Her Story
About Crystal
Crystal Rodriguez is a safety professional with 10 years of experience in the construction industry. She oversees safety compliance for crews installing power lines and building substations, conducting site inspections, ensuring personal protective equipment is up to date, and ordering necessary equipment and uniforms. Rodriguez began her educational journey with a pharmacy technician course but transitioned to construction as a single mother seeking better opportunities, advancing from entry-level positions through certifications such as OSHA 10, OSHA 30, NVVR, and first aid. She credits her ambition for her progress in a field where she faced discouragement as a woman, and she values honesty, loyalty, and integrity in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Crystal
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ambition. It is a tough industry for women, and I was many times told that women don't really do well in this industry or you're not supposed to be here. Instead of that knocking me down, my ambition was there that I was going to achieve more.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to move into safety. A safety professional approached me when I started at the bottom and asked where I see myself in 5 years. That pushed me to have a plan and take the courses I needed.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never shortchange yourself. You can accomplish anything that you put your mind to, and if you fall, you get back up and keep striving for what you want.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Opportunities include moving to a more stable job with regular hours and flexibility for home life. Challenges were starting with 14 hour days and putting in the time until getting more experienced.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, loyalty, and integrity are most important to me in both work and personal life.
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