The saying goes that once you’ve been in the gas and welding industry, you’ll never leave and that is very true for me. Hello, I’m Marilyn Dempsey and after thirty plus years of experience in sales, operations, safety and regulatory compliance for an independent gas and welding products distributor, I now have the opportunity to bring my experience to other companies through Safety Dragons Workplace Consultants.
Founded in 1935, my former company was a medium-sized independent distributor with five locations in the NYC metro area. We became an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company for about four years and then a private equity firm made a buyout offer that the ESOP fiduciaries thought was in the best interest of the employees. The private equity firm set us on an awesome path – we took our company’s business model and adapted it to BOTH acquired and scratch started distribution locations across the US. We acquired companies ranging from 10 employees and two locations to 100 employees and 5 locations. In eight years, we grew from 5 locations with 50 employees to 50 locations and 500 employees – and I was in charge of Safety and Compliance! What a ride. I soon realized that I couldn’t use the same approach (a bit heavy handed) that I used with the people I’d lived with for twenty years. The different cultures and different methods of the companies we acquired put me on the fast track of adaptation. Also, our executive team adapted to a much more team-oriented approach. We studied team management, team building and sincerely put it into practice! On a personal note, I had amazing support from my boss and the entire executive team. My boss was the COO, Jerry Girod, is a bit opinionated but so am I. Jerry always had my back and that support meant everything. When my company was sold… I’m not going to lie to you, my world was rocked. At that same time, I was presented with an opportunity to become the DHS, EPA and OSHA consultant for GAWDA …AND SO HERE I AM! This was my turn to help those people and companies I had worked with for so long – the independent distributors. I not only believe but I’ve witnessed that Safety is not a slogan, it has to be part of the company's culture from the executive team to the newest employee…and it doesn't have to be painful. My mission with Safety Dragons is to be a national firm that specializes in developing and implementing simple and easy to use compliance programs for workplace safety (OSHA), homeland security (DHS) and environmental protection (EPA) . Now you know a bit about me and why I’m on this path. Going forward I’ll give you my take on pertinent issues and you’ll come to know, I am not an administrative-type – I am hands-on and action-oriented - show me a fill plant or a truck and I am a HAPPY WOMAN! Until next time, Marilyn
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