1 00:00:01,420 --> 00:00:02,350 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,050 --> 00:00:07,270 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,290 --> 00:00:10,910 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,010 --> 00:00:14,590 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,930 --> 00:00:17,550 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:17,770 --> 00:00:20,590 and today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:26,190 Well, welcome to another episode of Commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling, 8 00:00:26,190 --> 00:00:30,070 here on W Nmb, S five 90 am 1 0 1 0.1 fm, 9 00:00:30,070 --> 00:00:35,030 and any place you download your favorite podcasts. Uh, today on commonalities, 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,030 my guest is John O'Brien, 11 00:00:37,210 --> 00:00:40,510 and John is with the Keystone Contractors Association, 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,470 as well as the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania. John, 13 00:00:45,470 --> 00:00:46,550 thank you for being with us. 14 00:00:46,550 --> 00:00:48,990 Here today. Glad to be here. Thanks for, uh, thanks for the invite. 15 00:00:48,990 --> 00:00:50,310 I'm looking forward to the talk. 16 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:56,610 Absolutely. And I know you have a lot of good information that, uh, 17 00:00:56,610 --> 00:01:00,090 you can share with our listeners at home here in the Fayette County area, 18 00:01:00,390 --> 00:01:05,130 and those from around the Commonwealth in the country that tune in to the, uh, 19 00:01:05,130 --> 00:01:07,770 the digital version of our podcast. Now, 20 00:01:07,770 --> 00:01:12,130 I wanted to give you a minute at the top of the conversation to, uh, 21 00:01:12,130 --> 00:01:13,810 kind of do some self introduction, 22 00:01:13,810 --> 00:01:16,250 give a little bit of your history and background, 23 00:01:16,390 --> 00:01:19,690 and talk about the organizations that you work for and Represen. 24 00:01:19,850 --> 00:01:24,530 Represent. Yeah. Um, again, you know, thanks for having me. Uh, I am, uh, 25 00:01:24,530 --> 00:01:28,250 John O'Brien, as you mentioned. I grew up in central pa. 26 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:32,650 Then after high school, went to the Navy, served our country for four years, 27 00:01:33,620 --> 00:01:37,370 uh, four awesome years. Spent most of it in nor Norfolk, Virginia. 28 00:01:39,820 --> 00:01:41,420 Thank you for your service. Um. 29 00:01:41,550 --> 00:01:43,940 Enjoyed every minute of it. Then after that, 30 00:01:43,940 --> 00:01:48,620 went to University of Pittsburgh and met my, uh, 31 00:01:48,620 --> 00:01:53,060 future wife and two pit grads living together. She's a pittsburgher. 32 00:01:53,230 --> 00:01:56,800 So we ended up, uh, raising a family in Pittsburgh. 33 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,520 And then six years ago, the KCA came calling and said, Hey, uh, 34 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:05,640 would you maybe consider running kca? Uh, 35 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:06,920 it's based in Harrisburg. 36 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,760 You grew up in Mechanicsburg and had to talk to the wife and three daughters, 37 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:15,360 you know, but, uh, I think I sold 'em on it, 38 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:19,040 and we've been here looking on almost seven years now, and they love it, 39 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:23,380 and it's been great. So, um, but yeah, 40 00:02:23,380 --> 00:02:26,980 as far as the, the groups I, uh, I work for and represent, that's, 41 00:02:27,170 --> 00:02:29,020 it's kind of confusing when I meet with people, 42 00:02:29,020 --> 00:02:32,460 especially in the legislative arena. Um, 43 00:02:32,590 --> 00:02:35,940 so KCA is Keystone Contractor Association. 44 00:02:36,590 --> 00:02:41,580 We are your traditional trade association, uh, for our union members. 45 00:02:41,750 --> 00:02:45,220 We negotiate on your behalf. We negotiate with carpenters, 46 00:02:45,420 --> 00:02:49,730 union operating engineers, laborers, cement, masons, uh, 47 00:02:49,730 --> 00:02:54,400 brick layers, um, kind of the non-mechanical trades. Uh, 48 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,080 we also offer, uh, education, networking, all that fun stuff that you get at, 49 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,520 uh, you know, an association, Gulf outings and, and whatnot. 50 00:03:04,650 --> 00:03:09,600 Um, and then GCAP is General Contractor's Association of Pennsylvania. 51 00:03:10,460 --> 00:03:14,600 And due to KCA being located in the Harrisburg area, 52 00:03:15,060 --> 00:03:19,880 the executive director of KCA has traditionally doubled as 53 00:03:19,940 --> 00:03:21,560 the ED of gcap. 54 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:26,420 And GCAP members are Master Builders Association, 55 00:03:26,420 --> 00:03:27,700 where I used to work in Pittsburgh, 56 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,060 and then General Building Contractors Association in Philadelphia, 57 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:37,250 and then the association up in Scranton. So, collectively, 58 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:39,290 GCAP represents, uh, 59 00:03:39,610 --> 00:03:42,490 thousand plus contractors all around the Commonwealth, 60 00:03:43,190 --> 00:03:47,810 and it's strictly government affairs. Um, so yeah, those are the two groups, 61 00:03:47,810 --> 00:03:51,550 and that's kind of who I am and glad to be here today. 62 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,590 So, John, with those organizations, um, 63 00:03:57,780 --> 00:04:02,710 what are kind of your key roles? I, I know you oversee the organization, 64 00:04:03,010 --> 00:04:07,950 but what are some of the, uh, the key goals or objectives of, 65 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,950 uh, of Keystone contractors or the general contractors. 66 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,030 In pa? Um, like I said, gcap is more the government affairs. 67 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:19,790 So those goals are to monitor legislation and, uh, 68 00:04:20,250 --> 00:04:21,790 you know, push for good, 69 00:04:21,790 --> 00:04:26,190 good policy that increases jobs and man hours and construction 70 00:04:26,190 --> 00:04:30,470 projects. Uh, the safety's real important as well as, as, you know, 71 00:04:30,470 --> 00:04:34,800 every organization's safety's, uh, prior priority number one. 72 00:04:35,450 --> 00:04:40,300 Um, as far as kca, uh, so like I mentioned in 2016, 73 00:04:40,300 --> 00:04:43,160 they approached me and I, 74 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:47,640 I know Pittsburgh inside out. I know all the contractors, I know the history. 