of course. How does this impact you when you get back home? Because, of course, people inside of well say of these different rooms that you're in there looking at you and they're of course, they're holding you to ah, higher expectation. So How does this impact you when you get back home and you don't have to be this person or persona or this portion of your personality? How does it impact you? Then?
[00:17:47] spk_0: That's a good question. I think. Usually when I was back home, I was, um, raising kids and and doing everything else that everybody women do as my you know, my my career started to take off as my Children started to grow up, too. So they were very young at the time, and and, um so part of it. Maybe it didn't have much time to to think about anything. I was just trying to keep all the balls in the air. Make sure everybody e o do know that I was someone you know I am a I would say, probably an emotional person. And there's always this desire to be liked, and I had to get clear on the fact that in some cases maybe I wasn't gonna be liked, and I was okay with that. But I knew what I was doing was the right thing to Dio and I stand stood by that conviction
[00:18:47] spk_1: and I think that that's definitely an important part portion of your journey. Because, of course, as you know, and I know, the more you think about something, the better it can be, depending on how you're looking at it. Or it could be the worst thing. This depending on how you're looking. So just listening to this approach, I think it's great, because I think that there's sometimes some struggles that people have That, of course, the the person behind the person sometimes don't wanna be described in public. So I appreciate you actually stepping out of most people's comfort zone to talk about it.
[00:19:16] spk_0: Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, No, I'm way all have our own struggles, and we all have our challenges. I think the most important thing is Thio to just keep going, right. So
[00:19:32] spk_1: So as us. So as you're going down the path of your career, when does all of a sudden the opportunity for speaking engagements occur to you where they say, Okay, we want Tricia to show up and we want her to give a speech at X. At what point are you getting the knock on your door or the ring on the phone for this to start occurring.
[00:19:50] spk_0: Well, so I have been a member of S P for many, many years, right? Probably before I got married. So when I was working in the manufacturing company is when it started when I when I joined. So I was one of the only women at the first pdc that I went thio years and years ago. Um, and then, uh, actually took some time, got lived in my husband's from Munich, Germany, so lived in Germany, had kids and then came back. Um, I got my beat, my CSP During the time that I was away. I knew I wanted to come back to the U. S. And I knew I wanted a career in safety because I absolutely loved it. I thought, I can't believe like this is People get paid. Thio do this. This is unbelievable.
[00:20:37] spk_1: This is great. Eso But
[00:20:40] spk_0: it back to that whole I knew I wanted. So I'm gonna be moving back to the US, having had several years off and two Children, two babies. How can I ensure that I can reenter? And I got really great advice. Thio sit for my CSP exams. So that's what I did and I think that was probably a pivotal moment in my career in a very good choice. And I believe strongly in that process. Um, but I'm sorry. I forgot the question, e.
[00:21:12] spk_1: You know, it was it was initially on. How did you start getting a call for doing? Speaking? Well,
[00:21:17] spk_0: actually, when I came back on, Guy started working for for the construction company for CF Jordan at the time Jordan Foster. Now, um, we were doing some really cool stuff, and I have because I started out in claims, I understood the business side of things. Um, I understood the waste going out the back door when people got hurt and the frustration of being reliant on a workers comp system that doesn't necessarily really benefit the employer or the employee. Sometimes, right? It's a very difficult system. So if we can reduce, if we can prevent the accident, the first place, it's everybody wins. And so I had a lot of strong opinions on all of that and insight, and in the safety at the time, safety was very much about compliance and, you know, understanding how to make sure things were right in the field. I was able to bring this perspective of how do we impact the bottom line? And how can safety improve the bottom line performance of the organization? So I actually the first time I applied to speak at a SSP and I was blown away that they accepted me And then that just started going from there. Um, and whenever something is of great interest to me, I research it, I write about it and I thought it was really fun. So another topic that I started speaking about on a regular basis with education across cultures, how how can how we grow up and where we are raised impact, how we show up in the workplace and does that impact our our safety and how we address it On DSO, a colleague of mine, Grace headed and I spoke on that for years, that many different conferences. So, um, part of it was made just putting myself out there as a personal goal. Um, I wanted Thio speak at a conference as personal achievement on Ben. Once you put yourself out there, then people come knocking
[00:23:22] spk_1: way. All want to make sure that our family is protected in medical emergencies. What many of us don't realize is that health insurance won't always cover the full amount of an emergency medical flight. Even with comprehensive coverage, you could get hit with high deductibles and copays. That's why Air Medicare network membership is so important as a member. If an emergency arises, you won't see a bill for air medical transport when flown by an A M C n provider. Best of all, a membership covers your entire household for his little as $85. Ah, year AM CNN providers are called upon to transport nearly 100,000 patients a year. This is coverage no family should go without. Now, As a J. Allen show listener, you'll get up to a $50 gift card with a new membership. Simply visit Air Medicare network dot com slash safety and use the offer code safety. And don't forget to tell them that J. Allen sent you and we are back on the J. Allen show on safety FSO. Let me ask the question that when the A s s P offers you this opportunity, I'm assuming that it's probably a s S e at the time. Correct
[00:24:36] spk_0: it. Waas
[00:24:36] spk_1: When they offer you the opportunity to speak? What year are we roughly talking? If that If that's okay to ask.
[00:24:42] spk_0: Oh, no, it's fine. Let me think so. It was probably 2000 and four or five, I think. Do
[00:24:52] spk_1: you remember where it was located where the event was located at the time.
[00:24:56] spk_0: The first one s I've spoken at at SSP for for many, many years. E it was Vegas, and it's actually the There is the one I wrote about in the book. I actually wrote about speaking at SPS That sticks out in the birthday six out the most of 2000. And, um, 2000 and nine. Um, I had a terrible experience and almost said I would never speak again at any conference anywhere, um, after the death of my mom and so that whole stories in the book and I use it as part of the limiting beliefs chapter because I kind of did a number of myself. Um, and it's a story. It has a lot of The story has a lot to it. So, um, and that one, uh, was was really tough. So, uh, going through, you know, just putting yourself out there and thinking I was ready for something that I wasn't. And, uh, anyway, I could go on.
[00:26:00] spk_1: E will tell you. It's just you and I speaking. So let's let's be honest here. What taking place is that people want to know the story. They want to know the story behind the person, and that's what takes place. So, believe me, all these anomalies that you go into, that's what people want to hear. I mean, I will tell you, I know that you've been on other shows and people interview you and they ask you there standardized questions. People want to know that the human they want to see the human side of you of exactly what's going on. So believe me, when you go into side stories, I think that that they're great.
[00:26:36] spk_0: Okay, Perfect.
[00:26:37] spk_1: E. No. You talked a little bit about the book you talked about right now, which is very crucial to the whole thing. The death of your mother. So are you. If you don't mind me asking, I don't want to give away too much of the book. Of course. Are you about to do the speaking engagement and this occurred.
