Lisa Roache: From CA to LA: Rebuilding a Family Legacy

Joel: Welcome to the Blueprint. I'm Joel Galloway, Client Development Manager for Concrete Careers. Today we're joined by the CEO of Gaineys, Lisa Roche. Lisa has been involved in the concrete industry since childhood, working in the family business founded by her father in 1981. After her father's passing in 1994, she stepped into leadership and has helped grow Gaines into a company serving the construction industry with more than 80 employees. She is quite the story. But don't take my word for it. Let's jump right in.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, so if you're good to kind of jump in, I'll ask you some questions. Let's rock and roll. All

Lisa: Let's let's go. Mm-hmm.

T.J. Crosby: right. So the first place that we're gonna focus on is around being in a in a family business, which I think is common in our industry, but not everybody is in that experience. And I'm curious from your perspective, what are some of your earliest memories of actually working at Gaines?

Lisa: Yeah. No, so my father started the company in nineteen eighty one. I was eleven years old. And I mean they it it was it was a struggle. I mean, for the first three years of the business he worked nights at equitable shipyard. and during the day he would install septic tanks and so And my p my mom was part of his crew and we were part of his crew. I mean there was not babysitters, we were on jobs with him. And that is my earliest memory is literally working on a job site. I do remember it there was this one Saturday because I mean we work Saturdays. We rarely did we work Sundays, but we worked Saturdays. And whenever we were in the truck and my dad had made this makeshift monorail trailer. And so the tank was going and suddenly right before the it went in the hole it just shattered. the the concrete tank. And so it's, you know, he had to stand behind it. He hadn't made it. He had to go get another one. And I remember him saying, I have got to start making my own tanks. I've got to be in more control of the product because now we have to go back on Sunday and and do this all over again. And it was it was a loss for our company. So I remember that and him really being invested in the quality because we we have to stand behind our product. and then so it became we would make tanks one day and then install the next day. And this went on for about three years before he made the the jump to leave his employer and do it full time. But I I can't even imagine. Can you imagine working essentially twenty four

Joel: huh.

Lisa: hours a day, six days a week? Well, when you have four kids, you

T.J. Crosby: No.

Joel: They don't make like that anymore.

Lisa: you know, you you really kind of have to do it though.

Joel: That's right.

T.J. Crosby: Right. Yeah, you gotta do what you gotta do

Lisa: Mm-hmm.

T.J. Crosby: at that point. Yeah.

Joel: That's amazing.

T.J. Crosby: I mean, did you envision yourself leading the company? I mean, was that something that you had in your head of like, one day I'm gonna be doing this?

Lisa: no, no, no. Not not at all. So I whenever I was suddenly became a lucky inheritor at age twenty four, I was living in San Diego, got the phone call that my dad was killed in an automobile accident. And I mean he was forty six. I mean that just nowhere on the radar whatsoever. flew home and I thought we would sell the company. I mean like w you know, what Essentially I had one brother working in the company. I was the oldest of twenty-four. The youngest was eighteen. There's four of us. This is not gonna happen. and everyone's like, No, we're we're gonna run it. Okay, our all right, change of plans. after the funeral, went back to San Diego, packed up my stuff, moved back to Louisiana and just immersed myself in the company, literally with each supervisor. And we were much smaller then. I mean we were roughly a a million dollar company at that point. with it was somewhere around twenty employees. But with each supervisor, I worked with them for two weeks and just really listened, observed, you know, what were their struggles, what did they feel like my dad could have done better? What did they see, you know, in the company and the future of the company. So I I went around and just kept working in each area until I kind of found my niche. I I'm definitely the bossiest of the four of us, so it was a natural that I was gonna be in charge. but I'm not sure if the rest of them I'm so very self aware, okay. I I I'm

Joel: I love that self awareness. Like love this.

Lisa: I definitely have leadership skills that someone would just call a bossy, but I I'm I'm very aware.

T.J. Crosby: Right, right, right. Yeah. Well, that's awesome. I mean, the company's changed a lot since then. I mean, right. Like I didn't I didn't realize

Lisa: God. Yeah.

T.J. Crosby: that it had evolved even from the begin very beginning into like installing and then to manufacturing the tanks. But how would you kind of say the company has changed if you were to try to I can encapsulate a little bit how it's changed over the over the years since the early days.

Lisa: So this is our 45th anniversary. And Greg, my my husband, who's our our company president, he constantly asked me, he goes, Lisa, did you ever imagine you know you'd be running a company like this? Did you ever imagine we'd be owning a company like this? And and no, like I like no thought whatsoever.

T.J. Crosby: Right.

Lisa: you know, the first decade that we ran the company from 1994 to actually whenever Greg joined us, Greg joined us in probably 2002, it was definitely a struggle. we weren't we weren't as organized as we needed to be. you know there, you know, with four people, you know, with that have different interests in the company, it was a struggle. So when Greg joined us, we made a decision. We, you know, he had came from really big business. He's a chemist, so he's very technical and brings that scientific background to us. And so we wanted to take the structure of a big business, but still keep the family feel of a small business. And we literally blueprint it for this podcast. What we thought I know see, listen that

T.J. Crosby: huh. I see.

Joel: Love it. Love it.

