Transcript

Hi, I'm Carrie Stokes. I serve as CEO, and I have been at Barge 30 years. I think the reason that I've stayed at Barge for 30 years is because I was really lucky that I had mentors who did have faith in me and placed their trust in me. So when I first started out at Barge, I did a lot of environmental compliance work. So we did a lot of work for CSX Railroad. So I traveled, which initially when it started I thought was really glamorous from New York to Miami. You know, when you go visit the rail yards, that's not like always the best. part of town, you know, so it wasn't like I was traveling to these glamorous areas, but I had a manager, Paul. And so in the very beginning, we went to sites together. He showed me what to do on permitting, you know, the conversations to be had with the client, the pictures to take. And then I saw how he developed rapport with the client. And then one day I walked in. He was like, OK, we need to do, you know, an audit, you know, in this city and you're ready to go. And I think I'm pretty sure I have this like deer in the headlights look. Because there was just a little bit of anxiety. What, you know, what's going to be the impression when kind of at the time, you know, this young female walks into the room, you know, at the rail yard. And he just, he never doubted me. He was just very supportive, was like, hey, you know, you got this. And none of us are perfect. So what's the worst that could happen? And so I think that has been my experience all along. But that's the one that sticks out just because that was kind of the first time that I was like, wow, do I have this? OK. Yeah. He thinks I can do it, you know? It means a lot. I sometimes have to step back to really get the full perspective though, because in the day-to-day, I think I've had such a good experience at Barge of having wonderful mentors, having the opportunity to work on challenging projects. But it's really what I'm talking with my friends or other people I meet about their work experience that I'm like, Oh my gosh, like I am so glad I stayed. And so I certainly hope that I have given as much as I've received.