[00:26:54] spk_0: Yeah. So what happened is, um Yes, Absolutely. So my mom in December of 2000 and, um, seven, my mom suddenly passed away, and she was my rock. As I mentioned before, she was just this amazing strong woman and an amazing grandmother. And she heard my dad spent a lot of time, you know, they taking care of my kids and kind of coming We'd actually go day if p conferences as part of our annual vacation. And I would I would, uh, go speak at the conference and do my thing. And they would, um, take the kids and wherever we were have have a fun vacation with, um And so my mom passed away in December of 2000 and seven, right before Christmas. It was a shock to all of us, and it was a really rough, rough time. And I had applied to speak at the conference in June, and instead of really recognizing that I was in a dark place, I just kept going like I always did and, um bought plane tickets to go to Vegas with my my dad on by two kids and just assumed that my dad would assume the role of taking care of them. And we got to Vegas. We checked into hotel. I was about to go put on my business so I could run down and check in and get ready. Thio be at the conference and my dad looks at me and says, Where the hell do you think you're going in his Bronx accent? Because he's a New Yorker to And, um, at that moment I turned into Mrs Doubtfire, so I all of a sudden I realized, Oh, my God, I've never missed my mom more than anything in this one moment because I kind of thought he was up for it. And he was he was going through his own grief. They've been married for 46 years, and it was a really tough time. It was just all too soon. But instead of bowing out, I went ahead and, um, I took my time, went to the conference, came back. Thio took the kids to the pool that did that whole thing, and then the the day, the day, the last day we were there was the morning I was supposed to speak, and I realized I had not looked at my presentation. I had no notes with me. I didn't even print out my fly and I just head over there. And so the whole way the voice in my head is Oh, my God, what are you doing? You You're not prepared, You're going to fail. That's going to be terrible. And I get up there and I'm holding onto the podium for dear life and the the person that's in charge of the, uh, computer and all of that. The i t guy comes up and he gets put. Mike's me up and everything, and I've got nothing. I mean, I am just lost I and and I was just so beaten down the slides were behind me. I couldn't. So I had to like, Look, every time I click the button, I would look at the slide he put The mic was up on the podium, so I couldn't walk around, Um, and people. I mean, I was just, like, feeling just kind of talking nonsense. I didn't even know what I was saying, and I was so incredibly nervous. I was shaking and holding onto the podium for dear life. Finally, about 2030 minutes in. I said, Okay, I'm done enough and called it just a That's it. And as as I wrapped it up, I see a gentleman walking towards me and I thought, Oh, someone has a question. Maybe in my mind it's bad, but it's not that bad. And it was the I T. Guy and he's like, Whoa, I bet you're really glad that's over on. I thought, Okay, this is awful. And I said to myself, I'm a much better writer than I am a speaker. I will never speak in another conference again and I believe that for two years and I would not. I refused. I quit. I quit applying to stay, Speak I. If someone called me and asked me to do anything, I wouldn't do it. I would just be sure I'll write a newsletter. I'll write an article for you, But no, I don't speak anymore. Well, then, my cousin and I have this idea to write this book called Wise Irish Women, and it honors my mother and it honors. My grandmother and I went through the process of interviewing women from around the world that have Irish connection like we dio And we wrote this book and I realized that if I hit it under a rock and was afraid to speak out loud again, nobody would know about the book.
[00:31:32] spk_1: So that was the
[00:31:33] spk_0: catalyst for May Toe. Start speaking again.
[00:31:35] spk_1: Is that Is that the reason why on the book it has you listed as Patricia instead of Tricia?
[00:31:42] spk_0: Yeah, in fact, so Well, I've always been Tricia that my original My full name is Patricia. But so with the b words I actually decided Thio Just name and claim it. I'm Tricia. Everybody knows me as Tricia. But originally back then I wrote it is the first book I wrote wise Irishwoman was Patricia.
[00:32:03] spk_1: Well, if you were trying to hide, that's a good thing to do at the same time to I mean, let's just be realistic about the whole thing.
[00:32:08] spk_0: That's true. Yeah, I hadn't even thought about that, so Yeah,
[00:32:11] spk_1: it was It was your brain playing tricks on you even back then. So here's my question for you. As you're going through this experience occurs. You did reference that you that your that you have your Children with you. How young were they at the time, and I know Vegas. It's kind of a crazy place toe. Let us hang out regardless. But how old are we? Are we speaking at the time?
[00:32:29] spk_0: Yeah, they were. Let me think so. My it was 2000 and eight, I believe. And my So let's do math. Oh, my God. Um nine. And my son was born in 96. My daughter was 99 so they were probably Satan.
[00:32:48] spk_1: They're still under. So still under 10 and below. So 10 below.
[00:32:51] spk_0: Okay, it
[00:32:53] spk_1: makes it definitely for some interesting time. So do they end up going to the conference with you, then?
[00:32:58] spk_0: No, they my dad That morning my dad took care of them and and then and that was the other thing. Well, he he was supposed thio. Take him, meet me at the airport because our flight was leaving right after my speech. And so, in my mind, I'm like, are they going to make it to the airport? Of course. Everybody turned out fine. Oh, yeah,
[00:33:16] spk_1: but there's a There's been several speaking engagements since then. I mean, e What I could find is that you have stuff as latest 2020 we're not counting anything. Virtual. I'm only talking about live events, so I think that things worked out very well shortly thereafter, at least so they appear.
[00:33:33] spk_0: Yeah, absolutely. I But I do write about the importance of beliefs and what we do to ourselves and that internal dialogue and understood identifying it because, really, I was doing a number of myself, and the reality is I could have stood up in that room and spoke about construction, safety and risk management, Um, for for hours, without needing a slide or without needing a presentation. Because I was living and breathing are process and our leadership program at the time. But it was just all this limiting beliefs and emotions. That and I was. I was believing all the doubts that I had in my head and letting them have power over me. And it was just one of those moments in life where you're like, OK, this is going to be the way it's going to be forever or you going to do something about it to change it. And so after the wise Irishwoman book was ready to go, I thought, you know, this is going to resonate with a lot of people. And I don't want my mom story and to to die with her. I wanted to keep going, and so that was the catalyst for me. Thio go out and pick myself up and do it again. And I've been told him a pretty good speaker. Now, you
[00:34:47] spk_1: haven't had any person say anything since then. I hope I mean, only not
[00:34:52] spk_0: only
[00:34:52] spk_1: in
[00:34:53] spk_0: good ways like that was great, Tricia. And I'm like, Well, thank you.
[00:34:57] spk_1: Always good here. Now, here's my question for you. I see that you have done course the b, the B. I'm gonna mess it up the B words book. But you didn't limit it to a book you also have on your website the B word, Blawg. Now tell me some of the ideas behind that.
[00:35:14] spk_0: Well, it kind of goes back, Thio what we were talking about earlier, uh, women's stories and stories of empowerment and creating role models, right? So especially with women and young girls, if you can't see someone who looks like you doing what you think you might aspire todo then you may never think that you can. And there's all this prohibition in the world telling young women, We can't do this. You don't belong there. And even if it's not so blatant anymore, there's still a lot of barriers that can prohibit women from exploring what they want to dio. So my idea was, well, using my story telling ability. And my I just love to connect with people and tell their stories. I decided to start a block, and so I just people I know or people who have who have approached me or have indicated that they liked the book found reached out to me on social media. I asked if I could tell their stories and then I just write. I write blocks
[00:36:17] spk_1: well, and I'll tell you, I was taking a look at some of the last couple of entries that you had on there, and you have one focuses on Dr Biden.