Lisa: we blueprint it what we thought the ideal company would be. And we just worked to make that happen. And and culture is everything. And so you know we we tell we we hire for attitude, but then

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Lisa: we we train from there. So you know it and but that is no, I had no idea the company would one day be this and I'm so very proud of it.

T.J. Crosby: That's that's yeah. Incredible.

Joel: You should be. That's quite a story. I think I smell a biography coming one day, autobiography.

Lisa: And that we have to stop long enough to write that.

Joel: Ha ha.

T.J. Crosby: Yep. So I mean, you talk about your dad working like he did. And obviously he was willing to work hard, take measured risks and things like that. So are there any specific lessons that you still carry from your dad that you sort of guide how you lead the team today? What would you say?

Lisa: So I I'm pretty certain my dad was OCD. Okay, not diagnosed, but I mean super,

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: super organized. And he wanted everything to be plant tour worthy at all times, you know. So that organization, I remember it was probably he had passed away at least five years, and I had this nightmare in which he was walking around the plant with me and showing me every place that we could clean and do a better job. And so

Joel: man.

Lisa: I definitely and th they definitely think that I am over the top about cleanliness here at Gaines. But you know it it's the the start of everything. So that everything having a place, being clean, being organized, being prepared, being inspirational, those are all definite lessons that I learned from him. And then when when Greg joined the company, I mean I've learned a lot from Greg. you know, I definitely was a flatline leader before you know, everyone would stand at the door and and you know everyone would come in one at a time. And I love to solve everyone's problems. I mean I'm I'm actually at my best and actually at my worst whenever I'm

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: solving everyone. And and Greg really convinced me that I needed to listen more. and to be a more collaborative leader and to rely on other people and to be partners with people that I had assumed were really competitors prior to that. And that there's room in this industry for everyone, you just have to be open and honest and transparent.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, well that's awesome. I mean, clearly with your involvement in the MPCA and things like that, you've you've bought into that kind of let's let's strengthen the industry as a whole, right? And that's that's

Lisa: Exactly.

T.J. Crosby: that's cool. so as you stepped into the leadership and you you took over in that that role, kind of a two part question. What was the the biggest challenge or a large challenge that kind of stands out your mind? And then Was there a moment when you realized, okay, I've I've got this. Like I've I'm figuring this thing out. I've I've I've got it under control. I'm curious. Right. I'll let you know.

Lisa: Well, I'm still not sure I'm there yet, but I I'll t I'll answer point yeah, point A and point B. so point

Joel: Fair enough. Fair enough.

Lisa: A, so the first year of the company we had a a disgruntled employee who happened to be my uncle as well,

T.J. Crosby: Mm.

Lisa: who turned us into five government agencies. And it it was it was a lot. And it If I was my age now, I probably would have just folded. But when you're young, you just don't even know anybody. You just keep like I'm gonna do this again tomorrow. but yeah, he definitely he he hit us hard, but I learned a lot from that experience. For one thing, we didn't get a single fine. Okay.

T.J. Crosby: Well.

Lisa: And the reason why is because the attitude that we had when they came in. Like, listen, I don't know what I'm doing. I'm trying really, really hard. If you show me the right way, I promise you I won't make a mistake again. And I learned the importance of humbling yourself. And when you ask for help, it's amazing how many people are willing to help you. and and really be there for you. And so that was a great life lesson that I got to learn year one, which isn't that amazing that you get that. And

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Wow. Yeah.

Joel: Really is.

Lisa: so that's the first answer. The second

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: part is you know really I and I I can't stress enough about how valuable it was. Greg joining a family business. I don't know why he did it. It really was out of love because why really why would you do that? Okay. Seriously. I mean, but whenever he joined the company, having someone that was truly a teammate that We we share the same vision. We have the same goal. We want to grow the company. that that really became invaluable and and still really is. So I mean, people are always amazed that I'm able to work with my husband. I respect him greatly. And it really kind of tempers your view on a lot of things when you know you have to go home with them. So, you know,

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Joel: Interesting.

Lisa: really what am I gonna be that passionate about today? Okay, let's keep this under

T.J. Crosby: Right, right, right.

Lisa: control.

Joel: Now I have a follow up question to that though, is

Lisa: Okay.

Joel: do y'all talk about work stuff at home a lot or do you dis so you you don't have that cult you know, some people it's like, No, no, no, that's work.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: We're twenty four seven. We have some

Joel: So it's kind of a twenty four seven thing for you.

Lisa: of our best meetings in our bathroom, okay? Yeah. He is a

T.J. Crosby: Right, right. Yeah.

Joel: Hey, there you go.

Lisa: captive audience when he's in that shower. I like ask all my questions right then. and you know, even

Joel: And he can't get to you through the door.

T.J. Crosby: Right, hold the door shut. You can't leave.

Joel: Love it.

Lisa: And with our kids growing up, it was, I mean, we always said that they got an MBA at the dining room table

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Lisa: because

Joel: Mean

Lisa: we, you know, we try not to mention names, okay? That is one thing we try not to do. But we

T.J. Crosby: Sure.

