What’s your favorite thing about working on your crew?
My favorite part is teamwork and collaboration. I also like when faced with a new situation, no matter how big or small, that we always end up on top.
If you won the lottery, what’s the first thing you would do with your winnings?
You would find me off the coast of Italy on a yacht taking in the sun with a glass of Vino. I would have a small entourage with me that could quietly enjoy the beautiful simple things of life. Then I would somehow help others find their way to the same level of happiness and financial security.
How do you stay updated on the latest industry trends, technologies, and safety protocols?
Besides going to school, I use social media like YouTube University and some of the trends that keep sending me new ways to learn. The job site is an awesome place to learn because there are so many traits and talks about the upcoming future. I have also participated in a few town hall meetings that are promoting Union jobs to come.
What’s one thing you personally must have with you on a job site?
Everybody knows when you see me that I will have my dinosaur clamps on my hip and maybe my two baby c-clamps on my bib. For some reason, I always turn to using them when stabilizing something I’m trying to drill or position with laser accuracy.
Cats or dogs? And why?
I love animals; however, I believe I should not have any until I get a farm. They deserve to have the open space to roam and be free just like me. I refuse to have a beautiful Great Dane, boxer, or Akita dog without the proper environment. Caged free animals is what I promote.
What’s the best piece of advice you received?
I learned that there are no shortcuts in life. The moment you’re taking the easy road is the moment you are compromising your future. Work smart, but hard work and consistency will take down any obstacle and are the building blocks to success. #coachdorianwest for more. 😆
Is there anything else about you, your family, or your home life that you would like to share?
Yes, just know that I have a why in my life that is bigger than me.
Can you share one new thing you’ve learned on the job or a best practice that helps save you time, energy, or keeps you safer on the job?
This may sound crazy, but I think it’s good to befriend the safety guy. Allow him to be your eyes and tell you what’s wrong up front instead of on the back end. Confront him and get the scoop off the job’s safety level and then succeed it. I am 6’7” and weigh 300lbs. Most of the time I don’t need a ladder, which is safe, but I also love to keep my coworkers safe. I have an associate degree in nursing and two other college degrees. I say that because when I’m working with my coworkers, they really don’t know how safe they are hanging around me. I am ready to help even if they are helpless.
How do you manage stress and maintain a positive mindset in a high-pressure environment like construction?
I come from my educational mental health crisis intense background, so I’m always calm under pressure like Daniel in the lions’ den. I can move around the lion’s roar and be calm because somebody must be. Somebody must be rational, and I choose to be that person to overlook the emotion and extract the lesson the objective and what needs to be done.