In this episode of On the Surface, Seth sits down once again with fan‑favorite guest (and unofficial co‑host) Taylor Kirn for an honest look at what really happens when you step into a management role for the first time. From the shock of overnight responsibility to the emotional weight of leading people you once worked beside, Taylor breaks down the challenges new managers face—and the parts no one warns you about.

Taylor shares her early experiences overseeing team members, including her struggle with delegation, learning to trust others’ processes, and discovering that there’s more than one “right” way to get things done. Through stories about mentors, technology mishaps, and even a paper‑folding machine she found way too late, she explains how growth often comes from embracing discomfort, letting go of control, and making room for people to surprise you.

Together, Seth and Taylor unpack the toughest parts of becoming a manager: balancing daily tasks with new leadership responsibilities, navigating the pressure of constant communication, managing personalities, setting boundaries with former peers, and building resilience when the job feels like “getting punched in the face for a year.” They explore why the first management jump is the hardest in any career—and why trusting your team, asking for help, and being honest about what you don’t know are essential skills, not weaknesses.

Taylor also sheds light on the critical role HR plays in supporting new supervisors, from handling sensitive conversations to navigating policies like FMLA, time off, and compliance issues that can quickly go sideways without guidance. She explains why bringing HR in early matters, how communication shapes culture, and why consistency and follow‑through are the foundations of effective leadership.

It’s a candid, insightful conversation about the human side of managing people—the mindset shifts, the uncomfortable moments, the lessons learned the hard way, and the growth that happens when you finally realize: management isn’t about doing the work…it’s about leading the people who do.

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In this episode of On The Surface, Seth and Brad welcome back Taylor Kirn for a deep dive into one of the most pivotal decisions any company faces: internal promotions vs. external hires.

From the real costs of leadership transitions to the morale boost of promoting from within, the trio breaks down what makes these decisions so impactful—and so challenging. They explore how to identify true leadership potential, when a fresh external perspective is worth the investment, and why succession planning matters more than ever in today’s shifting workforce.

Taylor sheds light on the growing skills gap and what it means for career paths in construction and manufacturing, while Brad talks candidly about performance, cultural fit, and why soft skills often outweigh technical ability at higher levels of leadership. The group also shares practical advice for anyone who's been passed over for a promotion—and how to turn that setback into fuel for growth.

Whether you're leading teams, building a career, or just curious about how organizations make people decisions, this episode is packed with insight, transparency, and a few hard truths.

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In this episode of On the Surface, we sit down with Justin Counce—Delta’s Safety Coordinator—to explore the unconventional path that led him from chemistry labs and chromatography machines to job sites, quarry pits, and the front lines of safety culture. From studying finance for “30 minutes” to working in manufacturing and eventually discovering a passion for helping people work smarter and safer, Justin shares how curiosity, real‑world experience, and relationship‑building shaped his entire career.

He walks through the evolution of safety at Delta—from the early days of reactive compliance and paper forms to proactive culture-building, CI teams, and digital inspections that keep crews protected and projects moving. Justin opens up about the shift toward collaborative safety, the importance of trust on a job site, and how complacency can sneak in even for the most experienced workers. He also breaks down what safety really looks like today: navigating regulations, supporting crews across multiple states, investigating incidents, managing environmental compliance, and preparing for a future filled with sensors, AI tools, autonomous equipment, and smarter training.

Justin also draws surprising parallels between his role at Delta and his life coaching youth sports. From teaching attitude and effort to managing emotions, building mental toughness, and holding people accountable with empathy, he explains how lessons from the baseball field translate directly into leading teams and keeping people safe. Along the way he shares stories about wins, missteps, tough inspections, community complaints, and why treating everyone with respect—no matter their job title—remains his guiding principle.

It’s an inside look at the human side of safety: the culture, conversations, and coaching that make a difference long before any paperwork ever does.

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