Lisa: just talk about everything. but you know, growing up, the there was a phone, an office phone that was at our dining room table. And so I was 12 years old answering calls. and and having to do that. So it it really was natural for me and thank God Greg just I mean he's a natural entrepreneur. So I'm glad he just embraced it as much as I have.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, well that's that's amazing. so what I feel like we are making a lot of strides in the industry, maybe maybe a lot's too strong, but we're making strides in the industry to increase the level of female representation in our industry. But I mean, in the nineties, I'm curious

Lisa: It was incredible. It was so great. Because you know why? People always remembered me. So I d

T.J. Crosby: Yeah? Yeah.

Joel: That's right.

Lisa: I never thought of it as a disadvantage because it's really nice to always be remembered. I love being remembered. And so

T.J. Crosby: Right. Right. Yeah.

Lisa: you walk in a room and I would just make it a point of I am going to meet every person in this room. I'm that's what I'm gonna do. And it's it's amazing how many people offered to help. because there were there was only a few of us, okay? And I I I never had an edge because there's no reason to. They're gonna remember me. It's gonna be

T.J. Crosby: Mm.

Lisa: great.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah. I mean,

Joel: That attitude.

T.J. Crosby: and I I I'll say one thing I I feel like I have seen is when you talk about the you know having the competitors and and supporting each other to a certain extent, but I definitely feel like I see even now there being just this real willingness to lend a hand, lend an ear, to support. Like you're talking about like some of some of the women in the industry like banding together, helping each other out. There's just I think that's still that still is happening now. And it's pretty incredible to see people willing to help each other and support each other and you know maybe be a listening ear or a kind friend or whatever the whatever is needed. But that's cool. I mean so in your perspective, how have opportunities for women in construction changed? Let's say you're you know, this podcast got in somebody in front of somebody who's considering even this as a career, how would you say things have changed and where are we today with that?

Lisa: So we have women in all s aspects of our company. I mean, they're everywhere. So it is i and I realize as I go to other places that is really unique, okay? but I mean I I think we're an untapped workforce. that people should embrace. I mean, you know, just to do some stereotypes, we're usually you know into relationships and making connections. We're usually organized. we usually can multitask really well because we have to do that personally. so I mean I I do think poor employers should look at this workforce. And we did because it was just natural for us. We're we're in a remote area. It's not as remote as it used to be. And you know we we gravitated to women who want it to be still active in their in their children's lives and so they needed to be close to where the schools were. And we gave them the flexibility that if they needed to bring them to work, you know, we we could let that do. I mean not every day, but we could, you know, work with them on that. If they needed to I I say we want them to be the most involved parents and this goes to be men and women, I just want you to have control of your calendar and you know, and not be surprising us with these events. But there are so many opportunities out there for women. And and you know, I I'm glad that this is not considered, you know, men's work anymore because I'm telling you, there's

T.J. Crosby: Mm. Mm-hmm.

Lisa: some we have some women in our plant, they can work circles around anyone, men or women, and it just it is finding your place and finding an area where you can thrive. so it it the opportunities are out there. We I feel like now, you know, if I'm gonna talk about something that was negative, I mean, women can kind of be really mean to other women. Okay.

T.J. Crosby: sure. Yeah.

Lisa: but that that seems to have softened. and maybe it's because we didn't like being bullied. And so now we we're we're less of a bully. and

T.J. Crosby: Right, right.

Lisa: You know, so we you we have a little group, and our group me at work called the Gainy Girls and w that's where we share all those things that the guys probably don't want to hear about, okay? but it it makes us feel like we have a community inside of a community.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. I think that's I love it. I think that's really important. Yeah. Yeah, they they do.

Joel: The gainey girls. I feel like our girls need that, PJ, 'cause they can work circles around us as well. But they just usually

Lisa: Yeah. That's a that that's when we talk about the guys.

Joel: lump us in and we hear about all the makeup and and all the things that they want their kids thing. We love all that, so

T.J. Crosby: I mean they they they keep us in the loop with it, but there is a chat called Hot Girls Love Concrete and

Joel: Yeah.

T.J. Crosby: I mean, you know, like good for them, you know.

Lisa: Well the the guys keep

Joel: It doesn't it actually

Lisa: saying that we're

Joel: say hot girls, parentheses, and Joel and TJ?

T.J. Crosby: Angela Deacon.

Joel: I think that's what it's saying.

Lisa: The the guys here say that they're gonna do a gainy guys group me. I'm like, no, you're not. Okay. We know you're not. Okay. That would take way too much

T.J. Crosby: No, you're not.

Joel: Yeah, y'all keep talking. You keep

Lisa: initiative and not one of you are gonna do that. A and and maintained it for them. Yeah, and did everything, yes.

T.J. Crosby: Right. Right.

Joel: Now if you started it for them, then it might be and then you can let have it.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Right. Yeah, yeah. funny. I mean honestly we we like we I think we shared something about that idea on LinkedIn maybe a few months ago where the especially the the working mothers we have on

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: our team man they just they blow it out

Lisa: It is amazing. Yeah.

T.J. Crosby: of the water like it's just incredible and I mean I it's there's a little bit a little bit it's like they joke about Tito, you should just you should just hire women at this point. I'm like, I mean, just about 'cause it's just incredible

Joel: Mean, you know.

T.J. Crosby: what what gets accomplished in the relationships in our business, especially

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: relationships are so important and the high emotional intelligence and all of that. Like you've got to read the room. Yes.

