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In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner interview Kate Birds, owner of Iron Lady & Co., and a heavy civil/industrial operator, recently promoted to superintendent after previously doubting her leadership and trying to demote herself. She describes a “rebirth” of accepting her place in the industry and her femininity, and explains how Iron Lady & Co. grew from punny clothing into sponsoring women-focused events, including SheGrooms, a hands-on camp in the ski industry that expanded into lift maintenance, snowmaking, welding, and heavy equipment exposure. Kate discusses leadership dynamics on job sites, earning respect through competence, consistency, and direct communication, and navigating setbacks by seeking feedback, recognizing unhealthy work environments, and rebuilding.

Supported by: NPK

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In this episode: Christi Powell and Angela Gardner interview Breanna Howard, an estimator and business development professional at Palmetto State Roofing and co-owner of Eastern Waste Solutions, about balancing industry work, entrepreneurship, and raising a one- and two-year-old. Brianna explains how negative workplace experiences shaped her focus on creating a welcoming culture by building trust with field crews through jobsite engagement and employee appreciation. She shares Eastern Waste Solutions’ community efforts, including a charity dumpster filled with donated toys for Secret Santa of Simpsonville and a planned summer donation drive for women's and children’s shelters. Brianna describes flexible workforce practices such as allowing time off without PTO, emphasizing networking beyond one’s role, encouraging women to pursue construction despite social expectations, and discussing managing a learning disability by rereading and double-checking work while using it as motivation to succeed.

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In this episode: Christi and Angela review May 2026 data showing the Carolinas outperforming national trends, with national steel prices up 7% while the region sees a 67% surge in healthcare and power projects, supported by a diverse economy, energy infrastructure, high-end healthcare facilities, and expanding data centers. The hosts discuss workforce and policy efforts, including monitoring North Carolina’s SB 986 Workforce Act to make credentials employer-driven and recognizing journey-level experience alongside four-year degrees, and closely watching South Carolina’s Wage Accountability Act to protect the merit shop, competitive open shop environment amid rapid growth. They highlight outreach to students through SkillsMobile and a gaming curriculum featuring electrical, HVAC, and BIM to improve awareness and retention. The conversation emphasizes mental health (May) and safety (June), urging daily mental health check-ins, “invisible PPE,” and STCKY critical-risk safety focused on high-energy hazards and job-stopping awareness.

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