[00:36:27] spk_0: That was me. Eso um, there was I also just so sometimes I'm interviewing women and writing what you know their stories, and other times I'm kind of looking at as an opportunity that if something moves me or something, I'm interest didn't happen or or something that illustrates the point that I have in the book. And so the Doctor Biden situation. There was a op ed in the Wall Street Journal right after Biden won the election, and everything was still up in the air. And apparently this, um, Epstein is his name. A journalist was saying that she should not use the title of doctor, and he was very blatant in his approach and saying that it was It was immature of her to use the title doctor because Onley medical doctors who have given birth or had babies should, um, use use the title doctor. And it just really touched a nerve with me because I'm thinking Okay, So the Wall Street Journal has interviewed Dr Martin Luther King and used the title doctor, but he never delivered a baby. Um, and other people, other men and it just really I felt like it was just another degrading way. Thio se Teoh to point something out of a woman who's career oriented enough thio even when she was the vice president. Uh, e don't know what you call the vice president, uh, wife e neither. But well, when he was in office of the Vice President, she continued to teach at a community college because she loves her career and she loves her job. And so So I just didn't like the way that it was to me written in a way, it was a very derogatory towards women. And I didn't think that that same opinion would come out if it was a man s. So I wrote it s so I wrote it was an opinion. It was almost a non op ed responding to an op ed which I don't know if you're supposed to do that or not, but I felt like it was a very powerful point and like having someone with a lot of credentials after my name, I've worked really hard. While I was raising my kids while I was working, I was always going the extra mile to get the credentials so that I could get in the room and stay in the room and be the expert that I wanted to be in the field, that of my chosen career. And so somebody shouldn't shoot darts at the fact that she has an education
[00:39:11] spk_1: well, and I have to tell you so there's so many interesting blog's that you have on there. But you have one that it's so cleverly titled. I'm gonna and I'm gonna tell you this there really good. But this one is so cleverly titled when I had seen it, the many thieves in RBG that that title alone number one sticks out significantly when you're even going through your blawg. But the information written on there is this so fantastic on how it's actually written
[00:39:38] spk_0: out. Well, well, thank you. I appreciate that. So that was another pivotal moment for me when, um when she passed away and made such a, um, such an impact in in women's lives in so many different ways. And her approach was so fascinating as well because she recognizing that she was in a man's world, but and she she approached things to get things done where she could have men agree with her. And so it was just really fascinating. And I just I just was admirer and a big fan of R b D. And I thought, I'm gonna I'm going to write a blogged about her. I wrote that the day she passed away. I think,
[00:40:26] spk_1: well, it's good if you could tell people where they can actually find your website. Because, of course, I've referenced it a couple of times but never gave information on where to find it. So if you could share that with them, I think that probably might be important.
[00:40:37] spk_0: Yeah, sure. Absolutely. You can find me a Tricia kegger dot com. So,
[00:40:42] spk_1: yeah, you might want to spell the last name for them just to be on the same site.
[00:40:46] spk_0: Yeah, Tricia with a t r i c A. So I'm not the s h A and then caterer k a g e r E r. It's a good German name.
[00:40:56] spk_1: Nice. The
[00:40:56] spk_0: very in name, another B.
[00:41:00] spk_1: So let me ask you a couple of more things. If you don't mind, how has cove? It impacted your speaking engagements in your interactions with people, especially outside of your normal day to day work. Are you still able to do some of these virtual quote unquote conferences and being able to interact with people?
[00:41:15] spk_0: Yeah. So it's completely changed my my interaction with people, but I've tried to keep going, um, not only for the book. Um, the book actually came out during the pandemic, which was interesting. So normally you would do book signings and have have, you know, speak at events like I was hoping I would speak at a SSP in the summer or, er, me in the fall. And of course, all of that got postponed. Um, and so, uh, but there's still opportunities. We just make the best of it with using zoom or whatever platform to to get together. Recently, I was invited to be in the SST Wise Book Club, and there's several. There's probably about 12 of us just chatting about the book. So, um and then I speak on crisis management. The human side of crisis Management s o on. I've been doing that through, uh, online at several events. Uh, A B, C and A G. C asked me to do that, so, um, it is very different. I Still, since I'm in construction, I still travel some, and, um, and I mountain in the field. A zai can, but it's definitely been cut back. And then our company has tried to figure out how we can deliver training and materials. Thio avoid people needing to congregate in rooms. And so using technology has been really important.
[00:42:47] spk_1: So how is the transition for you of when you get to where your superhero cape on the weekend or doing these virtual events and then going back into the construction zone. How does that work out?
[00:42:57] spk_0: Um, it's it's interesting, I think, uh, I miss No, I missed traveling a bit. I I think the fascinating part was I made a decision to kind of cut back on travel before Cove. It happened. Right? Um, when I decided to make it a career shift and then ended up going back to Jordan Foster, Um, I specifically remember being in March in at the A G C National Convention in Vegas. And then they told us they're going to shut down Vegas. I'm like, That's not gonna happen. And then there we were. We left on Wednesday. They shut down on Friday. Friday. So that's a big change.
[00:43:39] spk_1: Oh, I know. I mean, I could remember when they turned off the lights in Vegas. Where when? Um oh, my God. I'm afraid of Sammy Davis died and how big of a deal that was. And I look at it. Look at it now on how big of an impact and then how long? How long Vegas was actually closed in comparison with Kobe.
[00:43:57] spk_0: Yeah. So I think the thing about being in construction is we are essential and and we continue to work and really is more about focusing on the folks that are in the field working every single day. What can we do to make sure that they have everything they need? Thio be a safe as we can possibly be in this environment. And so I have a team of safety folks that report to me. And we worked really hard on making sure that we were doing everything we can, um, Thio to show up and serve in that way and then also the human side of it again. The it takes its toll on people. Um, there's a lot of challenges and making. How can we as the company make sure that we're connecting with our people in the field and and making sure they have resource? Is Thio be okay?
[00:44:55] spk_1: A lot of questions still to be answered. Of course. Eyes what this ever changing. So this will be my final question for you if you don't mind. Is there going to be a sequel to the book
[00:45:06] spk_0: that is so interesting, because I wasn't sure. I mean, I spent a lot of time getting to this point to bring it out, but just a lot. This weekend I started another new list of these because so many have come out in the last couple months that I didn't address in the book. Um, and it's also resonating with people. I'm very happy. It's resonating not just with women, but with men as well. I've gotten a lot of positive reviews from from men that I really respect and admire that I consider them the good guys, right, the ones that want to make a difference and and have respect and realized that we need diversity and inclusion for us to get to the next level. And so it's almost that that's important to me. The
[00:45:55] spk_1: playbook of Okay, what does
[00:45:57] spk_0: that look like? And how can we work together? So I think there will be
[00:46:02] spk_1: OK, so it so it will be another continuation to the letter B. I just want to make sure you weren't gonna go down the next step of the alphabet because I was already scared to ask the that question. Of course,
[00:46:12] spk_0: right now, I'm focusing on B
[00:46:15] spk_1: words. E makes you just want to make sure you want to find out more information about you working. They dio
[00:46:22] spk_0: so again my website Tricia kegger dot com I'm also on also the social media. I'm on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram Twitter at Tricia Caykur. Yeah.