Lisa: Good communication skills. I mean, so th they're just their traits. It I know it's stereotypical, but it's for a reason.

T.J. Crosby: For a reason, right? Yeah.

Joel: Yeah. Yeah.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. And there's there's certainly men that can embody those traits too. I think Joel is one of those that has really high EQ and all that, but

Lisa: Yeah.

Joel: Thank you. You're getting the world's best boss coffee mug this year.

Lisa: I know

T.J. Crosby: I appreciate

Lisa: exactly. No, I though

T.J. Crosby: I appreciate that. But it's yeah.

Lisa: that is a a trait that I don't feel like I always have. I'm I'm much better at that than I used to be with emotional intelligence. Because it

T.J. Crosby: Sure. Sure.

Lisa: makes me feel so bad when I lose it. Like, I just I hate that about me. But

T.J. Crosby: Mm. Yeah.

Lisa: definitely that's that's that that fatal flaw I have. I I ha I can have a temper.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Well the thing is when your brain moves fast, sometimes it's hard to go back and keep people

Joel: No there's no way.

T.J. Crosby: keep people with you.

Lisa: I say I can scorch Elena just like Sherman, let me tell you. And then wonder wonder why people aren't over it. Like I like that was like yesterday. You still harboring it up?

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. What are you talking about? That we we already dealt

Joel: You got it out. Like it's the it is past, right? It's over now.

T.J. Crosby: with that. That's none.

Lisa: Ha ha.

T.J. Crosby: man. So well before we move off with this this topic, so what advice would you give because not every company is gainies, right? I mean there is like you guys definitely lead the way and love the love the pink and all of that. What advice would you give young women who are considering

Joel: Mm, yes.

T.J. Crosby: careers in construction and this in this type of industry? Any any advice you would give them to to succeed and do well?

Lisa: Absolutely. So I I think it's very important to be genuine. Don't try to be something that you're not. You don't have to fit this mold. You are your own mold and you bring unique qualities to the table that your employer will value. And if you ever feel like they are not valuing you, just have an open, honest conversation with them behind closed doors, okay? But say, hey, I I think we're off on the wrong foot. And and can assume positive intent and assume that they're just being oblivious, okay? And

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, I think.

Lisa: let them know how they're making you feel and ask them if they if we can do a better job. So it just you can start that dialogue. I tell people all the time, you can manage your boss. You absolutely can and you should manage your boss. you know it it should be a win-win or life is really way too short to stay there. So but you you should give them the opportunity first and let them know how you feel. Shut the door and say, Can I have a moment of your time? I need to let you know that you're not bringing out the best in me, okay? So that's

T.J. Crosby: Great.

Lisa: my

Joel: I love this assume positive intent note. I I feel like that's that's a thing we're all guilty of not doing, but I love that.

Lisa: Yeah, because you know what, if we made it out so big in our own head that

T.J. Crosby: Mm.

Lisa: I promise you they just haven't thought of us that much, okay? They they're usually just oblivious.

T.J. Crosby: Yep, I was hoping you were mentioned that. Right.

Joel: TJ, I've told you before it we're all the stars of our own story. And we and

Lisa: Ha ha ha.

T.J. Crosby: Right. Right.

Joel: everybody forgets that they're not the star of the other person's story.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. They're not thinking about you nearly as much as you think they are, right? Like

Joel: That's it.

Lisa: Yeah. So you you just it becomes a stumbling block. And instead of just keep tripping over it, just go in there and really have a conversation. I so at family day, a lot of the younger people, because they don't have families yet, they'll bring their their parents and

Joel: Yeah.

T.J. Crosby: that's cute.

Lisa: I you know, I always will have conversations with them that thank you so much for the guidance you've given them. Thank you, they came and they had a conversation. They told me that you're the one that told them to come and have a conversation because I you sometimes I'm just oblivious. I have no clue. I I you know, I I'm intense and I just have no idea what's going on over there.

T.J. Crosby: Right, right. That's fair. so the industry has seen a lot of upheaval, I would call it, in the last several years, you know, I know even back to twenty eight two thousand eight and then COVID and then there's some tariffs uncertainty and things like that. what what challenges would you say keep you up at night as a business owner in the industry right now that you're willing or able to share? I know that we can't probably share everything, but

Lisa: So I mean, safety is something that I mean, the safety of our employees, I mean, I I I go to God every morning and ask for their safety. if someone was to get hurt, killed on my watch, I I think I'd have a hard time recovering from that. And so what we do is dangerous and with all of Everything that we do to try to mitigate it and try to stay on top of it, the safety of our employees is something that I take very, very serious. And eventually you just have to, you can't bubble wrap them. So you have to just have some faith and trust and a lot of prayer that that God will watch out for all of us and and see us through another day to get home to our families.

T.J. Crosby: I mean, one of the one of the biggest things I see work well in developing a safety culture is when people can tell you actually care about them as opposed to caring about OSHA standards only or caring about somebody coming by with a clipboard. You know, when you they know that you actually care about them and their safety, they will I've seen they become more naturally compliant with the requirements 'cause they don't want they they 'cause you care about them like I can't care about myself less than Lisa cares about me. So you know.

Lisa: No, I mean and so i well th there I tell everyone we we're not making more people

Joel: Yeah, no.

