Tower Technicians

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Latest Episodes:

013: Being a Badass Does Not Make You Immune to Substance Abuse and Addiction Apr 10, 2023

It doesn't matter how badass you are. If you fall into substance abuse or addiction, it can take everything away from you – including your life. It could affect the people around you, your friends, your family, it could just take your entire world down.

Today’s guest, Don, has been in the Navy for 15 years, spending his entire career in special operations. He shares his journey through alcoholism, his recovery, and how he’s now making an impact on the community.

Substance abuse is a real issue in our industry, and too many people sweep it under the rug. Too many employers are turning a blind eye to drug testing. Too many employers or even crew members or teammates are turning a blind eye to their fellow employees who could be under the influence.

And so, now is the time to check your ego at the door. Whether that's alcohol, smoking, drugs, or food, do you have things that you struggle with? Addiction is real. It can be detrimental to your health and it can cause problems not only for you but also for the people around you.

Show Highlights:

Don’s story and background
The importance of having a safe environment
Integrating self-awareness and honesty into your work
How alcohol and drugs are used in the workplace
The pursuit of personal excellence

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We’d appreciate you subscribing to this podcast and leaving an Apple Podcasts review. Reviews help others discover and learn what Tower Technicians is all about. It only takes a second and helps us out a lot!

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

012: The Value of Women in Wireless with Cylie Price, Nicole Bivona, and Jordyn Ladner Apr 03, 2023

Think about a four-man crew. You work with three other people, and one of those people brought a lot of experience when it comes to safety, or standard, or whatever that is. And so, being a part of a team is extremely valuable because everyone gives a different kind of perspective, depending on what they specifically bring to the table.

Somehow, everyone in the team creates the kind of culture in your team. Therefore, different perspectives in the industry are a good thing. We can learn from each other and grow collectively if we are more accepting of different perspectives.

In this episode, I'm interviewing three women, Cylie Price, Nicole Bivona, and Jordyn Ladner, as they share some of the things that they juggle. Especially in a male-dominated industry, it's important that we're able to create a safe space for females to work in. Hopefully, this episode will inspire you to do so.

Show Highlights:

How they help employees keep up with their work
The struggles of being a single parent
Embracing vulnerability opens the lines of communication
Differentiating how you lead at home and how you lead at work
The importance of setting a good example as parents

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Supporting Resources:

The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X

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Episode Credits

011: The War on the Trades with Kenny Blakeslee Mar 22, 2023

College doesn't promise you success. Unfortunately, for so many years, college was being glorified and trades demonized. College has always been Plan A, and trades, as the Plan B. But there is actually no need for that because there are people better suited for college, and some people better suited for trades.

In today’s episode, Kenny Blakeslee discusses the war on trades that’s been happening since the 50s and how this impacts our industry. He also talks about our industry and what we can do to bridge the gap between the workforce contractors and industry leaders in wireless telecom.

Kenny started at the bottom, creating a company and getting in 120 employees. And he's got goals to grow much bigger than that. He has been in the industry since 2005 when he got out of the Navy. Kenny grew up with his dad who's also been in the industry climbing towers since the 90s. What was supposed to be a summer job turned out to be something he really loved and he never left since.

Show Highlights:

How to build an awesome culture
The importance of core values
How to break down the culture of perfection
Creating opportunities in the industry
Finding holes in your game
Meeting your people where they are
The war on trades and how it impacts the industry

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010: The Fear of Failure Mar 14, 2023

As kids, we had this courage to do anything and we didn't allow the fear of failure to stop us. Whether we were learning to ride a bike or learning to drive for the first time, we were able to push through the fear. And as we became adults, we got wiser. Along with that also came the fear of failure, which stops us from chasing our dreams in some cases.

In this episode, I wish to challenge that mindset many adults have that stops them from doing the things they want to do primarily due to fear. It doesn’t mean you get careless. But just realize that you’re actually more powerful than you think!

We’ve got the entire crew join us today as well and they talk about how their day was and the things they learned. We discuss the value of communication and some ways to overcome the fear of failure.

Show Highlights:

Choosing your attitude everyday
Being deliberate with what you feed your mind
The value of communication, especially in this line of work
Striving to learn something new everyday
Leveraging our profession more than just a union
Turning failures into opportunities to learn
Choosing an attitude of gratitude

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Episode Credits

009: NATE Unite with Annmarie Feiler Mar 07, 2023

Annemarie Feiler is an experienced event producer based out of Las Vegas. She shares her experience with the Nate organization and the passion behind their mission to keep the men and women in the field safe and get them home every night.

The Nate Unite conference is an opportunity to bridge the gap between tower technicians and decision-makers. Through their hard work and dedication, they were able to create a platform to foster a mutual respect between the two worlds and promote the safety and development of tower climbers. They created an app to help attendees navigate the event and discussed the importance of mental health and recognizing future leaders.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What is the mission of the Nate Unite organization and how does it impact the safety and well being of the workers in the field?
How do small companies with limited resources recognize and develop their leaders?
What is the Nate Mobile App and how can it help with organizing and attending the trade show?