[00:46:36] spk_1: Okay. Well, I really do appreciate you coming on to the show today.
[00:46:40] spk_0: Thank you for having me. I'm very grateful to be here, and I appreciate all that. You do as well.
[00:46:44] spk_1: So thank you. Well, I hope you enjoyed your time during the episode. As much as I enjoyed mine. Like I said, that was Tricia Kreager and her book The B words. If you haven't picked it up, it is readily available on Amazon. So take a look right there. If you go to our website safety FM dot com and go into our Amazon links, it's readily available right there. Anyway, thank you for always being the best part of safety FM. And that is the listener. Safety FM is the home of real safety talk. Don't worry. We'll be back with another episode of the J. Allen show before too long. Good Bye for now. Okay. Okay. Um Oh. Want more of the J Allen show, don't you? Safety FM dot com The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the host and its guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the company. Examples of analysis discussed within this podcast are only examples. They should not be utilized
[00:48:05] spk_0: in
[00:48:05] spk_1: the real world as the only solution available as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within this analysis are not reflective of the position of the company. No part of this podcast, maybe reproduced, stored in
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[00:00:02] spk_1: this'd This show is brought to you by safety FM eyes streaming now on safety FM life Hello and welcome to another edition of the J. Allen Show. I hope everything is good and grand in your neck of the woods as we continue to do thes different things inside of the times that we are in inside of 2021. It seems like I threw some people off this week when I decided to move the mini to Tuesday. So I'm glad that it through some people off. That was the whole point of the sequence of events. Well, today it's really gonna be strange because the normal interview that we would have done on Tuesday we're doing today on Friday. But I have to tell you this particular interview that we have going on today, I'm glad we're doing it right now on Friday. So let me tell you some information about what is going on today. I have the honor and privilege of speaking to Tricia Kegger as the e v p. Of risk management for Jordan Foster Construction. Tricia rose through the executive ranks of historically male dominated construction industry, defined herself in a lonely place as one of the Onley women in the room. Now her mission is to change the dynamic by equipping organizations and individuals to create healthier work environments that celebrate intersectional diversity, reduced risk and empower future generations. Tricia created unauthentic life and career in her own unique way, all while raising a family. Over the years, more women have joined non traditional professions. Yet in many industries it is still uncommon to see women in leadership roles. Patricia considers herself one of the lucky ones to have navigated a career into the C suite and her goals to share her journey with others so she can open doors for the next generation of women, spark a conversation and a pass on key lessons learnt that will ultimately make a impact in a difference. Besides this, she is also the author of a book titled The B Words. Now I have to tell You have to take a read of this one if you have not done so yet. But let me tell you what happened. Yesterday evening, Tricia was recognized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as the first woman to ever received the CSP Award of Excellence So it is my privilege in honor Toe. Have you listen to this conversation with Tricia caterer and myself here on the J. Allen. Jim. So Tricia is I actually go down this I will just kind of ask all kinds of questions. So I apologize ahead of time. And I always tell people, if you don't feel comfortable asking, um, answering one don't hesitate to say I'm not answering that you wouldn't be the first person and probably not the last person to do so. But I normally normally start off with the most simplest question, which probably sometimes the most difficult one. What caused you to get involved into safety?
[00:03:23] spk_0: I literally fell into safety, as they say. It's my safety joke, you
[00:03:32] spk_1: say literally eso.
[00:03:36] spk_0: Basically, I worked. So I started out of college as a worker's compensation claims adjuster in El Paso, Texas, and that was my career of choice because they offered me a salary and a job after I graduated at 21 years old and
[00:03:53] spk_1: yeah, exactly. And so
[00:03:56] spk_0: then I went into manufacturing a few years later, and I was working for a stone washed denim jean manufacturing company in El Paso we had over 1000 employees, and, uh, they hired me because their workers compensation was out of control. They were actually gonna have to shut down if they didn't get under control. And I spoke Spanish. I grew up in El Paso. We had three or four incidents where employees were moving pallets of rocks out with their hands and needs from under these really large, gigantic washing machines. And I went out on the production floor and just asked the guys why they were doing it that way. And they told me that the pallet jacks were broken. So I marched down to the maintenance office and introduced myself and asked the maintenance man very nicely in Spanish if he could please fix the pallet jacks. And lo and behold, I saved the soft are the lower back strain issue within the company. A few weeks later, Ah, gentleman flew down from South Carolina and asked me if I'd like to be the safety director.
[00:05:06] spk_1: Nice. That's a change. Now I have to backtrack because I speak Spanish as well, but I don't know that I don't know that one word that you just referenced. How do you safe college in Spanish. No, this
[00:05:18] spk_0: is interesting. There's probably and I don't even remember the rial way to say it. There's probably, like, some big word, but in in El Paso, in the border, Spanish it was Got those. So So it says, which is also a cat, right? So, um, so they learned the slang word for it, and I asked the maintenance person to fix the Gatto's than he did. Um, but yeah. So
[00:05:41] spk_1: it's interesting that you say that because they also in Spanish that I'm familiar with. They referenced that as a jack, so I That doesn't make sense. It didn't trigger my brain until you said that that I was like, I
[00:05:52] spk_0: definitely speak border Spanish when I when I have tried to do things, you know, more grammatically correct or whatever. People don't understand me, so I just kinda do things my way.
[00:06:06] spk_1: So how did you enjoy living in El Paso? You made a reference to it quite often. There. So how long periods were you there?
[00:06:12] spk_0: I grew up there. I absolutely love Al Paso. I love everything about it. Jordan foster the company I'm worth with now. They're home offices in El Paso And, uh, my parents I'm in. I was born in the Bronx, New York. My all my grand parents were Irish immigrants. So my mom and dad grew up in the Irish neighborhood in the Bronx. And then when I was four, they decided to move to a paso. Like most Irish families dio in New York. That's
[00:06:45] spk_1: definitely a change of things for sure, E. I mean, and I lived through Texas. I've been through several of the different places and actually lived there for a long period of time. But that is sections that I had never had the opportunity toe live s Oh, I know that it's much different than the rest of it. So going there and being in El Paso growing up there. So you've seen some things. But you were there any reference right now Jordan Foster construction that you were there, but you left them for a
[00:07:13] spk_0: period. And
[00:07:15] spk_1: then I came back.
[00:07:15] spk_0: So I was here. Jordan. Well, it was See if Jordan, um, and Taco Jordan is the owner. Um and he him and Darren would He hired me, and I started out there as there safety and risk manager many years ago and stayed there about 11 years. And then I left and went Teoh a C i d. Doing risk management consulting of the risk management executive for a C i D. Which is a captive insurance company that focuses on Leon Construction. So I worked with nine different contractors across the U. S. Um, and so that was a wonderful job. Uh, funny before co vid I was traveling literally every week working at a C. G. And, um and my father is still in El Paso, and he needed some help. Um, and time timing. I had always stayed in touch with the folks that Jordan boss start. Um, they had had a change of ownership, but I'm still I was always in touch with them. We always kept in touch, and after a while timing. I knew I needed to make some changes Thio for family reasons. And, uh, they asked me to come back, and I did. So here I am.