Lisa: out there. So we need everybody, okay? And we definitely

T.J. Crosby: Mm. Right.

Lisa: don't want some rich widows or widowers out there. So let's all do our job to keep us all safe and so that way we can all go home to each other.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, that's good. That's good. I mean, opportunities as as you know, are there any opportunities remote you're pretty excited about for the future for you know for the industry, for gainies specifically?

Lisa: So we these data centers, my gosh, it is unbelievable

Joel: Mm.

Lisa: what's happening in our industry. It is un you know, it's it's hard to even imagine the growth that we experienced last year and the growth that we're having this year. And so our Vice President Finance, she's really great at showing us charts and letting us see because I mean sometimes it's like whiplash around here. my God, we're so very busy. And but it's a great it's a great thing. It's so but I mean it l but it is a thing, okay?

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: And staying on top of that is a struggle. I mentioned that we have a lot of young people here and a lot of young people that we really love and having to and wanting to keep them and retain them is i is a something that I am very, very passionate about and trying to let them realize that there's opportunities here and I I have to communicate those opportunities and let them know you don't have to go, you can stay and grow. And saying that message

Joel: Yes.

Lisa: over and over, you know, and say, you know, really, your job will get easier the longer you're in your job. And using a lot of analogies of other professions and and communicating that. So I'm that's a you know a a real concern because we're growing and we need everyone to stay with us and grow with us, which

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Lisa: means I need to know what's going on here for a lot of them, which is is a struggle. and and making sure that they see that we want them to be a part of us. And so that and then we're also in the the process of buying land for a plant in Florida, the Panhandle of Florida. So we're super

T.J. Crosby: Yeah,

Lisa: excited about that.

T.J. Crosby: toss.

Lisa: so we're high growth mode here at Gainey's and it's exciting. Greg on Monday turned 69, and I told him this morning, I'm like, I am just so happy how engaged and excited you are at work. He goes, I know. He goes, I never thought I would still be this excited about work. He goes, but Gaines

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Lisa: excites me in so many ways. And and that's at the top. And so and that's that's the message here.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, that's incredible. Yeah, the data center stuff.

Joel: It's a beautiful thing.

T.J. Crosby: I I've got a client who does on our HR consulting side, they do like load balancing for HVAC systems, like the and so the data center work, try to make sure it's cooled down enough to keep the all all

Lisa: Mm-hmm.

T.J. Crosby: the machines running well and whatnot. Yeah. Yeah.

Lisa: It hits so many sectors. It's it's pretty incredible.

T.J. Crosby: It's it's wild.

Joel: They're building one here in Montgomery and it is massive. I mean, I I remember when that field was a cow pasture

Lisa: Yeah.

Joel: and I f we flew over it coming in landing at the airport a couple of days ago when I was out of town and just TJ, it's bigger than the Hyundai plant's footprint. By comparison, it's right there next to it. It's just crazy.

Lisa: What it is amazing how it's it's truly changing the landscape of these little caution light towns, not even red light, okay? And so

Joel: Guess. Not even.

T.J. Crosby: Right. Right. Right. That's yeah. And so is is there any are you seeing any positive impact from the data centers coming into the area? I mean I would imagine there's people that have to maintain some of that stuff and so maybe even some of the levels of employment in those smaller towns might increase a a bit. I don't know. I'm curious what what

Lisa: I mean, you know, I let's think about the sales tax alone that they're going to receive. I mean so

T.J. Crosby: That's true. Yeah.

Lisa: it it's it's going to completely change these small towns. so most of the the data centers are in North Louisiana, which has a lot of small towns, but it it's an area that's easily serviceable for us. And so it it has been amazing what it has done for us.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, that's incredible. so moving more into your own leadership style, how do you think your employees would describe your style of leadership at this point in your career?

Lisa: am the company cheerleader okay without a doubt okay

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Joel: Believe you.

Lisa: so I you know I manage the resources and so I you know I'm constantly checking on them seeing what they need I have a really great gift and that is I am super organized and good at delegating so I tell them I don't have a lot of superpowers but that's a superpower so they can come and sit down with me and I can look at their list half of it they don't need to do, okay? Just focused

T.J. Crosby: Mm, mm-hmm.

Lisa: on that customer and revenue and the rest will kind of just take care of itself. But it it, you know, I I I definitely kind of calm the situation and get it in perspective and and encourage them. So the

T.J. Crosby: Right, right.

Lisa: company cheerleader.

T.J. Crosby: But it's funny, I worked for Waffle House years ago and it was the time when when Joe Rogers Jr., so the founder was Joe Rogers and another fellow that founded it with him, but Joe Rogers Jr. was his son and he was transitioning leadership to Walt Amer, who was was their CFO, who was becoming the CEO. But Joe Rogers Jr. retained the CEO title. But his title was Chief Encouragement Officer. Yeah. Right.

Lisa: That would be mine. Yeah, I could change that because I well, I always say that you know, no one gets paid enough to work around my my emotional wake. And so it is my job to like be on when I come in. And I got that so years ago

Joel: So

Lisa: at MPCA, we did the the behind the scenes Disney where you learn and then when they talk about being on stage. And that resonated with me. So on my drive here, it's my job to get ready to be on stage. I need to be on the whole time I'm here to keep upbeat, to keep people encouraged and keep the stress level down.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, because it's work is work already. Go ahead.