75 00:04:47,830 --> 00:04:50,600 I could tell you who built what building, um, 76 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,640 but take me outside of Allegheny County, 77 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:54,960 and it was like a whole new world for me. 78 00:04:56,070 --> 00:04:58,900 So I thought I would take the first six months, you know, 79 00:04:58,900 --> 00:05:02,300 just to kind of get to know the members and understand what's going on, 80 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,540 and kind of see what their challenges are and kind of create a strategic plan 81 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:11,510 from those challenges. So 2016 into 2017, I was, 82 00:05:11,510 --> 00:05:15,550 you know, going to Johnstown, Scranton, Redding, York, 83 00:05:15,550 --> 00:05:19,470 all the areas, you know, where we have a large base of, of contractors. 84 00:05:20,780 --> 00:05:25,440 And the reoccurring issue kept popping up. I kept hearing about opioids. 85 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:30,260 He kept hearing about pain meds, uh, back-to-back meetings with, 86 00:05:30,270 --> 00:05:31,700 uh, an apprenticeship council. 87 00:05:31,710 --> 00:05:35,580 We had back-to-back meetings where he heard the story about the All-American 88 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,300 boy, you know, he played all sports in high school. 89 00:05:38,730 --> 00:05:43,520 Then he got into construction, got some, uh, pains and some issue, 90 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:48,200 or he had some, uh, you know, some injuries on the job site. So they would, 91 00:05:48,460 --> 00:05:51,440 you know, push 'em towards pain meds, you know, to keep 'em working. 92 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:54,280 And then next thing you know, it's, you know, 93 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,560 you hear about heroin and death. 94 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:01,360 It was back to back meetings back in 2017 where it was like death by drugs. 95 00:06:01,580 --> 00:06:05,520 And it just, I just approached the KCA board and I'm like, this is, 96 00:06:05,550 --> 00:06:09,720 this is nuts. This is crazy. Maybe I lived a shelter life in, in Pittsburgh, 97 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:14,400 but I wasn't exposed to all this, you know, it was quite, quite different. 98 00:06:15,050 --> 00:06:15,400 No, 99 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,520 don't get me wrong with Pittsburgh has its challenges and some issues as well, 100 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,480 but it was, it was, uh, worse out here, you know, 101 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:25,880 as much as far as the industry goes. So, you know, collectively. 102 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:30,120 Well, in, in, in, in this, in the, in this timeframe, 103 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:34,880 we're seeing even more of addiction that is starting with per prescription 104 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,160 painkillers. Um, just within the last year, 105 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:41,160 we saw that there were a number of, uh, 106 00:06:41,550 --> 00:06:45,840 a number of counties that came together to, uh, 107 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:50,840 sue the, um, uh, the makers of Oxycontin. 108 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:52,520 And of course they won that. And they, 109 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,960 they have some money to spend over the next 10 years that will be paid out, 110 00:06:57,490 --> 00:07:01,600 uh, to talk about addiction and recovery. Yeah. So I didn't mean to cut you off, 111 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:05,800 but we've, we've seen a, a problem, not that addiction hasn't always been a, 112 00:07:05,950 --> 00:07:10,040 a problem because it has been since the beginning of civilization really, 113 00:07:10,610 --> 00:07:14,960 um, you know, since man started using substances of, of any nature. 114 00:07:15,610 --> 00:07:16,020 Um, 115 00:07:16,020 --> 00:07:20,760 but in this time period that opioid epidemic has really 116 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,440 become, um, a larger problem. That's, 117 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:29,200 that was one of the biggest issues in my six years in the general assembly that 118 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:33,920 we were trying to address. And unfortunately we're doing so with, 119 00:07:33,930 --> 00:07:37,840 uh, with very little success rates. So, I didn't mean to cut you off, 120 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,160 but I wanted to kind of interject how big that problem. 121 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:42,520 Has become. Yeah, it just cause of getting bigger and bigger and, you know, 122 00:07:42,520 --> 00:07:47,080 COVID hasn't health matters at all. Um, but no, like, um, 123 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:51,200 when I said I didn't realize it was a bigger problem, I meant more work wise, 124 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:55,510 more construction wise. Yeah. So, so Pi Pittsburgh was, 125 00:07:55,810 --> 00:07:58,550 was a pioneer when it comes to, to drug testing. 126 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:02,270 We started drug testing the construction industry in 1999. 127 00:08:02,660 --> 00:08:07,130 This was years before. So my whole working career, 128 00:08:07,130 --> 00:08:10,570 I've been exposed to drug testing and, you know, labor management, 129 00:08:10,570 --> 00:08:13,930 working together and working with the apprentices, you know, 130 00:08:13,930 --> 00:08:16,850 to educate them on the, the harms of the issues. And, 131 00:08:17,030 --> 00:08:21,690 and there's low drug rates amongst Pittsburgh's, you know, construction trades. 