[00:08:32] spk_1: Now you're not in El Paso. You're in the Yeah. Yeah,
[00:08:37] spk_0: Basically, the interesting thing is, So even the first time around, I was in all past, so I started there. We were. I was there for about four years. But of course, we had operations all over the state. And my husband is an engineer. He got a really good job offer here in the Dallas area. So we moved here. So I was one of the right. I like to say I was one of the first that that negotiated a flexible work schedule. I was always traveling, but working from home, but which made it available My myself very available for my for my kids as I was raising them. So it was kind of a win win When I went in and said my boss to my boss that my husband's job was going to take us to Dallas because, well, I guess my risk management safety department just is going to move to Dallas, then s
[00:09:30] spk_1: it was a really good. Yeah, so So let me ask the question then. So we're talking a few years down, the year are down the path of you going through this. You've been already in the safety profession for a while. So how does the thought off the B word come into mind? How does this whole star? How does this whole thing start and you say it's time to write this book. What's what's going on in the timeline?
[00:09:57] spk_0: Well, uh, I have this First of all, I have to say I'm a writer, so I write all the time. It's kind of my hobby. Other people gulf. I get up early on Sundays and and write stories. And I really love Thio, especially write stories about women and empowerment, because I believe that that's how if we can create role models and other women contend, ISI, that someone that's done something that they're interested in doing, they can move forward. So I That's just something I'm very passionate about, and I love to do it. So I also have a safety geek, So I write a lot of stuff on risk management and safety things. But I'm always thinking, and I like to do research and write articles. So that's what I dio. I had a nice idea for a long time, probably, uh, as I got better at my job and I moved up in my career and I was more confident in my knowledge and skill set. I call it the babe to bitch phenomenon that happens eso you know, from kind of being young and just starting out. And, um, in a way, naive about how things were going. And then as you become, I became more of an expert in my field, and I became more confident in my opinion. Suddenly, you know, then all of a sudden, in in some cases, being a woman in construction and in in safety world from time to time, I was referred to as a bitch. I had this idea for a long time story of the baby to bitch. But then I realized I had a lot more to say. And as I was speaking at conferences, you know, go to conferences and talk about construction, risk management or safety technical things There would always be as more women got into these fields. There was women waiting for me at the end of a talk and asking me questions like, how did you negotiate a flexible schedule? How did you talk to your husband About your career in his career and kind of that whole finding a way to make it work for both of us and right. E had this idea for a long time and then a friend of mine and I were at lunch and I thought the B word is a great because everyone knows which were referring to right. But it's a great title. And then we came up with the B word, and then I just started thinking about what do I wanna say, Um and what's a B word that goes with it? So each chapter kind of stand alone. It's a book that you can pick up and read a chapter on balance. Or you could read a chapter on the one that I think I'm very happy I threw in, and I think it's one of the most powerful is the Bridges chapter. It's how men and women can work together to create opportunities in the future for inclusion.
[00:12:54] spk_1: Well, let's talk a little bit then about your career as you're doing this. And, of course, you're saying that you're a writer. Come Sunday morning, that's something that you enjoy doing. So it's a passion, which is great to hear. But as you take a look at this, you're in a male dominated industry, at least at the time of this conversation. That's how it's mostly is Hopefully, things of course, will change into the future. But how difficult is this? As you would spanned over your career and take a look back off, You're going from the bay to bitch, as you put it as people's in people's perspective, how does that have an impact on?
[00:13:26] spk_0: So I think it had a pretty significant impact on me. I have a lot to say about it, so, you know, subsequently. That's why I wrote a book about it. But I also think so. Two things. One, Um, we still have work to do, and somehow I was able to navigate this career. But I never had anybody to ask for advice, and I called in the book. I call myself the only Right. I was always the only woman in the room. I was always the one thing. Good news is, I didn't have to wait in line to go to the bathroom, right? I was always only. But at the same time, there was nobody to ask for advice. There was nobody for me to kind of Thio even say, Well, that's weird. Or or how am I supposed to navigate that, um, as more women gravitate towards industries like construction. I think that part of my journey is Thio. Open more doors and give back. And if I could do that by sharing stories the interesting thing. As as I started writing the book, every chapter has kind of like a premise of what I think is going on. Um and then I have stories to support that. And then I have breakthroughs. Okay, what can we do to make a difference, whether it be personally or in a business environment and but just the idea of going out and meeting other women and hearing their stories? I realized that I wasn't alone, and the stories resonate with women in our industry, and so that's how I ended up doing it. I also have to say, I've been very fortunate that I've had a lot of great men that have opened doors for me, but I'm very cognizant of the fact that it has. If it hadn't been for people giving me a chance and opening a door, I wouldn't have had the amazing career that I have today.
[00:15:18] spk_1: But let's talk about that for a moment. How difficult is it being the first woman in the room. How difficult is it to have for you to be the person that has a male open the door? Because that's the way that you that you phrased it and go in. How difficult is that? Because, let's if we're going back, let's say, for instance, late eighties early nineties people have a total different point of view than what they do now in 2021. So what are you going through at the
[00:15:44] spk_0: time? I think a lot of it. Well, first of all, I was raised by an Irish. My mother was Irish woman. I mean, first generation born American, But grandmothers, grand parents, all from Ireland. I'm very strong, very determined, very no nonsense woman from the Bronx. Right. And I remember a lot of how I conducted myself and how I show up in the world. I learned from my mom, and I remember specifically at one point having a very difficult day and and really thinking that I didn't belong in construction and first thing so So since when do you ever let anybody push you out? So she was just, like, just just keep going, you know? Just move on and keep going, eh? So I think that tenacity is important. I also think I was very I did everything I could to be the expert in the room Toe learnt my craft. So if I could if they were doubting me because of my gender or, um, it didn't show up because or my education and my expertise and the letters after my name, if you will gave me the credibility, um Thio stand to stand and stay in the room. And I think that was really, really important.
[00:17:03] spk_1: So And I know that as we do this professionally, we have Of course, this will say I want I don't want to call it a persona, but we have ah portion of our personality that we put in public. So as you're going through this And of course, keeping in mind being the first woman in the room which I think is important to the story, of course. How does this impact you when you get back home? Because, of course, people inside of well say of these different rooms that you're in there looking at you and they're of course, they're holding you to ah, higher expectation. So How does this impact you when you get back home and you don't have to be this person or persona or this portion of your personality? How does it impact you? Then?
[00:17:47] spk_0: That's a good question. I think. Usually when I was back home, I was, um, raising kids and and doing everything else that everybody women do as my you know, my my career started to take off as my Children started to grow up, too. So they were very young at the time, and and, um so part of it. Maybe it didn't have much time to to think about anything. I was just trying to keep all the balls in the air. Make sure everybody e o do know that I was someone you know I am a I would say, probably an emotional person. And there's always this desire to be liked, and I had to get clear on the fact that in some cases maybe I wasn't gonna be liked, and I was okay with that. But I knew what I was doing was the right thing to Dio and I stand stood by that conviction
[00:18:47] spk_1: and I think that that's definitely an important part portion of your journey. Because, of course, as you know, and I know, the more you think about something, the better it can be, depending on how you're looking at it. Or it could be the worst thing. This depending on how you're looking. So just listening to this approach, I think it's great, because I think that there's sometimes some struggles that people have That, of course, the the person behind the person sometimes don't wanna be described in public. So I appreciate you actually stepping out of most people's comfort zone to talk about it.
