Tower Technicians

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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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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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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009: NATE Unite with Annmarie Feiler Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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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