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008: NATE Unite 2023 with Todd Schlekeway Feb 27, 2023

Todd Schlekeway was hired by NATE due to his background in the legislative and regulatory arena, and he was determined to learn all he could about the industry. After attending a three-day authorized climber rescue training, he developed a passion for safety advocacy and the industry.

Since then, he has climbed the ladder and is now the CEO. Todd is proud to have NATE represent the industry and workforce contractors in the highest levels of government, and he encourages NATE members to diversify their customer base in order to have a sustainable career. He is also investing in workforce development and marketing initiatives to spread awareness of the industry and the opportunities it provides.

Todd Schlekeway learned about NATE's initiatives to advocate for the industry and workforce contractors through his 11 years of experience with NATE. He has been able to access the best subject matter experts in the country, and NATE has multiple committees in place to ensure safety. NATE also has a partnership with OSHA. As a company, they also have an advocacy presence in Washington, DC, and they do a national C-suite tour to connect with the top executives of the top four carriers and vertical real estate companies.

They are also investing in workforce development and marketing the industry to the mainstream. Todd encourages NATE members to diversify their customer base and to take part in NATE's Congressional Fly-In in May.

Show Highlights:

What is NATE’s mission?
How did Todd Schlekeway land with NATE, and what has he learned in 11 years with the company?
What initiatives and committees has NATE developed to promote safety in the industry?
How is NATE advocating and marketing the industry to the mainstream to create career pathways?

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Supporting Resources:

https://natehome.com/

https://natehome.com/upcoming-events/nate-member-congressional-fly-in/

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Episode Credits

007: Dump the New Years Resolutions & Create Sustainable Habits for Personal Excellence Feb 06, 2023

Having essential habits is a crucial part of success for tower technicians. In this line of work, it is important to have certain habits that will enable them to be successful. The most important habits for tower technicians are being organized, having a positive attitude, being able to follow directions, and staying focused. Embracing continuous personal excellence is the ultimate rebellion and in order to achieve success in the wireless telecom industry, we need to focus on developing habits that line up with our long-term purpose. Having a growth mindset and setting goals can help us be successful. Focusing on personal excellence, being mindful of safety, and asking questions can help us grow in the industry. We need to stand up for ourselves and to strive for something bigger than just a paycheck.

Show Highlights:

What habits can you put in place to achieve your life goals?
How can you use social media to bridge the gap between tower technicians and decision makers?
What advice can experienced tower technicians give to those just entering the industry?

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006: Are You Paying Your Dues? with Broc Englund Dec 27, 2022

Being a tower technician is not for the faint of heart, working at heights with the huge possibility that you’re not getting paid much. It’s about time we openly talk about the issues happening within our industry. With a lot of tower technicians crying to get paid more, is it logical to join a union?

While the union can be a viable option, you have to do your own homework and research what’s out there because everything is at your fingertips. After all, we are the ones technically building the network.

In this episode, Broc Englund, a 14-year veteran in the industry, shares his insights into the value the workforce brings and the issues surrounding that. He’s also raising some questions that need to be answered to make sure you’re paying your dues for the right reasons.

Show Highlights:

An overview of Broc’s career path
The difference between being proud of your work and being prideful
Getting paid for the value you provide vs. your number of years working
The answers you should seek if you’re signing up for a union

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*** Episode Credits

005: A Technician's Perspective with Matthew Keen Dec 12, 2022

Not anybody can become a tower technician. As for Matthew Keen who had no prior experience in telecom or climbing, he did what he could to get the training he needed to become one, and a competent one at that. Still, he saw things that could have been improved to equip technicians with the right knowledge and skill sets so they could perform much better at height.

Matthew admits having been on the cusp of burning out just nine months in on the job. Good thing, he figured out a way to make things work for him. But what about all those other technicians who are constantly bombarded with unrealistically high expectations at work and continually pushed to perform in scenarios and situations that shouldn't be pushed?

In today’s episode, Matthew shares his viewpoints around shortage in the workforce, safety, training, and pay. Pressuring technicians to do better work in a shorter amount of time doesn’t cut it when they’re not given the right tools, the right training, and the right number and quality of people to work with.