Joel: I like the part that you mentioned. I like the part that you mentioned too about seeing somebody's list of things that maybe they're kind of all in a tizzy about, you know, stressed about and you being able to cut through that and see like, No, no, you don't need to do this or you know, this is gonna work itself out. I think that's that it you said it. I mean, that is a superpower.

Lisa: Well, because they they will get so worked up on getting everything done. And you you're

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Lisa: not gonna get everything done. Okay, let's start there, okay? And you

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Right.

Lisa: getting worked up about not getting everything done is not going to help the matter at all.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Joel: I think as a leader, being able to speak peace to your team versus create chaos is such an such a desirable thing that we all should strive for as leaders. I mean, we've all all three of us have been on both sides of that. Right.

Lisa: So I have two superpowers.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Joel: You know, we we've all three been on on both sides I've had ones that do both. I mean, you know, or that ones that have done one of the two. And it is such a gift when you find the ones that can speak peace and calm the storms.

Lisa: But I mean i you have to be intentional about it. So I mean I work

Joel: Mm. You don't?

Lisa: out at 5 a.m. to get the crazy out. Okay, so that's r that's I have to get that crazy out because it's it's gonna explode. So I go work out to get

T.J. Crosby: Yeah.

Lisa: it out and then you know spend at least 30 minutes of God with God. I

Joel: Mm-hmm.

Lisa: mean sometimes it takes a lot more than that, depending on how crazy this is. And just all that before I even come in, because I owe it to everyone to bring the best version of myself.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, no, it's well said. it's well said. So I'm curious, you know, one thing we learn from in in our kind of our career blueprint and is learning from our mistakes. And I'm sure there has been, like for any of us, mistakes that have happened along the way. Is there a mistake you're willing to share that taught you a really important lesson that you use today?

Lisa: well I mean really I think I have another gift. I forgot about this gift. I have the great capacity to not remember bad situations. And

T.J. Crosby: Ha ha.

Joel: that is a gift. That is a gift.

Lisa: I love that about me. That is a gift, but I just don't dwell in the past. That that happened before. I move on. But

T.J. Crosby: Right. Right.

Lisa: but going back to that that employee who happened to be my uncle,

T.J. Crosby: Mm.

Lisa: and What started that chain of reactions? I mean, I actually started it and my attitude. And so, you know, I have to reflect on that, that you know, I I told y'all about that temper. Okay, so I lost my temper with him and he wasn't gonna have his niece talking to him that way and you know, and packed up and left, and I, you know, drugged my knees and my my heels in the ground and you know, no, I'm not paying you your your vacation. No, I'm not doing this. And As a result, I I got a year of lessons and pain. An education. Let's let's let's spin that. And education

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm. Yeah, right.

Lisa: that I wouldn't argue back. But but it, you know,

Joel: Make a positive out of a negative, I like that.

Lisa: it all started because of that temper. And so, and how many times that I I could chart it, okay, when I don't have control of my emotions when I allow that, nothing good happens. Nothing good. And so

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Lisa: I don't have to have the last word. I can listen, which this is a fun story. So I always

Joel: Mm.

Lisa: have a word for the year. Okay. And so

T.J. Crosby: Right, yeah.

Lisa: yeah, so my word for this year was it was gonna be listen. Absolutely. Well somewhere around New Year's Eve, I lost my voice and pretty much didn't have it. I could say a few words, pretty much didn't have it for a a month. Okay. So our annual two-day off site, I didn't have a voice. It was like so everyone else got to do the talking. And you know, TJ, can you imagine? I it was miserable not to have a voice for a month.

Joel: Yeah.

Lisa: So I learned God was gonna help me with that word. Okay. And I'm definitely not gonna use patience next year because I don't want that. Okay. And so

Joel: Yep. No. Sounds like God put that word in your mouth and then he and and he made you not able to say it.

Lisa: Hmm. Not able to say it. So just I don't

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Mm. Mm.

Lisa: I keep so I constantly plan that in my mind. I need to listen or he might take that voice away again. I need to listen.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. It's it's funny. You do have to be careful what you pray for. 'cause it's

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: I've you know, saw a clip the other day that said, you know, you you if you pray for strength, they'll send you things that make you have to get stronger. Like it's like right.

Lisa: Make you stronger, yeah.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. And pray for patience, things that'll test your patience. And you know, I say it's it's hard to it's hard to have a peace that surpasses understanding if you don't have things that challenge your peace, you know. And so similar kind of vibe. That well, that's that's awesome to try to. I think it's important to level yourself and get you ready to be able to be present with your team. because it's not it's not their job to lift us up, right? It's really not.

Lisa: No, no.

T.J. Crosby: So it's our job to provide a a comfortable, safe space for them. And it does take a take take a lot to get there.

Lisa: And and be aware of what's going on.

T.J. Crosby: Right.

Joel: Don't y'all feel like in in your roles, both of you leading companies though, that when you when you do you said it's not it's not the employee's job to lift you up, but when you lift them up, it's that whole relationship is a circle idea.

Lisa: yeah.

Joel: They do end up lifting you up in

Lisa: Mm-hmm.

Joel: return.

T.J. Crosby: yeah. yeah.

