EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT | 7 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT F LOY D B R O W N Floyd Brown is an advanced crew leader and certified manager of traffic from the Maryland market. Floyd’s been with the company since 2013 and starting last October, participated in Flagger Force’s new partnership program with Baltimore-based, Living Classrooms, a non-profit workforce development initiative. Read more about Floyd’s interesting journey: Flagger Force: Hi Floyd, it’s great to speak with you today. What brought you to work at Flagger Force? Floyd: I was working for Perclean Emergency Service but was looking for a more challenging job. Now I’ve been here for five years. Flagger Force: We’re glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about being an ACL? Floyd: I like working with big equipment and arrow panels and working on expressways and highways. I’m also a certified MOT—Manager of Traffic for the state of Maryland. Flagger Force: The company recently partnered with a Baltimore-based non-profit that offers a second chance to people who are looking for a fresh start. It’s called Living Classrooms. You are part of a select few employees who are partnered with a member from Living Classrooms and work together on job sites. How did you get involved? Floyd: My field manager told me about this new program and wanted to know if I was interested. I said, “Sign me up!” Flagger Force: What was appealing about it? Floyd: He explained that I would have a partner. Somebody that I would train and be with every day and show them around. I liked the idea of having a partner and helping him learn the job. Now I work with Tim Robinson every day and have been since October. Flagger Force: Sounds like a good mission. Tell us more about how the program works and when you first linked up with Tim. Floyd: Tim was trained at the Living Classrooms building by Flagger Force. Then he was assigned to me. I met with him and we did another day of training together at Living Classrooms. Now we get assigned to jobs together and I pick him up for work every day. We do mostly BGE jobs. He’s a fast learner and he’s got a knack for the work. Flagger Force: That’s great! You’ve been working side-by-side for five months—how has your relationship grown during that time? Floyd: We work well together. The job needs to be done and we’re always on the same page. Flagger Force: What’s a typical day like for you? Floyd: First things first. I check on my family before I leave. I check on the safety of my truck. I go pick up Tim. We stretch and flex and then we work. I love it! Flagger Force: Excellent. What is one thing you enjoy about helping with the Living Classrooms program? Floyd: Helping people that are looking for a second chance with their life. Flagger Force: Good on you. Did you have any special advice for Tim or any other field employees you meet? Floyd: Safety first, pay attention on the road, and keep your eyes open. Flagger Force: Have you heard from other field employees what they think of the Living Classrooms program? Floyd: I’ve heard they like it and they like having a partner —someone they can depend on every day. Flagger Force: Makes sense. What’s one of your favorite things about your job? Floyd: Being able to work around different people and driving the company truck. I like it because it puts Flagger Force out there, our brand. I tell everybody that this is a great company and we are everywhere—all over the state and all over the city. Flagger Force: You’re a good brand ambassador; so tell us, what does mentorship mean to you? Floyd: To me, it’s an experienced person advising a less experienced person to be successful in their field. I’m proud to be a mentor. Flagger Force: What’s your approach to working with new crew members at a job site? Floyd: I introduce myself and then we do a pre-job discussion. We figure out what type of job we’re doing, and we focus on the task and stick to the job at hand. Flagger Force: Tell us about a challenging day on the job. Floyd: I flagged for more than six hours with no relief and just me and a crew member on a hot summer day and really the truth, no water. I couldn’t get water because there was no relief. Flagger Force: Sounds brutal. How did you feel the next day? Floyd: Tired, but I went to work the next day, I’ll tell you that. Flagger Force: Good for you. When you’re not with Flagger Force, what are you doing? Floyd: I’m with my 10-year-old son and my family. I’m a single parent—my wife passed away four years ago. Flagger Force: Oh, we’re sorry for your loss. No doubt your family is very proud of you, especially for being the employee spotlight. Floyd: Yes, they are, and I’m passionate about making them proud and being the best dad for my son. MORE ABOUT FLOYD: WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST? My mother because she’s always had my back since day one. IF YOU COULD MEET ANYONE IN HISTORY, WHO WOULD IT BE? Michael Jordan. I love basketball and would love to play him one-on-one. WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN? Take good care of others and others will take care of you. CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE WORD? Motivated. FLOYD’S SAFETY & QUALITY MESSAGES: “Ensure the safety of myself, the crew members, and the client.” “Think first, then act. Recognize and avoid dangerous situations.”