Jenn Wycisk

At it’s core, safety is about people and their well-being. It’s about relationship building. I’m good at reading people and understanding what motivates them. These abilities allow me to quickly foster trust and work with anyone toward a win-win outcome.

Supporting people is my love language. This is most obvious when it comes to my family.

They are my whole life and I love supporting their passions. My teenagers are dancers and I support them through volunteering…costumes, props, you name it! 

We eat very well in my house! I am convinced my husband missed his calling as a chef! It’s hard to justify dining out when we have such talent at home. We share the work —he cooks and I clean! 

Safety cannot exist in a silo. Our daily decisions impact others, so it’s imperative to work together to solve any challenges. If given the choice between working alone or collaborating, I’d choose to collaborate 150% of the time!  Working alongside other people allows me to assist learn and benefit from their knowledge and experiences.

I’m lucky enough to work with all of Truebeck’s offices, which means I split my time between the Bay Area and Portland. Both regions are special to me. My roots are in the Bay Area—it’s where I’ve formed my network. The hustle and consistent weather (mostly sunny) energizes me. Portland is my home now. I love the unique building opportunities and the creative, kind people. It’s surrounded by evergreens and there is so much natural beauty. I like to say, “green is the new blue!”

My life philosophy is best summed up by this Maya Angelou quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This drives all my interactions, both personal and professional.

Our industry is amazing because we get to see things happen in real life and in real time. When I was in high school, I wanted to be an interior decorator. I muscled my way into a fabulous architecture firm which, after seven years, led me to the construction field. Now, I get to see these creations jump off the page and into the world. I’ve never lost my eye for interiors —even as Safety Director, I still find myself inspecting finishes and critiquing design! 

My team helps me grow as a person and a leader. They are passionate about safety and have an innate desire to do the right thing. They are straightforward and not afraid to speak up, to challenge, all in the interest of improving—because they care. Their motivation inspires me every day. I feel so lucky to work with them!

Being a woman in a male-dominated industry hasn’t always been easy. And moreover, safety wasn’t always as respected as it is today within the construction industry. I had to work hard to prove my commitment and competence. I was fortunate to form relationships with mentors who noticed my drive and appreciated my hands-on approach. I’m so grateful for these advocates who helped nurture my career, and for everyone who supports me at Truebeck today.