132 00:08:22,260 --> 00:08:23,240 And then, like I said, 133 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,880 I move out here in 2016 and I'm going through the CBAs and I'm like, 134 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,760 there's no mention at all about drug testing. There's no drug policy at all. 135 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,640 I'm like, I thought this day and age it would be everywhere, you know, 136 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:38,560 in construction. So it's kind of a whole, whole new world for me. Um, 137 00:08:39,410 --> 00:08:42,560 so yeah, like I said, I approached the KCA board and I said, 138 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:46,270 we really need to do something. So, you know, 139 00:08:46,270 --> 00:08:50,110 construction is famous for its, uh, recognition weeks. You know, 140 00:08:50,110 --> 00:08:54,670 we have like ladder safety week, you know, driver training, training week, 141 00:08:54,670 --> 00:08:58,770 all these, these different weeks throughout the year. And we started one, uh, 142 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,930 last week of July, the construction opioid awareness week. 143 00:09:02,500 --> 00:09:05,910 It's a week dedicated to, you know, raising awareness, 144 00:09:05,910 --> 00:09:10,750 getting educational resources out to employers so they can talk to their 145 00:09:10,910 --> 00:09:12,510 employees about it. Uh, 146 00:09:12,510 --> 00:09:17,390 we got little stickers from the National Safety Council that workers can 147 00:09:17,390 --> 00:09:20,510 put on their, their insurance cards and their medical cards. 148 00:09:21,630 --> 00:09:25,770 And once you go to a medical office or a pharmacy, 149 00:09:25,770 --> 00:09:27,330 you're not pulling that card out again. 150 00:09:27,700 --> 00:09:32,010 So the significance of the sticker is you, you know, Mr. Employer, 151 00:09:32,200 --> 00:09:35,290 you're sitting down with your workers saying, Hey, we care about you. 152 00:09:35,290 --> 00:09:37,950 We care about your family. You know, here's, 153 00:09:37,950 --> 00:09:41,190 here's a sticker I want you to put on there. Just, just to remind you, 154 00:09:41,190 --> 00:09:44,990 just the back of your head, just, just so you know, it says, opioids warn me, 155 00:09:44,990 --> 00:09:45,310 you know, 156 00:09:45,310 --> 00:09:49,810 so the pharmacist is supposed to warn them if there's an opioid and in, uh, 157 00:09:50,180 --> 00:09:54,180 in whenever they're giving them. Um, so that, that was huge. You know, 158 00:09:54,180 --> 00:09:58,020 we got a lot of, a lot of press, a lot of positive feedback from contractors. 159 00:09:58,870 --> 00:10:03,300 Um, the best, the best feedback I got was an electrician out of Redding, 160 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,300 and I've tried since then to reach out to him just to see what's going on. 161 00:10:08,300 --> 00:10:11,860 But he called me and said, uh, you know, what you're doing is awesome. 162 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,020 I'm a recovering addict, and this is amazing. 163 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:19,900 I'm talking to my coworkers about it. I feel like I'm can finally talk about it. 164 00:10:19,900 --> 00:10:22,900 You've got it to the point where people can talk about it in the industry, 165 00:10:22,900 --> 00:10:25,100 and it's not something that you block anymore. Hide. 166 00:10:27,390 --> 00:10:31,040 Kind of a way of de-stigmatizing, um, you know, 167 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,720 addiction and allowing to it to be out in the open, um, 168 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:38,440 because we can't address that problem in less, you know, 169 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:39,960 unless people are open and, and. 170 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,680 <Crosstalk>. But you since left that company, and I'm trying to track him down. 171 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:46,960 If he listens to commonalities, hope he gives me a call again. So <laugh>. 172 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:52,320 But that was awesome. And then the coolest part was other states started, 173 00:10:52,690 --> 00:10:56,040 started doing this as well. So Massachusetts started one, 174 00:10:57,410 --> 00:11:01,440 um, Illinois started, and I believe, uh, Virginia as well. 175 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,240 So they see the success that we're having there with employers talking. So it's, 176 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,160 uh, it's good stuff going on here. 177 00:11:09,950 --> 00:11:14,360 Well, hey, that's great, John. And, uh, and we have to get our first break in. 178 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,120 When we come back, we want to continue our conversation, 179 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,880 talking a little bit more about, uh, 180 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:24,560 the workforce and what you're doing to, uh, recruit, uh, 181 00:11:24,560 --> 00:11:28,440 young people into, uh, into the construction trades. 182 00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:31,720 But we're gonna take that quick break and we'll be right back after these 183 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:32,553 messages. 184 00:11:36,220 --> 00:11:40,960 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 185 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:42,520 uncommon conversations. 186 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,520 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 187 00:11:48,570 --> 00:11:52,720 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 188 00:11:53,210 --> 00:11:53,880 If so, 189 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:58,600 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 190 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,600 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 191 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,560 expertise with a holistic perspective. 192 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:09,920 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 193 00:12:09,940 --> 00:12:13,520 web design, social media management, video production, 194 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:15,920 and more for businesses, organizations, 195 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:19,560 and political campaigns with decades of experience. 196 00:12:19,560 --> 00:12:24,280 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 197 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:29,320 and share it with the world. 