b'EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTJ O H N R O M M E LMaryland-based field manager (FM) John Rommel left aJohn: For starters, weve streamlined operations. Recruitment concrete company in Virginia and joined Flagger Force in 2011.has done a great job of finding more people and the training In that time, hes been a big asset to the company, fulfilling branddepartment works very hard to get everyone trained and certified. new roles created exclusively to meet the growing demand of ourBecause we are hiring people who are a good fit for Flagger traffic control services. Learn more about his story. Force, people who like the job, it makes a difference in the quality Flagger Force: Hi John, thanks for meeting with us! Lets talkof work we do for our clients. Theyve noticed a difference.about your job as field manager. Whats a typical day for you? Flagger Force: Its impressive that clients are giving positive John: Some days are easier than others, but theres nothingfeedback. Can you break down your involvement with the Living typical about the FM roleyou see it all!Classrooms program?Flagger Force: Whats your favorite thing about being an FM? John: I work closely with client specialist, Kaylee Morrison. I John: I enjoy getting to know people in the field at all levels. I likeidentify Flagger Force mentors and gather them together for learning about them and where theyre from. Before I became antheir induction into our workforce development program. Each FM, I was part of the safety and quality team. I focused more onmentor is different, and I can help pair them with a Living reviewing setups and didnt have as much opportunity to meetClassrooms person who is a good fit. Kaylee is passionate. our field employees. She is instrumental to the program and makes it easy to keep track of the people in the program and the logistics. After I Flagger Force: Our field employees are incredible people. Whatset the expectations for mentorship, Sara Meyers, our training are the five main job responsibilities of the FM role? supervisor, provides instruction.John: Developing people; helping with client issues; workingFlagger Force: Sounds like good participation and working with the OSC to make sure we have enough crew members,relationships are secrets to the success of our partnership with crew leaders, and advanced crew leaders to fill orders; buildingLiving Classrooms. How often do you visit work zones?relationships with others from employees to clients; andlots John: Often, and more now than in my previous roles of safety of meetings!and quality. I start out by going directly to sites in the morning Flagger Force: Sounds like a pretty demanding yet rewardingand then make my way into the office. Sometimes I work out in position. How long have you been with Flagger Force? the field all day. When Im not on site, I take phone calls from our John: Its been almost 9 years. employees, sometimes at all hours of the day and night.Flagger Force: Soon it will be time for your 10-year anniversary!Flagger Force: What do you typically do when you arrive at a What made you interested in advancing throughoutwork zone? the company? John: I drive through it first. I take the eye testif everything John: It seemed to happen naturally and gradually. I would getlooks safe, Im not too concerned about changing things and its a call for a class; theyd put me in it, and I worked my way upnot my first conversation. If its very unsafe, that becomes our from crew member into all the field roles. I was asked if Id befirst conversation. Its best when people ask me questions about what was then called a field coach. I said sure. They asked if Itheir setup and then we have a discussion. When I can help wanted to be a safety pro; I said sure. I was a safety professionalmake a correction, they are more apt to listen when asking the for my longest tenure. After quality was created, I was madequestions. I always make it a point to talk about safety. an assistant quality manager. Eventually, the assistant qualityFlagger Force: Safety first! Tell us about one of your earliest manager became field manager. That is how I was promotedFlagger Force memories.into my current role. I developed alongside the company inJohn: The first day! I went out with Gary Clarke on a job and set leadership positions as we grew and needed to increase theup the signs. No client showed up and the job was canceled. capabilities of field management. Another memory was this job with Brian Wieport. The flagging Flagger Force: Thats a nice historical look at our company. Canoperation had us sending cars around a bend. I was nervous you explain more about the type of work you do supporting thecars were going to be sent around the bend when they shouldnt clients in your market? have been, leading to a collision. It was a long nine-hour day, but John: I attend client meetings to listen to reports about theireverything turned out well.relationship with us. If the client has any issues, I let them knowFlagger Force: Whats the best training youve received?they can reach out to me. I help clients fill last minute jobs. IJohn: Honestly, the books that we read as part of manager research issues and make sure weve taken care of their needs. training and the Flagger Force book clubs have really helped me Flagger Force: Our company has changed and grown. How havein my role and in communicating with others.these changes improved our relationships with clients?EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT|7'