Men supporting women in metal

MCS Influencer Randy Chaffee says it's time to get rid of old biases and embrace women in the metal industry.

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Randy Chaffee of Source One Marketing. You can Read the interview below, Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording.

Jenny Yu: Hello everybody, my name is Jenny Yu with a MetalCoffeeShop® Influencer response. I'm here with Randy Chaffee of Source One Marketing. How's it going, Randy?

Randy Chaffee: Jenny, it's going great, how are you?

Jenny Yu: I'm doing well, thank you.

Randy Chaffee: Awesome. We always have some great chats, I love it.

Jenny Yu: We do, thank you. And this month we are going to chat about something that I care about, which is women in the workforce, specifically in metal. We were wondering if you could share your thoughts on specifically the role that men can play, male allies, in leadership to advance women in the industry.

Randy Chaffee: You know, that's a great question and I'm glad we're talking about it. I love women in the industry, right? I think that, as a matter of fact, that the National Frame Building Association (NFBA), which I'm on the board of directors for, we have a Women in Post Frame event, for example. I love to support that event because I've been around strong, good quality women for a long time, and I don't think it's even any more a matter of "should they" or "could they." It's like, why are we even thinking that way? There's an incredible amount of quality women that do things every bit as good or better — there I said it, whether you like it or not, men. So let's just forget that old school stuff and understand and support.

And you're exactly right, we can be their ally. We don't need to push them aside. They don't need to just — and I say just, I don't mean to be negative, but they're not just the office girl, right? If that's what it is, that's a great important part, but they could be a crew leader, they can be a superintendent, they can be an engineer, they can be a salesperson, they can be anything they want to be. And we're missing such a valuable — forget the social part of it — just from a business standpoint, they're so talented, and we're just silly to pass up on 50% of the quality people to do quality work.

And so I think as men know, we work and live in what's still somewhat of a male-dominated world, it is what it is. But the emphasis needs to come back onto us as the men in the industry to support women in a big way, to take them under our wing where they need it. Sometimes they don't need it. But if they do? Support them, be there for them, suggest them and work with them as equals and as true partners. It's a mindset that older school things creep into play sometimes. And I think we got to get rid of that.

And I go to this NFBA meeting coming up with the women of post frame. I attended it last year, Jenny, and I was a little scared because I was only one of one guys in the room of 100. I stayed by the door but still, with that said, it was just amazing to be around the high quality that's out there. We're shooting ourselves in the foot in the industry if we don't recognize that and just get rid of the old biases and all that stuff. Are you the best person for the job, regardless of all the stuff, right? I don't care who you are. If you're the best at the job, that's who we should have. And we should embrace that and promote it and love it. That's what we should do.

Jenny Yu: Excellent, I couldn't agree more.

Randy Chaffee: Awesome. I knew you'd agree. I'm pretty smart. Jenny, thank you.

Jenny Yu: You are. Thanks, Randy.