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John, 255 00:15:58,900 --> 00:16:00,270 before we went to the break, 256 00:16:00,270 --> 00:16:03,430 we were talking a little bit about new initiatives that, uh, 257 00:16:03,430 --> 00:16:07,870 were kind of born out of your experiences and your recent 258 00:16:08,390 --> 00:16:11,390 strategic plan that have to deal with, uh, 259 00:16:11,390 --> 00:16:16,350 with addressing the addiction issues that exist within the, 260 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,470 uh, construction trades. Um, 261 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:24,270 we wanted to come back from the break and talk a little bit about recruitment. 262 00:16:24,270 --> 00:16:26,870 And I understand that you're working with, uh, 263 00:16:26,870 --> 00:16:30,870 a high school here in Pennsylvania to get young people interested in the 264 00:16:30,870 --> 00:16:32,470 construction trades. 265 00:16:32,470 --> 00:16:35,910 Why don't you tell us a little bit about the work that you're doing with that. 266 00:16:35,910 --> 00:16:40,030 High school? Yeah, so probably about a year ago or so, 267 00:16:41,060 --> 00:16:41,380 I, 268 00:16:41,380 --> 00:16:45,990 I was talking to our board and I said it would be cool to have like a marketing 269 00:16:45,990 --> 00:16:50,880 contest just to see what high school kids come up with. Cuz you know, 270 00:16:51,010 --> 00:16:53,320 my whole experience and my whole career, it's, 271 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:58,120 it's just me and carpenter training directors and other 272 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,640 contractors going to high schools saying, oh, you should, 273 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,480 you should help help the industry. You should work in the industry, you know, 274 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,760 and this is a great career. You can help your family, you know, 275 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:10,360 raise a family and retirement, blah, blah, blah. 276 00:17:10,980 --> 00:17:15,160 And I'm pretty sure it's in one ear out the other year when you go to those high 277 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:19,690 school career fairs. Um, and I was saying to the board, I said, 278 00:17:19,690 --> 00:17:21,730 what if we have like a contest to see what, 279 00:17:22,660 --> 00:17:25,560 see what high school kids come up with? Like, what do they want to hear? 280 00:17:26,210 --> 00:17:30,750 And then, and then some just open, open forum to see what happens. 281 00:17:31,780 --> 00:17:34,320 And I said, well, I'll do some research. I'll ask around. 282 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,680 So I started calling around to some local schools and some teachers, 283 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,240 guidance counselors, and I connected with, uh, 284 00:17:41,410 --> 00:17:45,040 my kids go to Northern High School. I connected with their marketing and, 285 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:49,940 and business teacher, Mr. Neon, great guy. And, and I, 286 00:17:49,970 --> 00:17:52,740 I told Jim my idea Jim Neon, I said, you know, 287 00:17:52,740 --> 00:17:56,940 it'd be great to somehow some sort of contest or just see what happens. 288 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:01,340 And I, I, and he goes, well, let me, let me throw it out. 289 00:18:01,340 --> 00:18:05,420 Because Northern started something new this school year. They have, uh, 290 00:18:05,940 --> 00:18:09,620 activity groups after school. So there's a business group after school. 291 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,420 And he goes, this is the first year we're doing this, 292 00:18:12,470 --> 00:18:17,060 so we need some sort of project to work on whenever we meet, you know, every, 293 00:18:17,060 --> 00:18:21,740 every other week or whatever. So he sat down with the students and said, Hey, 294 00:18:21,740 --> 00:18:26,580 the, the KCA approached us and they want to do something workforce related, 295 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,820 and they want to see what ideas high school students come, can, uh, 296 00:18:30,820 --> 00:18:35,340 can come up with maybe some sort of contest and the best idea gets 297 00:18:35,340 --> 00:18:38,580 money or, or an iPad or something, you know. And, 298 00:18:39,790 --> 00:18:44,230 and this conversation happened back in like June or July, 299 00:18:44,230 --> 00:18:48,050 right after school let out. And then right before Thanksgiving, 300 00:18:49,070 --> 00:18:51,100 Mr. Neon calls me and he said, Hey, 301 00:18:51,340 --> 00:18:55,660 I want to give you an update on that project. And I, to be honest with you, 302 00:18:55,660 --> 00:18:56,740 I totally forgot about it. You know, 303 00:18:56,740 --> 00:18:59,500 it was a couple months later and I assumed it was, 304 00:18:59,500 --> 00:19:04,380 it was dead on arrival and no, not gonna move at all. And, and, 305 00:19:04,380 --> 00:19:06,380 uh, he goes, well, it's been great. You know, 306 00:19:06,380 --> 00:19:09,700 we spent the last couple months in school with our marketing group and we're 307 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:10,260 talking about it, 308 00:19:10,260 --> 00:19:15,140 and we've come up with this idea where you feed us the benefits, 309 00:19:15,140 --> 00:19:16,340 you feed us, what you, 310 00:19:16,340 --> 00:19:21,290 what you think is best about reasons to enter the construction industry, 311 00:19:21,670 --> 00:19:23,730 and we're gonna put it in high school language. 312 00:19:23,730 --> 00:19:26,370 We're gonna put it on TikTok where kids see it, 313 00:19:26,370 --> 00:19:30,120 we're gonna put it on all the social media platforms and, 314 00:19:30,820 --> 00:19:33,880 and just get those messages out there. And, 315 00:19:33,980 --> 00:19:37,480 and then they told me this, and Oh, that's exciting. That's cool. You know, 316 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:40,040 and then they're having different contests throughout the year. 317 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:40,960 So if you sign up, 318 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:45,280 they're randomly gonna select someone and get like some t-shirts or water 319 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,160 bottles or something, something to get the kids excited or something. 320 00:19:49,070 --> 00:19:53,570 So on the phone, like, oh, that sounds awesome. That sounds cool. And I said, 321 00:19:53,770 --> 00:19:58,490 actually, we have a KCA event in a couple weeks. If you want to come and talk, 322 00:19:58,490 --> 00:20:03,150 talk there, that'd be great. You know, so we were at Dukes on the river, uh, 323 00:20:03,150 --> 00:20:06,270 about two or three weeks ago, right there. I know Warrensburg. 