Conversations with the Inspiring Jo Taylor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Taylor.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jo. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my career in the UK working for a small start up office furniture manufacturer as a Receptionist, which I only ever intended to do until something better came along. Twenty years later, having progressed through the ranks of Secretary, PA to the Sales Director, Showroom Manager, Sales Representative, and my last position with the company was Regional Sales Director. All this experience came with the relevant college courses and training thrown in, I was very fortunate to grow with the company. Of course, as the organization grew, I think they were grateful to have someone they could train and mould into what they needed. I was always very keen to learn and move on to whatever position was next for me and, as I moved up, they would have me recruit and train my successor each time.

After I got married and had my daughter, I quickly began to realize that a sales job with its long unsociable hours is not ideal for a new mum, and in 2005 my husband and I decided to move to the USA to further expand his automotive publishing business, Coterie Press. It had been successful in the UK and Europe but he needed to broaden the availability of his books throughout the rest of the world. (This was long before Amazon was on the scene)

Our daughter at this time was just five years old and we thought it a good time to move before she got settled into a particular school curriculum. Taking a break from the furniture business would also allow me to spend more time as mum and help get us all settled to living in a new country.

Moving to Denver has been a great decision for us, my husband’s business grew, our daughter settled easily into school, we made lots of friends and life was good. In between the school runs I was able to help out in the business doing sales and marketing, attend events and meetings with him, and get to know and understand how a publishing business works.

Once our daughter graduated high school and began planning her college route she was becoming more independent and I realized I needed another focus. Coterie Press was now established in the USA and unfortunately (thanks to Amazon) a lot of the sales and marketing efforts that I had been involved in were no longer needed, so I looked elsewhere.

One of the printers my husband was using at the time was publishing Colorado Public Works Journal, and the owner was planning his retirement. He asked if I would be interested in taking over the publication. He introduced me to several of the associations and companies that would regularly contribute to the Journal and whilst I thought it a huge challenge, I wanted to see if I could make a go of it.

The good thing about being married to a publisher is that I immediately had the design, layout and production taken care of, all through my husband’s business. Now I had to find the content, the advertisers and the stories that would keep readers interested.

I don’t for a minute think I know everything, and I am still learning every day, but everyone that I work with has been so accommodating and helpful, that I always know just who to call on when I need some advice or direction.

I have watched concrete being poured to build a bridge, I have observed hot asphalt being mixed, seen how potholes get repaired, I’ve driven a skid steer, I’ve seen the huge highway signs being produced, I have been to ribbon cuttings, groundbreaking events interviewed several of the leaders in the public works industry and talked to many, many people who work in infrastructure and carry out jobs you would never even think of as an actual job. For the most part, it is fascinating, I work with some great people and no two days are the same.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I would say being a woman in this industry has been both a help and a hindrance. As has being from the UK. People love to hear your accent, but do they actually listen to what you have to say? This goes for out of work situations also. You start to be known as the women with the British accent. I like to use it to my advantage (not that I can speak in an American accent anyway) and make light of the situation, rather than dwell on it.

There are less than 9% of women in the construction industry and whilst this figure is rising, it has a long way to go. Being female in a male-dominated industry means that you have to know a lot more, a lot quicker to be trusted. It helps if you engage them to learn more about what they do, which as an Editor I am always keen to do.

Young women today have many many options open to them in this industry and if they can get themselves on the career ladder, even if it be the first rung of a growing company, they can have a long and rewarding career ahead of them.

What should we know about Colorado Public Works Journal? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Colorado Public Works Journal is a unique publication. We provide the reader with information on services to the industry, the latest equipment and technology trends and we showcase the very latest projects happening in Colorado. Our customers want to be seen in it whether it be advertising their business, showing off their work/projects, or contributing to the many articles that we publish in each issue. I make sure that I am in touch with everyone that contributes to CPWJ on a regular basis and those that read it. This helps to building the relationships that we have which in turn builds trust. I am most proud when we see new subscribers or new advertisers that want to come on board.

Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
There are many women that I have encountered in my career over the years that have influenced me, although I may not have known it at the time. Strong women who don’t give a dam about being wrong, messing up, or saying they don’t understand something. It’s not until you are older and have more confidence that you realize that this is quite acceptable and you don’t need to apologize for it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.coloradopublicworksjournal.com
• Phone: 720 360 6737
• Email: jo@coloradopublicworksjournal
• Instagram: coloradopublicworksjournal
• Facebook: coloradopublicworksjournal

Image Credit:
CPWJ

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