Lisa: Yeah, it without it. So one of the things that I really it's it's you know, I I try hard to live a disciplined life. And one of the disciplines I do is to send a a c a note of encouragement to someone every single day. I and sometimes it's more, but it's at least one every day. I have my box and then and I do that. And most of the time

Joel: Yeah, yeah.

Lisa: it's two employees. And so They are constantly dropping little notes on my desk, which I love it. It's so nice because and I have one attached right now to my monitor that would that was sweet. And so, you know, it it absolutely, you know, what you give, you get, you know, tenfold.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Well that's that's incredible. So if your if your dad could see what Ganys is today, what do you think he would say to you about it at this point? I mean

Lisa: think he would be absolutely amazed. I hope he wouldn't say it's dirty, because it's not.

T.J. Crosby: Ha ha ha.

Joel: I was I was waiting for that. I was I was gonna say it. He wouldn't tell you it was dirty, would he?

Lisa: Do you think then like he better not say it's dirty, 'cause like let me tell you everything good that's going on here.

T.J. Crosby: Right. You wanna make sure he comes on a precast day is day, right?

Lisa: yeah, it it needs to be plant tour ready. It needs to be plant tour ready.

T.J. Crosby: Right, right.

Joel: Ooh

T.J. Crosby: Well that's awesome. That's awesome. And so the la last question I'll kind of have for you around these things is is what what legacy do you hope to leave leave behind? I mean you clearly have your family involved, g still involved and your children and so in your mind, kind of as you're over the next you know, ten, fifteen years, what legacy do you hope to leave behind?

Lisa: Well, we have a daughter who's in the company and work and has decided to work in the company, which I love that. because you know, you we talked about earlier. It could have went either way because Greg and I don't separate. It's twenty four seven. Okay, we we talk business. And the fact that She is so invested in the company and wants to be a part of it. I feel like that's a parent win. And that they even want to

Joel: Yes. Absolutely.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Lisa: spend time with us. That's another parent win. And

T.J. Crosby: Right.

Lisa: so you know, that that is that's pretty great and that's pretty exciting. another thing that I pray for every day is for God, please use me to impact the lives of others in a positive way. And I always make sure I say positive way because you know it's really easy to do it in a negative way. It takes intention to do it in a positive way. And I I do hope and you know it it it's really rewarding when someone who has left and moved on will send a little note or or send a text or a Facebook messenger that tells us how much we impacted their lives. And so I I try to remember to do that to people who've impacted my life over the you know, let them know.

Joel: Give them their flowers now, not just at their funeral.

Lisa: Yeah, that's right.

T.J. Crosby: That's right. That's right. Yeah. Thanks so much, Lisa, for joining. It a pleasure to have you. Look forward to seeing you at the next conference we have coming up here soon.

Lisa: Mm-hmm. Thank you for having me. It's been a lot of fun. It was amazing that we both didn't compete for airtime and we just had a good conversation. It was a lot of fun.

T.J. Crosby: Agreed. Agreed.

Joel: TJ Lisa was fantabulous.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, she's great.

Joel: Love her.

T.J. Crosby: Love hanging out with her anytime we get a chance. she's she is a dynamic force. That's for sure. a lot of fun. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I imagine I mean

Joel: Fireball, Trailblazer, Woman of Influence, the list goes on and on.

T.J. Crosby: being being twenty four, stepping in, running things and I mean, whoa, like I wasn't ready at twenty four. Tell you right now.

Joel: Cannot imagine. Cannot imagine. The only thing I kept thinking when she was talking about all that though is that, you know how we how we said or said when she was talking with us about when things are meant to ha happen, meant to be, like she her life, like if we're gonna look at this from like the zoomed out kind of spiritual perspective, like if the

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm. Right.

Joel: if this was her purpose, those years, like She could not have done that if she had had no connection to it at all. It she couldn't have done it as effectively for sure. I mean, I guess anything is possible, but she couldn't have done that to the same way if she had had no experience, connection to this company, no exposure. She watched her dad build this thing from nothing. Four-year-old little girl. Like,

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Yeah.

Joel: and and so when she when she did end up getting. placed into that position. She had 20 years of knowledge that you and I would not have had about something like this. And I just

T.J. Crosby: Right. That's true. It's true.

Joel: when you it's easy, I know hindsight's 2020, but when when you look at our lives and you see how all the little things they they add up to what we are today seem

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Joel: truly in the best way most of the time.

T.J. Crosby: Well, I mean, the way you know for certain that she cares about her family and she cares about her team is I'm sure she was having a blast in California, where she was and

Joel: yeah. Who wouldn't?

T.J. Crosby: living life. So to make that choice to come back home and and take the helm, I'm confident she made that decision for her family and for the team. And

Joel: Yes. Yes.

T.J. Crosby: that's I've seen that continue to play out the time I've known her. I've known her three years now, but it's evident how much she cares. For sure. So

Joel: Well, think about the crossroads that she was at. She was the discussion was sell it or keep keep going. If she had sold it, she would have gotten this much. And I know it's not all about money, but

T.J. Crosby: Yeah. Right.

Joel: she would have gotten this much. But because she decided to claw her way through that unfortunate circumstance and build build from you know, from there and keep it. It was a a a sweat equity investment. You know what I'm saying? I mean, you think she hasn't had you know, she talked about the hard the hardships, the trials. It's not easy. But think about what what that company is over here today, in

T.J. Crosby: man.