[00:19:16] spk_0: Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate that. Yeah, No, I'm way all have our own struggles, and we all have our challenges. I think the most important thing is Thio to just keep going, right. So
[00:19:32] spk_1: So as us. So as you're going down the path of your career, when does all of a sudden the opportunity for speaking engagements occur to you where they say, Okay, we want Tricia to show up and we want her to give a speech at X. At what point are you getting the knock on your door or the ring on the phone for this to start occurring.
[00:19:50] spk_0: Well, so I have been a member of S P for many, many years, right? Probably before I got married. So when I was working in the manufacturing company is when it started when I when I joined. So I was one of the only women at the first pdc that I went thio years and years ago. Um, and then, uh, actually took some time, got lived in my husband's from Munich, Germany, so lived in Germany, had kids and then came back. Um, I got my beat, my CSP During the time that I was away. I knew I wanted to come back to the U. S. And I knew I wanted a career in safety because I absolutely loved it. I thought, I can't believe like this is People get paid. Thio do this. This is unbelievable.
[00:20:37] spk_1: This is great. Eso But
[00:20:40] spk_0: it back to that whole I knew I wanted. So I'm gonna be moving back to the US, having had several years off and two Children, two babies. How can I ensure that I can reenter? And I got really great advice. Thio sit for my CSP exams. So that's what I did and I think that was probably a pivotal moment in my career in a very good choice. And I believe strongly in that process. Um, but I'm sorry. I forgot the question, e.
[00:21:12] spk_1: You know, it was it was initially on. How did you start getting a call for doing? Speaking? Well,
[00:21:17] spk_0: actually, when I came back on, Guy started working for for the construction company for CF Jordan at the time Jordan Foster. Now, um, we were doing some really cool stuff, and I have because I started out in claims, I understood the business side of things. Um, I understood the waste going out the back door when people got hurt and the frustration of being reliant on a workers comp system that doesn't necessarily really benefit the employer or the employee. Sometimes, right? It's a very difficult system. So if we can reduce, if we can prevent the accident, the first place, it's everybody wins. And so I had a lot of strong opinions on all of that and insight, and in the safety at the time, safety was very much about compliance and, you know, understanding how to make sure things were right in the field. I was able to bring this perspective of how do we impact the bottom line? And how can safety improve the bottom line performance of the organization? So I actually the first time I applied to speak at a SSP and I was blown away that they accepted me And then that just started going from there. Um, and whenever something is of great interest to me, I research it, I write about it and I thought it was really fun. So another topic that I started speaking about on a regular basis with education across cultures, how how can how we grow up and where we are raised impact, how we show up in the workplace and does that impact our our safety and how we address it On DSO, a colleague of mine, Grace headed and I spoke on that for years, that many different conferences. So, um, part of it was made just putting myself out there as a personal goal. Um, I wanted Thio speak at a conference as personal achievement on Ben. Once you put yourself out there, then people come knocking
[00:23:22] spk_1: way. All want to make sure that our family is protected in medical emergencies. What many of us don't realize is that health insurance won't always cover the full amount of an emergency medical flight. Even with comprehensive coverage, you could get hit with high deductibles and copays. That's why Air Medicare network membership is so important as a member. If an emergency arises, you won't see a bill for air medical transport when flown by an A M C n provider. Best of all, a membership covers your entire household for his little as $85. Ah, year AM CNN providers are called upon to transport nearly 100,000 patients a year. This is coverage no family should go without. Now, As a J. Allen show listener, you'll get up to a $50 gift card with a new membership. Simply visit Air Medicare network dot com slash safety and use the offer code safety. And don't forget to tell them that J. Allen sent you and we are back on the J. Allen show on safety FSO. Let me ask the question that when the A s s P offers you this opportunity, I'm assuming that it's probably a s S e at the time. Correct
[00:24:36] spk_0: it. Waas
[00:24:36] spk_1: When they offer you the opportunity to speak? What year are we roughly talking? If that If that's okay to ask.
[00:24:42] spk_0: Oh, no, it's fine. Let me think so. It was probably 2000 and four or five, I think. Do
[00:24:52] spk_1: you remember where it was located where the event was located at the time.
[00:24:56] spk_0: The first one s I've spoken at at SSP for for many, many years. E it was Vegas, and it's actually the There is the one I wrote about in the book. I actually wrote about speaking at SPS That sticks out in the birthday six out the most of 2000. And, um, 2000 and nine. Um, I had a terrible experience and almost said I would never speak again at any conference anywhere, um, after the death of my mom and so that whole stories in the book and I use it as part of the limiting beliefs chapter because I kind of did a number of myself. Um, and it's a story. It has a lot of The story has a lot to it. So, um, and that one, uh, was was really tough. So, uh, going through, you know, just putting yourself out there and thinking I was ready for something that I wasn't. And, uh, anyway, I could go on.
[00:26:00] spk_1: E will tell you. It's just you and I speaking. So let's let's be honest here. What taking place is that people want to know the story. They want to know the story behind the person, and that's what takes place. So, believe me, all these anomalies that you go into, that's what people want to hear. I mean, I will tell you, I know that you've been on other shows and people interview you and they ask you there standardized questions. People want to know that the human they want to see the human side of you of exactly what's going on. So believe me, when you go into side stories, I think that that they're great.
[00:26:36] spk_0: Okay, Perfect.
[00:26:37] spk_1: E. No. You talked a little bit about the book you talked about right now, which is very crucial to the whole thing. The death of your mother. So are you. If you don't mind me asking, I don't want to give away too much of the book. Of course. Are you about to do the speaking engagement and this occurred.
