Trade Talks with Scott Conyers
Tower Times January - February 2021
How long have you worked at your company?
- May 16, 1997 – 23 years
How did you get into/why did you choose this industry?
- I was working for a crane company that often assisted in the installation of towers. I found the work very interesting and appealing. I answered an ad from Casey’s Tower Service, Orlando, FL (now Tower Systems South, Inc.) for a tower hand.
What does your typical day entail?
- If I’m in the office I’m working on estimates, dealing with customers and subcontractors and managing the tower crews. When I’m working in the field, it’s primarily for special projects or for training purposes.
What is an aspect of your role that you enjoy most?
- I love stacking tower steel with gin poles. I love working with our boom truck and winch, and the rigging associated with this line of work. It’s very gratifying.
What do you do in your role that would surprise people?
- I’m 57 years old and still very active in the field, running projects and training crews. I try to mentor the younger generation coming up that this is a career, not just a job.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- My sons, David and Daniel. They are my best work, and I’m proud of both of them. I’m also proud that my body can still handle the work in the field. I’m very proud that I had great mentors to teach me throughout my career. Bill Carlson, an icon in our industry, taught me so much; it’s immeasurable. I’m grateful to work for his daughter, Kari L. Carlson, who carries on his business with the same fairness and tenacity that he did.
What is a stressful part of your job?
- I want to make sure my crew is plugged in and thinking of the task at hand while complying with safety measures.
What is an issue you would like resolved?
- Better deployment strategy from tower owners and carriers.
Do you have a personal mission statement?
- To quote my mentor and teacher, Bill Carlson, “Only worry about the things you can change”.
What is one thing you would like to improve?
- Creating a specific category for our type of work that will fall in line with other industry trades (HVAC, plumber, electrician, etc.). It’s a noble profession and deserves better recognition. After all, we are the backbone that keeps America connected.
What are your hopes for the industry?
- That gin pole work makes a comeback and becomes a fully accepted and safe method of stacking steel by tower owners and carriers.
What advice would you give to new hires?
- You have to work your way from the top of the tower down to the ground to acquire the skills needed. Like anything worth having, it takes years of hard work and dedication.
What is something about you that might surprise our readers?
- I may have a gruff exterior but I’m very approachable, friendly and have a good sense of humor.
What three words describe you best?
- Dedicated, fair, disciplined. “Go, Go, Go!”
What is something on your bucket list?
- I would like to ride my motorcycle out to California from Florida and ride up the pacific shore line.
Please tell me about your family.
- I have two sons, David and Daniel, and a granddaughter Ivy Scarlett and another granddaughter on the way.
Do you have a hobby/hobbies?
- I love being on the water. I like to scallop, shrimp, and deep-sea fish. In all my spare time, I like to tinker on my 1965 Chevrolet K-20.
To view this article in the Tower Times January – February 2021 publication, click here.
Trade Talks with Scott Conyers
Tower Times January - February 2021
How long have you worked at your company?
- May 16, 1997 – 23 years
How did you get into/why did you choose this industry?
- I was working for a crane company that often assisted in the installation of towers. I found the work very interesting and appealing. I answered an ad from Casey’s Tower Service, Orlando, FL (now Tower Systems South, Inc.) for a tower hand.
What does your typical day entail?
- If I’m in the office I’m working on estimates, dealing with customers and subcontractors and managing the tower crews. When I’m working in the field, it’s primarily for special projects or for training purposes.
What is an aspect of your role that you enjoy most?
- I love stacking tower steel with gin poles. I love working with our boom truck and winch, and the rigging associated with this line of work. It’s very gratifying.
What do you do in your role that would surprise people?
- I’m 57 years old and still very active in the field, running projects and training crews. I try to mentor the younger generation coming up that this is a career, not just a job.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
- My sons, David and Daniel. They are my best work, and I’m proud of both of them. I’m also proud that my body can still handle the work in the field. I’m very proud that I had great mentors to teach me throughout my career. Bill Carlson, an icon in our industry, taught me so much; it’s immeasurable. I’m grateful to work for his daughter, Kari L. Carlson, who carries on his business with the same fairness and tenacity that he did.
What is a stressful part of your job?
- I want to make sure my crew is plugged in and thinking of the task at hand while complying with safety measures.
What is an issue you would like resolved?
- Better deployment strategy from tower owners and carriers.
Do you have a personal mission statement?
- To quote my mentor and teacher, Bill Carlson, “Only worry about the things you can change”.
What is one thing you would like to improve?
- Creating a specific category for our type of work that will fall in line with other industry trades (HVAC, plumber, electrician, etc.). It’s a noble profession and deserves better recognition. After all, we are the backbone that keeps America connected.
What are your hopes for the industry?
- That gin pole work makes a comeback and becomes a fully accepted and safe method of stacking steel by tower owners and carriers.
What advice would you give to new hires?
- You have to work your way from the top of the tower down to the ground to acquire the skills needed. Like anything worth having, it takes years of hard work and dedication.
What is something about you that might surprise our readers?
- I may have a gruff exterior but I’m very approachable, friendly and have a good sense of humor.
What three words describe you best?
- Dedicated, fair, disciplined. “Go, Go, Go!”
What is something on your bucket list?
- I would like to ride my motorcycle out to California from Florida and ride up the pacific shore line.
Please tell me about your family.
- I have two sons, David and Daniel, and a granddaughter Ivy Scarlett and another granddaughter on the way.
Do you have a hobby/hobbies?
- I love being on the water. I like to scallop, shrimp, and deep-sea fish. In all my spare time, I like to tinker on my 1965 Chevrolet K-20.
To view this article in the Tower Times January – February 2021 publication, click here.