324 00:20:07,360 --> 00:20:10,980 And he brought four of his students, Mr. Mason and four students came, 325 00:20:10,980 --> 00:20:14,860 and there was a packed room of 70 plus construction professionals, 326 00:20:16,190 --> 00:20:19,730 and they arrived and, and the, the students were like, oh, 327 00:20:19,730 --> 00:20:22,290 we're a little nervous, you know, we didn't expect such a big crowd or whatever. 328 00:20:22,290 --> 00:20:26,050 But, but they rocked it. I mean, they were awesome. And they, 329 00:20:26,050 --> 00:20:29,570 they talked about how they're in the infancy of the program and they're building 330 00:20:29,570 --> 00:20:32,890 up their database, and it's gonna be a texting, like I said, 331 00:20:32,890 --> 00:20:35,170 it's gonna be social media. And I'm, 332 00:20:35,170 --> 00:20:38,210 I'm talking to him with them more and more to get more of the benefits out 333 00:20:38,210 --> 00:20:41,130 there. And then, and then they're spinning it and putting the, 334 00:20:41,130 --> 00:20:43,810 the high school language twist behind it. So. 335 00:20:46,720 --> 00:20:47,230 Well. 336 00:20:47,230 --> 00:20:51,750 That's, that's a fantastic idea. You, you kind of went direct to, uh, you know, 337 00:20:51,750 --> 00:20:55,190 to your target market and have them, um, 338 00:20:55,190 --> 00:20:58,430 giving you some great feedback on, um, 339 00:20:58,430 --> 00:21:03,190 on what you need to do and how best to connect with, uh, with that generation, 340 00:21:03,190 --> 00:21:08,070 that age group, that demographic. And, uh, it seems like you guys are, 341 00:21:08,070 --> 00:21:11,790 are doing some great work there. We have just, uh, 342 00:21:11,790 --> 00:21:14,950 about two to three minutes before our next break, but, uh, 343 00:21:14,950 --> 00:21:19,910 the next topic I wanted to segue into is mental health. And, 344 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,510 uh, you know, we may have to, uh, 345 00:21:22,510 --> 00:21:27,110 pause this discussion for our last break of the episode, uh, and then come back. 346 00:21:27,110 --> 00:21:32,070 But tell me a little bit about what you're doing to address mental health 347 00:21:32,070 --> 00:21:33,630 issues within the industry. 348 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:38,270 Um, I mean, to date, we've, I mean, we have a podcast, the Building PA podcast, 349 00:21:38,370 --> 00:21:43,030 and it'd be great to have you on as well. Um, but we've had, uh, some, sure, 350 00:21:43,030 --> 00:21:47,070 some renowned speakers from around, from around the country. Um, 351 00:21:48,010 --> 00:21:50,750 AGC is the largest association in America, 352 00:21:50,750 --> 00:21:54,430 associated General Contractors of America. They've, 353 00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:57,150 they've launched a mental health task force, 354 00:21:57,370 --> 00:21:59,190 and we've had that co-chair on there, 355 00:21:59,190 --> 00:22:03,630 this individual named Mandy Keim out of, uh, the state of Washington. 356 00:22:04,610 --> 00:22:07,550 She started constructions culture of care. And it's, 357 00:22:07,550 --> 00:22:09,310 it's just an awesome effort, 358 00:22:09,380 --> 00:22:12,790 just kind of like what I talked about with the stickers. It's, it's like, 359 00:22:12,790 --> 00:22:14,590 it's a way of opening up, you know, 360 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,430 getting rid of the stigma associated with mental health issues and just letting 361 00:22:19,430 --> 00:22:22,550 people know it's okay to talk about it. Um, but yeah, 362 00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:24,710 currently you. 363 00:22:25,050 --> 00:22:29,670 You know, and, and if you think about, you think about the kind of guys, uh, 364 00:22:29,670 --> 00:22:34,310 or people that go into the construction industry, um, you know, 365 00:22:34,850 --> 00:22:35,270 the, 366 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:39,910 the general profile that you would give wouldn't be someone who 367 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,910 is a, uh, you know, these, sometimes these are burly men, uh, 368 00:22:45,610 --> 00:22:46,350 and, you know, 369 00:22:46,350 --> 00:22:50,830 they're not the kind of people that would go out and talk about the mental 370 00:22:50,830 --> 00:22:55,390 health issues that they have. Um, you know, I've, I've read, um, 371 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,910 uh, read several studies and the, 372 00:22:58,910 --> 00:23:03,590 the individuals that go into construction work are actually at a relatively high 373 00:23:03,590 --> 00:23:08,270 rate of Yep. Of suicide as well. So I'm sure that mental health is, 374 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:13,030 is a huge problem for the community. And listen, 375 00:23:13,030 --> 00:23:17,590 you know, I've, I've gone through, uh, in my own experiences, 376 00:23:17,590 --> 00:23:20,550 had my own issues. I've been open about, uh, 377 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:24,910 my struggles with alcohol addiction and, uh, and have, you know, 378 00:23:24,910 --> 00:23:29,550 finally gotten those under control since, uh, since the June timeframe. 379 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,510 Um, it, it's hard for men, 380 00:23:32,510 --> 00:23:36,790 especially that quote unquote alpha male to, uh, 381 00:23:36,800 --> 00:23:39,630 go to someone else, especially another man and say, you know what? 382 00:23:39,980 --> 00:23:43,990 I have a problem I need to talk about. And, uh, and, you know, 383 00:23:43,990 --> 00:23:44,950 I I just think that, 384 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:49,800 that that's so important that you are kind of addressing the needs of 385 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:54,160 mental health, because it's not something that people want to come out and, 386 00:23:54,180 --> 00:23:58,880 and talk to their coworkers about and, and say that they need help. So, um, 387 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,640 you know, I didn't mean to cut you off, but I wanted to interject just, 388 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,000 you know, how important, uh, mental health is, 389 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:09,240 e especially with the demographic of, uh, of construction workers. 390 00:24:09,510 --> 00:24:14,040 Definitely. Yeah. I mean, um, you mentioned suicide. 