Episode 108: ‘Attracting & Retaining Women’ with Jason Blair
In this episode:
Angela and Christi discuss fostering inclusivity and effective leadership in the construction industry with their special guest, Jason Blair, CEO at TAL Building Centers. They explore Jason's unique approach to creating a welcoming environment for both women and men in a traditionally male-dominated field. Jason shares insights into his daily CEO responsibilities, emphasizing the variability and breadth of tasks he manages. He highlights the proactive steps taken to ensure 70% of his staff are women, emphasizing the importance of diversity and creating a culture where everyone feels valued and included. The conversation also delves into the Oz Principle and its impact on cultivating an accountability culture that attracts female talent. The importance of giving everyone a voice, regardless of gender, and the positive outcomes of such leadership practices on the company's overall success are also explored.
Supported by: GroundBreak Carolinas
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Welcome to Women Talk Construction
00:34 Introducing Jason Blair: A Leader in Construction
04:04 Creating a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
10:54 The Oz Principle: Cultivating Accountability and Diversity
18:40 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect
19:38 Farewell and Thanks for Listening
About Jason:
I began my career in this industry right out of high school, 33 years ago! After finishing college with a degree in Civil Engineering I decided I like the building materials industry enough to give it a go as a career. I've been fortunate to work on both the retail and wholesale sides of the business, with some incredible companies and most importantly incredible people.
I've been the CEO of TAL Building Centers since 2022, in my first two years we have doubled in store count and sales and almost tripled in people count.
From TAL Website:
As CEO, Blair is responsible for ensuring that the company lives up to its mission statement and core values by achieving its strategic initiatives and overall company goals. Jason Blair comes to TAL with over 30 years of industry experience, most recently from Wilco, a successful chain of farm stores in the Pacific Northwest, where he was the Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing. Prior to Wilco, Blair was the Divisional Vice President of Sales and Strategic Alliance Accounts at True Value, where he led a team that managed 35 of the company’s largest dealers, as well as over 1300 additional accounts. He also held leadership positions in operations at Higginbotham Brothers and Foxworth-Galbraith Lumber Company.
Blair received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Masters of Executive Business from Colorado Technical University.