[00:26:54] spk_0: Yeah. So what happened is, um Yes, Absolutely. So my mom in December of 2000 and, um, seven, my mom suddenly passed away, and she was my rock. As I mentioned before, she was just this amazing strong woman and an amazing grandmother. And she heard my dad spent a lot of time, you know, they taking care of my kids and kind of coming We'd actually go day if p conferences as part of our annual vacation. And I would I would, uh, go speak at the conference and do my thing. And they would, um, take the kids and wherever we were have have a fun vacation with, um And so my mom passed away in December of 2000 and seven, right before Christmas. It was a shock to all of us, and it was a really rough, rough time. And I had applied to speak at the conference in June, and instead of really recognizing that I was in a dark place, I just kept going like I always did and, um bought plane tickets to go to Vegas with my my dad on by two kids and just assumed that my dad would assume the role of taking care of them. And we got to Vegas. We checked into hotel. I was about to go put on my business so I could run down and check in and get ready. Thio be at the conference and my dad looks at me and says, Where the hell do you think you're going in his Bronx accent? Because he's a New Yorker to And, um, at that moment I turned into Mrs Doubtfire, so I all of a sudden I realized, Oh, my God, I've never missed my mom more than anything in this one moment because I kind of thought he was up for it. And he was he was going through his own grief. They've been married for 46 years, and it was a really tough time. It was just all too soon. But instead of bowing out, I went ahead and, um, I took my time, went to the conference, came back. Thio took the kids to the pool that did that whole thing, and then the the day, the day, the last day we were there was the morning I was supposed to speak, and I realized I had not looked at my presentation. I had no notes with me. I didn't even print out my fly and I just head over there. And so the whole way the voice in my head is Oh, my God, what are you doing? You You're not prepared, You're going to fail. That's going to be terrible. And I get up there and I'm holding onto the podium for dear life and the the person that's in charge of the, uh, computer and all of that. The i t guy comes up and he gets put. Mike's me up and everything, and I've got nothing. I mean, I am just lost I and and I was just so beaten down the slides were behind me. I couldn't. So I had to like, Look, every time I click the button, I would look at the slide he put The mic was up on the podium, so I couldn't walk around, Um, and people. I mean, I was just, like, feeling just kind of talking nonsense. I didn't even know what I was saying, and I was so incredibly nervous. I was shaking and holding onto the podium for dear life. Finally, about 2030 minutes in. I said, Okay, I'm done enough and called it just a That's it. And as as I wrapped it up, I see a gentleman walking towards me and I thought, Oh, someone has a question. Maybe in my mind it's bad, but it's not that bad. And it was the I T. Guy and he's like, Whoa, I bet you're really glad that's over on. I thought, Okay, this is awful. And I said to myself, I'm a much better writer than I am a speaker. I will never speak in another conference again and I believe that for two years and I would not. I refused. I quit. I quit applying to stay, Speak I. If someone called me and asked me to do anything, I wouldn't do it. I would just be sure I'll write a newsletter. I'll write an article for you, But no, I don't speak anymore. Well, then, my cousin and I have this idea to write this book called Wise Irish Women, and it honors my mother and it honors. My grandmother and I went through the process of interviewing women from around the world that have Irish connection like we dio And we wrote this book and I realized that if I hit it under a rock and was afraid to speak out loud again, nobody would know about the book.
[00:31:32] spk_1: So that was the
[00:31:33] spk_0: catalyst for May Toe. Start speaking again.
[00:31:35] spk_1: Is that Is that the reason why on the book it has you listed as Patricia instead of Tricia?
[00:31:42] spk_0: Yeah, in fact, so Well, I've always been Tricia that my original My full name is Patricia. But so with the b words I actually decided Thio Just name and claim it. I'm Tricia. Everybody knows me as Tricia. But originally back then I wrote it is the first book I wrote wise Irishwoman was Patricia.
[00:32:03] spk_1: Well, if you were trying to hide, that's a good thing to do at the same time to I mean, let's just be realistic about the whole thing.
[00:32:08] spk_0: That's true. Yeah, I hadn't even thought about that, so Yeah,
[00:32:11] spk_1: it was It was your brain playing tricks on you even back then. So here's my question for you. As you're going through this experience occurs. You did reference that you that your that you have your Children with you. How young were they at the time, and I know Vegas. It's kind of a crazy place toe. Let us hang out regardless. But how old are we? Are we speaking at the time?
[00:32:29] spk_0: Yeah, they were. Let me think so. My it was 2000 and eight, I believe. And my So let's do math. Oh, my God. Um nine. And my son was born in 96. My daughter was 99 so they were probably Satan.
[00:32:48] spk_1: They're still under. So still under 10 and below. So 10 below.
[00:32:51] spk_0: Okay, it
[00:32:53] spk_1: makes it definitely for some interesting time. So do they end up going to the conference with you, then?
[00:32:58] spk_0: No, they my dad That morning my dad took care of them and and then and that was the other thing. Well, he he was supposed thio. Take him, meet me at the airport because our flight was leaving right after my speech. And so, in my mind, I'm like, are they going to make it to the airport? Of course. Everybody turned out fine. Oh, yeah,
[00:33:16] spk_1: but there's a There's been several speaking engagements since then. I mean, e What I could find is that you have stuff as latest 2020 we're not counting anything. Virtual. I'm only talking about live events, so I think that things worked out very well shortly thereafter, at least so they appear.
[00:33:33] spk_0: Yeah, absolutely. I But I do write about the importance of beliefs and what we do to ourselves and that internal dialogue and understood identifying it because, really, I was doing a number of myself, and the reality is I could have stood up in that room and spoke about construction, safety and risk management, Um, for for hours, without needing a slide or without needing a presentation. Because I was living and breathing are process and our leadership program at the time. But it was just all this limiting beliefs and emotions. That and I was. I was believing all the doubts that I had in my head and letting them have power over me. And it was just one of those moments in life where you're like, OK, this is going to be the way it's going to be forever or you going to do something about it to change it. And so after the wise Irishwoman book was ready to go, I thought, you know, this is going to resonate with a lot of people. And I don't want my mom story and to to die with her. I wanted to keep going, and so that was the catalyst for me. Thio go out and pick myself up and do it again. And I've been told him a pretty good speaker. Now, you
[00:34:47] spk_1: haven't had any person say anything since then. I hope I mean, only not
[00:34:52] spk_0: only
[00:34:52] spk_1: in
[00:34:53] spk_0: good ways like that was great, Tricia. And I'm like, Well, thank you.
[00:34:57] spk_1: Always good here. Now, here's my question for you. I see that you have done course the b, the B. I'm gonna mess it up the B words book. But you didn't limit it to a book you also have on your website the B word, Blawg. Now tell me some of the ideas behind that.
[00:35:14] spk_0: Well, it kind of goes back, Thio what we were talking about earlier, uh, women's stories and stories of empowerment and creating role models, right? So especially with women and young girls, if you can't see someone who looks like you doing what you think you might aspire todo then you may never think that you can. And there's all this prohibition in the world telling young women, We can't do this. You don't belong there. And even if it's not so blatant anymore, there's still a lot of barriers that can prohibit women from exploring what they want to dio. So my idea was, well, using my story telling ability. And my I just love to connect with people and tell their stories. I decided to start a block, and so I just people I know or people who have who have approached me or have indicated that they liked the book found reached out to me on social media. I asked if I could tell their stories and then I just write. I write blocks
[00:36:17] spk_1: well, and I'll tell you, I was taking a look at some of the last couple of entries that you had on there, and you have one focuses on Dr Biden.