391 00:24:14,070 --> 00:24:16,120 This, this stat will blow your mind. It, 392 00:24:16,120 --> 00:24:18,400 it blows my mind every time I hear and think about it, 393 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:23,120 but one out of every nine field construction worker knows someone that committed 394 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:26,920 suicide, has worked with someone that committed suicide. It's just, it's crazy. 395 00:24:27,050 --> 00:24:31,010 So it's definitely a big issue. And, you know, 396 00:24:31,010 --> 00:24:35,090 we've kind of just kind of thrown stuff out there to see what works, 397 00:24:35,090 --> 00:24:36,370 see what helps, whatever. 398 00:24:36,370 --> 00:24:40,930 But now this year we're trying to have more of a uniform approach and kind of a, 399 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:45,300 you know, uniform approach, I guess is the best way to address it. So, 400 00:24:45,610 --> 00:24:49,060 plenty to, plenty to talk about, you know, after the break if you want. 401 00:24:51,690 --> 00:24:55,420 Sure. Well, we do have to get that break in and, uh, 402 00:24:55,590 --> 00:24:57,980 we will do so right now. When we come back, 403 00:24:57,980 --> 00:25:00,620 we'll continue our conversation with John O'Brien, 404 00:25:00,690 --> 00:25:04,500 with the Keystone Contractors Association and the General Contractor's 405 00:25:04,500 --> 00:25:05,940 Association of Pennsylvania. 406 00:25:05,940 --> 00:25:09,260 We're talking mental health in the construction field. 407 00:25:09,450 --> 00:25:11,620 Stay with us here on commonalities. 408 00:25:14,810 --> 00:25:19,460 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 409 00:25:19,780 --> 00:25:20,940 uncommon conversations. 410 00:25:21,460 --> 00:25:24,740 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 411 00:25:27,110 --> 00:25:31,260 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 412 00:25:31,710 --> 00:25:32,380 If so, 413 00:25:32,380 --> 00:25:37,100 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 414 00:25:37,100 --> 00:25:41,100 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 415 00:25:41,100 --> 00:25:42,980 expertise with a holistic perspective. 416 00:25:43,780 --> 00:25:48,580 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ed, and media buying services, 417 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:53,540 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 418 00:25:53,560 --> 00:25:58,060 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 419 00:25:58,060 --> 00:26:02,700 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 420 00:26:02,880 --> 00:26:04,220 and share it with the world. 421 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:08,020 For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 422 00:26:08,210 --> 00:26:12,260 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 423 00:26:12,550 --> 00:26:14,580 or visit us online at 424 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:20,060 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. 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Again, 473 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:10,720 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 474 00:29:10,940 --> 00:29:15,520 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 475 00:29:15,520 --> 00:29:16,353 online. 476 00:29:19,810 --> 00:29:23,480 Welcome back to Commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. Uh, 477 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:28,000 my guest today is John O'Brien with the Keystone Contractors Association, 478 00:29:28,310 --> 00:29:30,720 also abbreviated as K C A, 479 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:35,040 we're the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, gcap. 480 00:29:35,380 --> 00:29:40,120 And John, before the break, we were talking mental health in construction. 481 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:43,760 So why don't, don't we go ahead and, uh, pick up the conversation where we. 482 00:29:44,030 --> 00:29:46,840 Sure. Yeah, like I was mentioning, um, you know, 483 00:29:46,840 --> 00:29:50,720 we've done some podcast episodes, we've done some seminars, 484 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:56,260 all various stuff on, um, mental health issues, addiction recovery. 485 00:29:56,790 --> 00:29:59,100 We have the Construction Opioid Awareness Week, 486 00:29:59,100 --> 00:30:02,700 where we really talk about recovery and addiction, and it's beyond, 487 00:30:03,390 --> 00:30:05,600 it's called Opioid Awareness Week, but, you know, 488 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:10,160 it kind of covers alcohol as well too, and other drugs and, um, but yeah, we, 489 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:14,820 we've just kind of tried to supply a bunch of resources to 490 00:30:15,060 --> 00:30:19,060 employers in hopes that they'll get it to the workers and make it okay to talk 491 00:30:19,060 --> 00:30:23,940 about. Um, but this year, um, as part of our, uh, strategic plan, 492 00:30:23,940 --> 00:30:27,940 it's something that we really want to, uh, focus on and help out, 493 00:30:27,940 --> 00:30:31,180 and more of a concentrated effort, you know, 494 00:30:31,180 --> 00:30:35,530 to help out in the area of mental health. And we, we kind of broke it down the, 495 00:30:35,530 --> 00:30:39,690 the four key areas. Um, number one, 496 00:30:39,690 --> 00:30:43,250 understand it is important, you know, like, like you said before the break, 497 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:48,490 it's a male dominated industry, tough guy industry over the years, you know, 498 00:30:48,490 --> 00:30:52,760 we don't talk about feelings. Uh, something's wrong just after work, 499 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,920 grab a drink or something and get over it, you know, 500 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,480 and just show up the next day. And, and that's the wrong way to look at life, 501 00:30:58,480 --> 00:31:03,460 you know? And, and that's not what future generations want, you know, 502 00:31:03,700 --> 00:31:05,900 future workers, they don't want that, you know, in, 503 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:08,940 in current and older workers, they don't need that, you know, 504 00:31:08,950 --> 00:31:13,740 so just make sure the con construction community, the owners, 505 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:17,780 the companies, make sure they know it's a big issue and, and they see it. 506 00:31:17,780 --> 00:31:19,860 Like I said, that one in nine before the break, 507 00:31:19,860 --> 00:31:23,700 one in nine construction workers know someone that committed suicide. So, 508 00:31:23,870 --> 00:31:25,780 so yeah, that's a big deal, you know, 509 00:31:25,780 --> 00:31:30,780 and one in 26 management knows someone on their staff that committed suicide. 