Joel: light of the fact so for her own self, the return on it, even just financially and in an interpersonal level, satisfaction, pride, all of it. It's it's definitely She got more today. She has more because she stayed.

T.J. Crosby: Yeah, in a similar vein. I mean, she talks about the impact Greg has had.

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: and she talks about being surprised at his willingness to to come in and help. But there's also an element of like the lack of pride you have to have to admit to yourself that you need or want help from somebody like that. You know, I mean that's

Joel: Yes, yes.

T.J. Crosby: that's there's a lot of leaders that I don't think are that humble to say, Hey, I really need somebody else to come in here and help take it to another level.

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: And and look and I mean, a large part to her efforts and his combined and the two of them joined forces. I mean, it's Gaines really is a force to be reckoned with. It is a well known and well respected company in the industry. I think not just in

Joel: Well I think it's

T.J. Crosby: the precast space. I think it's well known in the state of

Joel: yeah.

T.J. Crosby: Louisiana, especially as a company, period. Yeah. So

Joel: Absolutely. Well well, it's a it's a tough dynamic though. And and I don't know, maybe you can speak to this in some way because of where you've led our company through. But I mean, it it's can you know when you have the entrepreneurial spirit, okay? That is in and of itself the I can do this. I I have within me the gumption, as my granddaddy would say, to go. To go make something happen that doesn't exist. Okay. So then you do do it all. You're doing all the things because that's the only way it's ever gonna happen. And then all of a sudden you hit this like inflection point of in the trajectory where it's like, wait a second, I can't think like that anymore, or it's gonna top out. If I keep it in that frame of mind, I've got to shift. Is that's gotta be extremely difficult. To make that transition.

T.J. Crosby: The the word I would use for it, if I'm honest, is it's it's scary. I mean, I'll I'll tell you, I have years ago, I wrote down I was writing down goals for what I thought was gonna be for work that day. I was on a plane, it ended up being goals for for life. And one of the things I wrote down is to build something bigger than myself, which required God's provision and the support and efforts of others. And what's scary about it is when the company gets to a certain point that you can't quite get your arms around it all and like manage it all yourself, do it all yourself, you're dependent upon these other people.

Joel: Yes, yep.

T.J. Crosby: And so that is a very vulnerable feeling, you know. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Joel: I can't even. I I can't even. I've yeah, I I know. Well, because we're all like the reference, the thing we were talking about with her about being the star of our own story is, you know, it it just we just see the world from our perspective. And so to let go of of your it's the I equ I don't know, you tell me I've never owned a company, but I feel like it's a lot in the same way of watching your children grow up. There

T.J. Crosby: Mm-hmm.

Joel: There, I am beginning now that mine are 12 and nine, especially the 12 year old. Like I am just seeing how we're definitely turning the corner of like, I can't, she's not looking to me the same way. She looks to me, but it's not the same. It's not for the everyday. It's not the making sure you have this and that this is right. It it becomes like you kind of like I feel like you're talking about. It becomes more of an advisory role, a l a guidance role versus a direct hands on care. I mean, I used to she used to they still pick about me br brushing their hair and stuff and like I I told them the other day, the the little one, I was like, Can you will you just let me brush your hair please for old time's sake? I've I've done it for a long time and I actually like it. And so it she's like, But I've got it and it's like you It it we are at the point. It's time to be independent and be your own person on your own two feet. But it is scary.

T.J. Crosby: Well, and I think the the thing that is interesting about it is I imagine somebody would meet Weston when he's twenty. And he's gonna be this very artistic, well spoken, confident, kind

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: person, right? And I'm really excited about that day coming. And and I'll be not surprised necessarily that people receive him in that way, but that'll be just the frame and how they know him. Right. We talk about like, but for me, he was also that kid who I was Changing his diapers. And then I was, you

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: know, helping him not be scared at night of having the night light in the room. And it's so it's just, it's

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: I think there's an element of that around as you build a company. especially when it scales quickly. People come in at a certain point and they're like, well, this is how big the company is. It's like, no, no, in my heart, the company feels like it's this big. Like it might be this big now, but

Joel: Yes, yes.

T.J. Crosby: it feels like it's this big, right? And you're having to adapt

Joel: Yes.

T.J. Crosby: to where it is. And children are a great example because they Especially children the first few years of life, they they change so fast. Parents are reeling

Joel: I do.

T.J. Crosby: from how quickly the kid goes from liking this thing to now liking this thing to I need your help, Dad. It's like you know, having a company can be very similar where you have to be willing to yeah, move into more of that advisory role and trust the team, trust your child in this case to make decisions and know they're gonna make mistakes. But that's also part of growth and learning and getting better. Yeah. It's it's hard to it's hard to describe what it can feel like sometimes. You know.

Joel: Well, I would say that even though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I cannot imagine a universe that Lisa's dad would not be beaming with pride at where his daughter has led led his his baby of a company to. There's just there's no way that he would not be on top of the moon. And that's a beautiful thing.

T.J. Crosby: That's right. That's right.

Joel: And that's it for the blueprint. We loved having Lisa with us today on the show, and we're so glad that you joined us too. Until next time, I'm Joel.