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Jet noise, Humvees, and a weather station might sound like an odd path to construction leadership, but that’s exactly where Alicia’s story takes us—and why it sticks. We sit down to talk about growing up with limited family ties, finding belonging in the Air Force, and discovering that “voice” isn’t just confidence; it’s responsibility when pilots are waiting on your call.

Alicia breaks down the real work behind the “weather observer” title—tactical support with Army units, maintaining deployable systems, even mastering Humvee driving—and how those stakes forged communication, poise, and process improvement instincts. Then we get real about transition. She calls it “optimistically naive,” the belief that corporate America will instantly value mission-first leadership and initiative. Instead, we unpack how to translate military experience into business language, avoid being misread as a threat, and prove value without burning out.

From rebuilding a childhood home to earning a construction management degree, Alicia moved through roles as project engineer and superintendent, learning to coach early, protect standards, and keep a team moving without hiding from tough conversations. Today, she runs a consulting practice with two engines: a fractional, co-op style compliance backbone that helps small contractors win and deliver federal work, and a veteran-focused program that equips construction firms to reduce risk and raise resilience. We talk suicide risk in the trades, what leaders signal by their habits, and how to design structures that build hope instead of draining it.

We also meet Admiral, her service dog, who detects hypervigilance and medical shifts before she does and supports mobility when back injuries flare. It’s a powerful case for practical accommodations and dropping the stigma around tools that work. If you care about veteran transition, construction leadership, mental health at work, or building small-business capacity to compete on federal projects, this conversation offers both hard-won lessons and actionable steps.

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This episode is brought to you by Memorial Ranch; A place where for our veterans and first responders to find rest and relaxation while they prepare for their next mission: LIFE

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If you're a military veteran in the construction industry, or you're in the construction industry and support our military vets, and you'd like to be a guest on the podcast you can find me at [email protected] , or send me a message on LinkedIn. You can find me there at Scott Friend. Let's share the stories and motivate others!

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