510 00:31:30,780 --> 00:31:33,100 So it's, it touches everyone. Labor and management, 511 00:31:33,100 --> 00:31:36,580 not just people in the field. Um, just. 512 00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:41,900 You know, and in the, the construction industry is such a different culture. Uh, 513 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:45,580 you know, it just for the listeners that may not know this, or, 514 00:31:45,710 --> 00:31:49,860 or for you if you don't know this, John, my my dad was partners, uh, 515 00:31:49,860 --> 00:31:53,980 in an industrial construction company. Uh, they did, uh, 516 00:31:53,980 --> 00:31:58,940 general contracting and uh, and construction management. And, 517 00:31:58,950 --> 00:32:03,420 uh, in my college years, that was my summer profession. Um, 518 00:32:03,420 --> 00:32:07,780 so I was out in the field, uh, normally mix and mud for, uh, 519 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:12,220 for the guys that were, uh, were laying brick and so forth. 520 00:32:12,790 --> 00:32:17,420 Um, you know, the culture is just, it, it's, it's completely different. Um, 521 00:32:17,460 --> 00:32:21,780 these are individuals that really are, are great people that have a good heart. 522 00:32:22,350 --> 00:32:26,420 Um, it just expressing emotion is, uh, 523 00:32:26,630 --> 00:32:30,740 is very difficult within the culture. And that's something that I, 524 00:32:30,740 --> 00:32:32,580 I quickly realized, you know, 525 00:32:32,580 --> 00:32:37,020 and I was on that six until two 30 or three o'clock shift, 526 00:32:37,550 --> 00:32:41,440 uh, for a long time. And, you know, between three and five, when, 527 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:46,400 when the Mrs gets home, um, you know, a a lot of my coworkers would, 528 00:32:46,490 --> 00:32:51,080 uh, would stop the bar and they spent their first couple hours off, um, 529 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:54,040 there. So, you know, I, I know how, 530 00:32:54,340 --> 00:32:59,280 how this culture can really, uh, lend itself to, uh, 531 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:01,920 to people with addiction issues and, 532 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:05,480 and addiction ties directly into mental health, which is what we're, 533 00:33:05,510 --> 00:33:08,840 what we're talking about. So, um, you know, let, 534 00:33:08,840 --> 00:33:10,680 let's continue our conversation on campus. 535 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,280 Yeah. And you mentioned there are good people. I mean, 536 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,800 you won't find better hearts. I don't think so in any industry. I mean, 537 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:20,120 it's just amazing all the giving back to communities and all the volunteer 538 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:23,800 efforts. It's awesome. So, um, but yeah, number one, 539 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:27,320 understanding it's important. You know, number two is raising awareness. Um, 540 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:29,560 couple ways we're doing that is, you know, 541 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:34,720 we're creating job site posters that has numbers, you know, 542 00:33:34,720 --> 00:33:39,160 phone numbers for outreach, you know, veteran assistants, you know, 543 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,720 cause a lot of veterans, um, you know, 544 00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:44,680 have a lot of mental health issues as well. 545 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:48,880 And that's another group of people that sometimes keep their emotions in check 546 00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:53,640 and don't like to talk about it too much. But that simple little thing, 547 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:57,800 like a job site poster is a way to attack the stigma and a way to 548 00:33:58,420 --> 00:34:02,160 let people know, Hey, I guess it's, you know, it's, it's okay to talk, you know, 549 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:05,080 it's okay, but it's okay not to be okay. You know, 550 00:34:05,350 --> 00:34:09,600 this is just one little way that, and, uh, we have toolbox talks. 551 00:34:09,660 --> 00:34:11,640 Our association, we send, uh, 552 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:16,240 every Monday morning at 6:00 AM we send toolbox talks, uh, to, 553 00:34:16,240 --> 00:34:20,680 to our members. Um, you know, OSHA requires them on some projects or whatever, 554 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:25,040 but it's a, a thing that we do weekly and we're working in a lot of, uh, 555 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:29,560 working in a lot of toolbox talks on mental health and suicide and addiction, 556 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:30,110 whatever, 557 00:34:30,110 --> 00:34:34,160 just to keep the conversation going and letting people know it's okay to talk 558 00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:38,590 about it. Um, and then as also raise awareness. 559 00:34:38,660 --> 00:34:41,110 Make sure people know about EAPs, you know, 560 00:34:41,390 --> 00:34:45,310 employee assistant programs and just let 'em know the, the employer, 561 00:34:45,310 --> 00:34:49,470 the company's here for you. Just make sure, make sure that's a known track, 562 00:34:49,470 --> 00:34:53,950 you know. And step three is kind of just looking internally. 563 00:34:54,940 --> 00:34:59,250 Um, there's some really awesome self-assessment tools online. You know, 564 00:34:59,250 --> 00:35:02,810 one being, uh, man therapy, which I, which I like. 565 00:35:02,810 --> 00:35:04,970 And every few months I've, 566 00:35:04,970 --> 00:35:09,370 I've gone to the website and it is just a way to recharge yourself and just kind 567 00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:13,490 of figure out what's going on. And it, it delivers it in a, 568 00:35:13,940 --> 00:35:15,370 in a non-serious way. 569 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:19,810 I think a lot of the self-assessment tools would quickly turn off the 570 00:35:19,810 --> 00:35:24,050 construction workforce cuz it's so, it's so straight laced, you know, 571 00:35:24,050 --> 00:35:27,290 just kind of no nonsense. Um, 572 00:35:28,050 --> 00:35:29,600 so we offer kind of both tools. 