Tina Kimble is an Advanced Crew Leader (ACL) based in Western Pennsylvania, known for her friendly nature, positive attitude, and for being easy to work with. Tina’s journey with Flagger Force has allowed her to develop professionally, grow personally, and make lifelong connections with her Flagger Force family.
Before Tina joined Flagger Force, she worked in the service industry for about 3 years, until COVID shut down the industry. “Flagger Force was working on one of my roads, and I got the Flagger Force number off the side of the truck.”
Once Tina made that call, the rest was history, and Tina has now been working at Flagger Force for 4 and ½ years. Tina has since grown as a person and shared that in her journey starting as a Crew Member to becoming an ACL, she has made significant advancements in her knowledge, learning to navigate each unique traffic situation and communicate it to her crew.
A Pittsburgh native, Tina has been part of the Pittsburgh community her whole life, and she feels this gives her an extra sense of pride in working on these infrastructure projects. “Trust that I’m here to do the right thing. I’m going to try. I’ll make mistakes, but that’s human of me.”
Positivity is the name of the game when Tina is leading her crew. “I think it’s important to be positive out here. Let’s know that we’re doing something great for these communities, for these clients.”
For motorists passing through her work zone, Tina makes a point of passing along her signature positivity. “I feel like coming through the work zone, automatically, motorists are frustrated, thinking that I’m stopping them from getting to where they have to go. So, if I can make them smile for just a minute, then I’ll take their mind off their frustration, and they’ll be through my line in a second.”
Even though Tina loves what she does, not every day is perfect. “My first week as an ACL, I had a challenge with a site set up. I called a supervisor in tears. I did not know how to set my site up. My supervisor told me to give them an hour, and within an hour, I had three advanced crew leads out on my site training me how to set up the zone, which was amazing.”
Tina knows that when she’s unsure about something, she can call other Flagger Force employees, and they’ll be on the way to help. And if it’s the other way around, where employees reach out to Tina for help, she will make it a priority to make sure they get the help they need.
Over the past many years, Tina has been eager to step up and promote into her ACL role. What motivated her most was “The learning [and] training…If I hadn’t been promoted, I wouldn’t have gotten the training. I found the love of my life. I love being outside. I love being in the communities with different people.”
Adaptability is a big part of being an ACL. “Every day is going to be different. Every road’s going to be different. Every client’s going to be different.” Tina has formed incredible relationships with our clients and makes sure that they all know her by name.
Tina has also been instrumental in helping develop many emerging markets in Indiana.
“I like watching the build of it. I like watching it go from start to finish down there…I take out our order forms and have a bunch of business cards in my truck, and I hand them out. Anytime we stop at a gas station, I say, ‘Hey, do you need flaggers? We’re here.’”
Despite being an ACL, Tina wears a Crew Member hard hat instead of a full brim, yellow ACL hard hat.
“I wear a Crew Member hat because I don’t believe the hat makes the person. I don’t believe the hat is what makes me a leader. I think that my attitude when I’m out there is what makes me the leader. I don’t want to be different than my crew. I want them to understand that I’m here. We are the same. I started out where you started out. I knew nothing about this industry, nothing about flagging, and I learned it all through working the steps at Flagger Force.”
“At the end of the day, regardless of your position, you are out there to control that traffic. So that’s all. I hope that you’re here to do that job.”
For Tina, working at Flagger Force is more than just a job. For her, “this job means growth. It means opportunity. It means family.” And, in Tina’s case, it literally means family. “My oldest son is a Crew Member at Flagger Force that drives around with me. So, we get that bonding time during work. I get to teach him what I love. Hopefully, he takes it with him.”
MORE ABOUT TINA
What do you like to do in your free time?
“During my free time during the summer months, I work at a tournament baseball field for adolescent boys. I’m a cook and work for their concession stand.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“You can’t control everything. The best piece of advice is just to relax. Go with it.”
What advice would you give to your Crew Members?
“All new crew members, I tell them, ‘You’re being paid to be a better, not only flagger, but person. Take all that. Take the training. Use it not only in your work zones, but in life in general.’”
Why do you stay at Flagger Force?
“I stay at Flagger Force because I love the organization and love what they do for people. I love that when I’m out there, I can call for help right away. I love that if somebody is in a distressed situation in their home life, they can call in and apply for assistance through the company. I think others stay for the same reason. You form a family here. I’m proud to be part of the company. I’m proud of my growth here. I’m proud to be part of this community, this company, and this organization.”
What would you say to a field employee questioning whether they should promote?
“Do it! Why wouldn’t you take the knowledge? Why wouldn’t you take the training?”