This is a climber's market. Tower technicians, individually, have the ability to empower themselves through education, comprehensive training, and a better understanding of this process – if only everyone in the industry is willing to have an open discussion around these things. Show Highlights:

Matthew’s career background
Complacency is a terrible thing.
Pay should be based on quality and value.
Hands-on technical training is critical.
Are tower technicians being paid enough?
The importance of a union

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004: Mental Health in Telecom with Broc Englund Dec 05, 2022

Addiction and mental health issues in the telecom industry are very prevalent today. 80% of the people in the telecom industry are struggling with some level of addiction, whether in the form of alcohol, sweets, or drugs. It’s a disease that can spread like wildfire and destroy our industry as a whole if we don’t step up and fix it. If we, as an industry and as a workforce, want to earn credibility, then we have to make this effort to level up ourselves and attack these pervading issues on the front end. Broc Englund joins us today from a 220-foot four legs self-support in South Louisiana as he shares his own struggles with addiction, the impact of mental health issues on our society as a whole, and how we can move forward and level up as an industry. Show Highlights:

What it’s like to struggle with your mental health
How society has advocated for mental health issues
How addiction affects the industry
Why unionization is not the answer to this problem
The first step to addressing addiction and mental health issues
The role of a strong support system

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daldztwV5ww

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*** Episode Credits

003: Wrestling Alligators & Industry Issues in South Louisiana with Rod LeBlanc Oct 12, 2022

As we’ve mentioned in the previous episodes, the goal of this podcast is to bridge the gap between the three groups in the telecom industry: the industry leaders, the contractors, and the workforce.

Apparently, there are some things that each group does to make each other’s lives more difficult. And so, if we could only help bridge that gap, this industry will go nowhere but up. The first step is awareness.

Today, Rod Leblanc, a tower technician who has been in this industry for 13 years, brings in a lot of unique experiences having been exposed to different safety hazards, working at an alligator farm, a scaffolding site, and a concrete business. And now in telecom, Rod still continues to get exposed to similar hazards, if not more.

Rod shares his perspective on how to bridge this gap that will, hopefully, spark a synergy defined by safety and quality.

Show Highlights:

What industry leaders can do to make the life of contractors easier
What contractors can do to make the life of industry leaders a bit easier
What industry leaders and contractors can do to help make the workforce’s life easier
Where the telecom industry is heading

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gaElNUd47I

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Episode Credits

002: Why Me? Sep 28, 2022

This is a show designed to address the gap between industry leaders, contractors, and the workforce in the communications infrastructure industry.

But why me? Why am I the guy doing this podcast?

It is a risky move to put myself out there in public and do a podcast. But then there are a lot of people in this industry who are looking for someone to step out, find some solutions, and make things happen for positive change. After reflecting on all my experiences within this industry, I realized – why not?

In this episode, you'll see why I feel like I’m the guy for this podcast, my family influences, my work experiences, and some lessons I’ve learned along this journey that made me who I am today.

Show Highlights:

Lessons from blue-collar influences in my life
How sports and my hobbies shaped me as a person
Lessons from the Army
My career background
Time to give back to the industry
Why I could relate with the different people in this industry

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo1KMO3tOCo

Subscribe and Review We’d appreciate you subscribing to this podcast and leaving an Apple Podcasts review. Reviews help others discover and learn what Tower Technicians is all about. It only takes a second and helps us out a lot! *** Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com.

001: Bridging the Gap and Pursuing Personal Excellence to Advance Our Industry Sep 27, 2022

Tower technicians have been perceived as second-class citizens. They’re called names like crazy, cowboys, tower dogs, and all other labels you could throw that do partly contribute to low morale. Climbing 300, 400, or 1,200 feet daily is no joke. They’re called crazy for a reason. After all, no one else dares to throw themselves in dangerous situations daily. The fact that everyone in our society depends on the work of these courageous individuals in order to call, text, email, access google & youtube, or even make social media posts should earn them some respect. The least people could give them is a decent amount of respect. They deserve to be celebrated – and that’s what this podcast is here for! Welcome to this first episode of Tower Technicians, a podcast dedicated to bridging the gap in the communications infrastructure industry that exists between industry leaders, contractors, and the workforce. On this show, we're going to feature people in this industry – from those that work for carriers, tower owners, and OEMs, to engineering firms, turfing contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors. We will also feature people who represent the workforce from civil technicians and electrical technicians to underground technicians, and of course, tower technicians. We will interview guests on job sites and climb towers to do these interviews. We will go where everyone is. And if you’re wondering about why this podcast is named as such, then you’d have to listen in to find out! Show Highlights:

Issues and challenges in the workforce that need to be addressed
The three main groups that make up the communications infrastructure industry
Matrix pricing and why it doesn’t work for everyone else Subcontractors vs. turfing contractors
Some problems that the bottom-of-the-barrel contractors are causing the industry
Getting out of the entitlement mindset among tower technicians
Building your personal excellence is the ultimate rebellion.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XJpBeiNQgE

Welcome to Tower Technicians! Jul 13, 2022

What if you could hang out with experienced tower technicians, industry leaders, and decision makers, ask them about their experiences, habits, concerns, and frustrations; then take an insight or two to guide your own career growth? That’s what we do each week on this podcast. Hosted by DW –– an experienced tower technician who has become an industry leader over the last 3 decades –– every episode is an in-depth look at the lives of people in wireless telecom who are always working hard to close the digital divide. Our hope is to show you how you can stay safe, grow your career, and reach your fullest potential within the industry. The goal is to bridge the gap between tower technicians and decision makers within wireless telecom.

Welcome to Tower Technicians! Jul 13, 2022

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