573 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,360 We send out the email links to all the companies, give out to their employers, 574 00:35:33,420 --> 00:35:36,240 out to their employees, and just kind of, one is more straight laced. 575 00:35:36,300 --> 00:35:40,000 One is just just the facts, man, you know, and then if you go to Man therapy, 576 00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:44,040 which I could send you the link afterwards, and it's, it's comical, 577 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:48,980 it's kind of funny, but it delivers a very strong and impactful message. Um, 578 00:35:48,980 --> 00:35:52,540 so it could turn some people off not thinking it's a serious issue, 579 00:35:52,540 --> 00:35:57,260 but it's just the way to reach different audiences. So looking internally is, 580 00:35:57,260 --> 00:36:00,780 is important, you know, from company owners all the way down to the employees. 581 00:36:02,070 --> 00:36:06,930 Um, and through those first three steps, um, you know, 582 00:36:06,930 --> 00:36:11,610 I think, I think you'll see, and we hope what will happen is people talk more. 583 00:36:11,990 --> 00:36:15,930 And then within companies, we have a mental health task force, 584 00:36:16,390 --> 00:36:20,970 and we're going to meet every month. And, and from all this outreach, 585 00:36:21,230 --> 00:36:26,010 the task force is going to devise plans and strategies and what educational 586 00:36:26,010 --> 00:36:29,430 tools are needed. We're definitely not gonna reinvent the wheel. 587 00:36:29,430 --> 00:36:33,070 There's tons of great resources out there from groups like National Safety 588 00:36:33,070 --> 00:36:36,950 Council, and even my old Work Master Builders Association. 589 00:36:36,950 --> 00:36:39,310 They're doing a great job on this, in this area. 590 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:43,110 So we're gonna promote those good tools that they have and, 591 00:36:43,110 --> 00:36:44,030 and for what's missing, 592 00:36:44,030 --> 00:36:48,240 we're gonna create that resource or create that educational program. 593 00:36:49,110 --> 00:36:52,120 Just think there's lots of work to do and these, 594 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:55,360 these workers give it their all and they do their everything they can to build 595 00:36:55,360 --> 00:36:57,520 Pennsylvania, and we need to be there for that. 596 00:37:00,120 --> 00:37:04,410 Absolutely. Absolutely. And, and that's, uh, important information to get out. 597 00:37:04,410 --> 00:37:06,970 I think those job site posters, uh, 598 00:37:06,970 --> 00:37:10,690 will be great because we're talking about substance abuse and mental health. 599 00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:15,170 I wanted to to also mention that there is, uh, a new, 600 00:37:15,820 --> 00:37:20,250 um, crisis and suicide lifeline, uh, 601 00:37:20,490 --> 00:37:22,690 three digit number that people can call. 602 00:37:22,700 --> 00:37:26,330 So if you or someone you know are in a crisis situation, 603 00:37:26,330 --> 00:37:28,170 that number is 9 88. 604 00:37:28,170 --> 00:37:32,090 And that was just activated this last year throughout the United States. 605 00:37:32,090 --> 00:37:35,810 So again, 9 88 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 606 00:37:35,810 --> 00:37:39,450 That is through the Substance abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 607 00:37:40,340 --> 00:37:45,290 Um, uh, best way to to think of their acronym is SAM hsa, 608 00:37:45,590 --> 00:37:50,170 and you can go to sam hsa.gov for more information. John, 609 00:37:50,170 --> 00:37:53,530 we're just down to the last 60 seconds here in the program today. 610 00:37:53,670 --> 00:37:55,330 Why don't you give us any final thought. 611 00:37:55,330 --> 00:37:57,650 You made? Uh, I'm just glad you mentioned the 9 88. I mean, 612 00:37:57,650 --> 00:37:59,850 we put it on our website and, and they, 613 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:04,830 they got that out in the fall and I was, I was, oh, 614 00:38:04,830 --> 00:38:08,390 let's do all this mental outreach and all this campaign. Let's do that in 2023. 615 00:38:09,570 --> 00:38:12,790 And then knowing that the holidays were coming and it's a very stressful time, 616 00:38:12,810 --> 00:38:16,630 you know, we really pushed it forward and really did a lot of work in November, 617 00:38:16,990 --> 00:38:20,990 December, just, just in time for the holidays. Um, and did hear back from a few, 618 00:38:21,380 --> 00:38:23,390 a few labor members, labor friends, 619 00:38:23,390 --> 00:38:26,350 and we're appreciative that we're getting these resources out there, 620 00:38:26,350 --> 00:38:29,670 the self-assessment tools and, and, uh, you know, 621 00:38:29,670 --> 00:38:34,490 it's a serious issue and we're gonna keep plugging away and we're just wanna 622 00:38:34,490 --> 00:38:35,323 help the industry. 623 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:42,530 Yeah. Well, hey, thank you so much for making some time for me here, John, uh, 624 00:38:42,530 --> 00:38:44,450 right after the holidays. Uh, 625 00:38:44,780 --> 00:38:47,650 my guest today has been John O'Brien with K C A, 626 00:38:47,650 --> 00:38:52,290 the Keystone Asso Contractors Association and gcap General Contractors 627 00:38:52,290 --> 00:38:56,170 Association of Pennsylvania. Wanna thank you again for being on the show. 628 00:38:56,170 --> 00:39:00,290 You guys are doing important work, uh, within the field of construction, 629 00:39:00,790 --> 00:39:05,490 not just to recruit young people, uh, to help build a better Pennsylvania, 630 00:39:06,070 --> 00:39:07,250 but to, uh, 631 00:39:07,250 --> 00:39:11,930 also address the issues that the industry sees with mental health and addiction. 632 00:39:11,930 --> 00:39:15,210 It's, uh, been a great conversation. You too. You have a great day now. 633 00:39:15,210 --> 00:39:15,810 Take care, Matt. 634 00:39:15,810 --> 00:39:20,610 Thanks. This has been commonalities, 635 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:25,130 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 636 00:39:25,210 --> 00:39:27,970 Copyright 2022 coordinated 360. 637 00:39:28,190 --> 00:39:31,650 All public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 638 00:39:31,650 --> 00:39:32,170 Dowling. 639 00:39:32,170 --> 00:39:36,690 All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 640 00:39:36,690 --> 00:39:39,090 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
11Jan, 2023