[00:36:27] spk_0: That was me. Eso um, there was I also just so sometimes I'm interviewing women and writing what you know their stories, and other times I'm kind of looking at as an opportunity that if something moves me or something, I'm interest didn't happen or or something that illustrates the point that I have in the book. And so the Doctor Biden situation. There was a op ed in the Wall Street Journal right after Biden won the election, and everything was still up in the air. And apparently this, um, Epstein is his name. A journalist was saying that she should not use the title of doctor, and he was very blatant in his approach and saying that it was It was immature of her to use the title doctor because Onley medical doctors who have given birth or had babies should, um, use use the title doctor. And it just really touched a nerve with me because I'm thinking Okay, So the Wall Street Journal has interviewed Dr Martin Luther King and used the title doctor, but he never delivered a baby. Um, and other people, other men and it just really I felt like it was just another degrading way. Thio se Teoh to point something out of a woman who's career oriented enough thio even when she was the vice president. Uh, e don't know what you call the vice president, uh, wife e neither. But well, when he was in office of the Vice President, she continued to teach at a community college because she loves her career and she loves her job. And so So I just didn't like the way that it was to me written in a way, it was a very derogatory towards women. And I didn't think that that same opinion would come out if it was a man s. So I wrote it s so I wrote it was an opinion. It was almost a non op ed responding to an op ed which I don't know if you're supposed to do that or not, but I felt like it was a very powerful point and like having someone with a lot of credentials after my name, I've worked really hard. While I was raising my kids while I was working, I was always going the extra mile to get the credentials so that I could get in the room and stay in the room and be the expert that I wanted to be in the field, that of my chosen career. And so somebody shouldn't shoot darts at the fact that she has an education
[00:39:11] spk_1: well, and I have to tell you so there's so many interesting blog's that you have on there. But you have one that it's so cleverly titled. I'm gonna and I'm gonna tell you this there really good. But this one is so cleverly titled when I had seen it, the many thieves in RBG that that title alone number one sticks out significantly when you're even going through your blawg. But the information written on there is this so fantastic on how it's actually written
[00:39:38] spk_0: out. Well, well, thank you. I appreciate that. So that was another pivotal moment for me when, um when she passed away and made such a, um, such an impact in in women's lives in so many different ways. And her approach was so fascinating as well because she recognizing that she was in a man's world, but and she she approached things to get things done where she could have men agree with her. And so it was just really fascinating. And I just I just was admirer and a big fan of R b D. And I thought, I'm gonna I'm going to write a blogged about her. I wrote that the day she passed away. I think,
[00:40:26] spk_1: well, it's good if you could tell people where they can actually find your website. Because, of course, I've referenced it a couple of times but never gave information on where to find it. So if you could share that with them, I think that probably might be important.
[00:40:37] spk_0: Yeah, sure. Absolutely. You can find me a Tricia kegger dot com. So,
[00:40:42] spk_1: yeah, you might want to spell the last name for them just to be on the same site.
[00:40:46] spk_0: Yeah, Tricia with a t r i c A. So I'm not the s h A and then caterer k a g e r E r. It's a good German name.
[00:40:56] spk_1: Nice. The
[00:40:56] spk_0: very in name, another B.
[00:41:00] spk_1: So let me ask you a couple of more things. If you don't mind, how has cove? It impacted your speaking engagements in your interactions with people, especially outside of your normal day to day work. Are you still able to do some of these virtual quote unquote conferences and being able to interact with people?
[00:41:15] spk_0: Yeah. So it's completely changed my my interaction with people, but I've tried to keep going, um, not only for the book. Um, the book actually came out during the pandemic, which was interesting. So normally you would do book signings and have have, you know, speak at events like I was hoping I would speak at a SSP in the summer or, er, me in the fall. And of course, all of that got postponed. Um, and so, uh, but there's still opportunities. We just make the best of it with using zoom or whatever platform to to get together. Recently, I was invited to be in the SST Wise Book Club, and there's several. There's probably about 12 of us just chatting about the book. So, um and then I speak on crisis management. The human side of crisis Management s o on. I've been doing that through, uh, online at several events. Uh, A B, C and A G. C asked me to do that, so, um, it is very different. I Still, since I'm in construction, I still travel some, and, um, and I mountain in the field. A zai can, but it's definitely been cut back. And then our company has tried to figure out how we can deliver training and materials. Thio avoid people needing to congregate in rooms. And so using technology has been really important.
[00:42:47] spk_1: So how is the transition for you of when you get to where your superhero cape on the weekend or doing these virtual events and then going back into the construction zone. How does that work out?
[00:42:57] spk_0: Um, it's it's interesting, I think, uh, I miss No, I missed traveling a bit. I I think the fascinating part was I made a decision to kind of cut back on travel before Cove. It happened. Right? Um, when I decided to make it a career shift and then ended up going back to Jordan Foster, Um, I specifically remember being in March in at the A G C National Convention in Vegas. And then they told us they're going to shut down Vegas. I'm like, That's not gonna happen. And then there we were. We left on Wednesday. They shut down on Friday. Friday. So that's a big change.
[00:43:39] spk_1: Oh, I know. I mean, I could remember when they turned off the lights in Vegas. Where when? Um oh, my God. I'm afraid of Sammy Davis died and how big of a deal that was. And I look at it. Look at it now on how big of an impact and then how long? How long Vegas was actually closed in comparison with Kobe.
[00:43:57] spk_0: Yeah. So I think the thing about being in construction is we are essential and and we continue to work and really is more about focusing on the folks that are in the field working every single day. What can we do to make sure that they have everything they need? Thio be a safe as we can possibly be in this environment. And so I have a team of safety folks that report to me. And we worked really hard on making sure that we were doing everything we can, um, Thio to show up and serve in that way and then also the human side of it again. The it takes its toll on people. Um, there's a lot of challenges and making. How can we as the company make sure that we're connecting with our people in the field and and making sure they have resource? Is Thio be okay?
[00:44:55] spk_1: A lot of questions still to be answered. Of course. Eyes what this ever changing. So this will be my final question for you if you don't mind. Is there going to be a sequel to the book
[00:45:06] spk_0: that is so interesting, because I wasn't sure. I mean, I spent a lot of time getting to this point to bring it out, but just a lot. This weekend I started another new list of these because so many have come out in the last couple months that I didn't address in the book. Um, and it's also resonating with people. I'm very happy. It's resonating not just with women, but with men as well. I've gotten a lot of positive reviews from from men that I really respect and admire that I consider them the good guys, right, the ones that want to make a difference and and have respect and realized that we need diversity and inclusion for us to get to the next level. And so it's almost that that's important to me. The
[00:45:55] spk_1: playbook of Okay, what does
[00:45:57] spk_0: that look like? And how can we work together? So I think there will be
[00:46:02] spk_1: OK, so it so it will be another continuation to the letter B. I just want to make sure you weren't gonna go down the next step of the alphabet because I was already scared to ask the that question. Of course,
[00:46:12] spk_0: right now, I'm focusing on B
[00:46:15] spk_1: words. E makes you just want to make sure you want to find out more information about you working. They dio
[00:46:22] spk_0: so again my website Tricia kegger dot com I'm also on also the social media. I'm on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram Twitter at Tricia Caykur. Yeah.
[00:46:36] spk_1: Okay. Well, I really do appreciate you coming on to the show today.
[00:46:40] spk_0: Thank you for having me. I'm very grateful to be here, and I appreciate all that. You do as well.
[00:46:44] spk_1: So thank you. Well, I hope you enjoyed your time during the episode. As much as I enjoyed mine. Like I said, that was Tricia Kreager and her book The B words. If you haven't picked it up, it is readily available on Amazon. So take a look right there. If you go to our website safety FM dot com and go into our Amazon links, it's readily available right there. Anyway, thank you for always being the best part of safety FM. And that is the listener. Safety FM is the home of real safety talk. Don't worry. We'll be back with another episode of the J. Allen show before too long. Good Bye for now. Okay. Okay. Um Oh. Want more of the J Allen show, don't you? Safety FM dot com The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the host and its guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the company. Examples of analysis discussed within this podcast are only examples. They should not be utilized
[00:48:05] spk_0: in
[00:48:05] spk_1: the real world as the only solution available as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within this analysis are not reflective of the position of the company. No part of this podcast, maybe reproduced, stored in
[00:48:19] spk_0: a
[00:48:19] spk_1: retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means mechanical Elektronik, recording or otherwise, without prior written commission of the creator of the podcast, Jay Allen.