My New Gig As A Project Manager In Training In NYC!

Hello everyone! I wanted to share my journey to becoming a project manager for the largest electrical contractor in the city of New York. I was nervous going to the interview back in the spring of 2014. I had almost no office experience when I did the interview. I felt like I was the only coming in with some field experience. I did earn an MBA and have my OSHA 500. My OSHA gave me the ability to teach and issue OSHA 10 and 30 cards. I also teach part time for Empire College. This college offers our apprentice electricians a degree in labor studies. I was hoping my extra efforts would pay off and help me get this job. I sat in for 2 interviews; one for engineering and the other for project management. I thought for sure that I was not going to get the job. The project manager job was what I really wanted. I had a very tense and awkward interview with the project manager executive. I left that interview pissed that I didn't have the experience and annoyed that this man didn't want me in the job since I was a woman. However, the boss liked me and put me in engineering making the blueprints. I vowed that I would figure out how to get that job one way or another. I was given a 1 week tutorial with a coworker on how to use autoCAD. From then on, I was given my first job to get started working and learning on the fly. I was so nervous learning how to use CAD and learn engineering at the same time!! I was thinking how am I going to pull this off! I started getting more and more comfortable with my job as time went on. I started asking questions about project management. One guy told me to focus on engineering. I said that I had my eye on getting knowledge and work experience. I could not believe that I finally got the opportunity to learn project manager skills. I had a project manager on the job whose family member passed away. I offered to help him work on some tasks since he was dealing with grief. I then started doing some of his work and my own work. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed but it was necessary to get my job that I wanted. It was noticed that I was doing his work. I eventually received more and more work. Before I knew it, I was approachedby a coworker that I am going to eventually get a project manager position. He was campaigning for me for months to get that job. I was happy at the thought. Until I actually get the job, I can't get too carried away. It took a few months to actually get the position. I was excited to move my things to my new desk. I have been working and learning in my new job for the last two months. I am working on learning the most so I can be the best project manager that I can be. I will do updates in the future to give progress reports. I do feel overwhelmed in the learning process. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog. Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

2016 NYC's Halloween Parade- The Village In Manhattan!!

hello everyone! I enjoyed checking out the costumes at the NYC Village Halloween Parade in lower Manhattan. I had to go to my college that I work at part time, Empire College. I read student portfolios mid term in the fall and spring. I give feedback on to students in an effort to help them with their writing. Alot of them take my advise. I have cultural capital since I am a fellow journeywoman. Therfore, they ask me for tips and how to do many things within the union. I have been doing my part time gig for the past five years now. I chose to spend some time reading then go check out the parade. I spent too much time reading and missed the parade. I did get to see quite a few people in costumes. I did a live video on Facebook while in a crowd. I plan to go to the parade next year. Next time I will focus on watching the parade. Here are some of the costumes that people wore down in the parade: Thanks for stopping by!! Cheers!! Leslie M Jasper www.lesliemjasper.blogspot.com

Melicca Niccole- 15 Books/Poetry And Counting! Transcend Against All Odds- My New Book In The Works!

hello everyone! I have introduced Melica Niccole in the past posts in my blog. I am working on a few projects with her. She is super motivated so I enjoy her energy! We share that motivation so we work well together! We both have demanding day jobs. She even moved from Ohio to New Jersey to pursue her book projects even deeper. I admire that dedication and those are ingredients for success! I know she has written a few books and does her poetry. I didn't realize that she wrote 15 books!! I feel so lazy with my writing talking to her! I get sidetracked doing home improvement projects since I am in the process of selling my house. It is women like her who motivate me to do more than what I am doing now. The funny thing is I probably do plenty already. I just know that rubbing elbows with fellow motivated people pushes me to do more! I have no idea if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet! I find watching tv to be boring and non-productive so I don't do much of it. I did put in an app in my phone, called Dragon. I try to use it to talk into and write while I am driving. I have started writing a different book entitled, Transcend Against All Odds. I am writing about the struggle of a young woman coming from an abusive and drug infested home. She fights poverty and bad examples to blaze her own trail and become successful and independent. She must free her mind from the mental abuse from her step mom, sexual molestation by her father, abandonment issues from her mother, and physical abuse at the hands of her father. This story dives deep into the mind of a wounded woman and the process of trying to self healing of her mind, body, and soul. I fell off the radar with it for awhile. I am juggling alot of personal transitions that soak up alot of my energy for the past year. I have to get myself back into it using that commuting time more wisely. I spend about 2-4 hours a day in the car getting back and forth to work. I need people like Melica in my life; motivated people motivate me! I am sure that I motivate others to do things they normally drop off doing. This is why I often help Melica with her marketing as much as I can. Even highly motivated people must get some good energy from others. I am working on promoting the Newark Library Expo happening this weekend in Newark- October 29th from 10am-5pm. Stop by her table and check out her books. A copy of my edited version of the book, Construction Tales, will be with her on the table. Her website is: www.melicaniccole.com Her many works:

As always, thank you for stopping by to read my blog! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

A Former Oregon HS Classmate/Fellow Tradesman Picked Up My Book- Review To Follow!

Hello everyone! A former classmate from high school out in Oregon, Danny, recently picked up my book. He has promised to offer a review when finished! Danny and I chat briefly periodically over the years. He shows me some of his residential improvement projects he works on. We discuss different construction projects. I enjoy talking shop with him on different home improvement projects. He is a nice guy and I thank him for picking up my book and taking time to read my story. I am sure we will discuss the book when he is finished reading it. I will keep you posted on his review and feedback along the way. Thanks for stopping by to read my blog! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Partnering Up With Melica Niccole-Newark Library Oct 29th 10am-5pm

hello everyone! I am teaming up with Melica Niccole to attend the Newark Library Expo happening this weekend. I am not able to attend but Melica will have a copy of my book at her table. In addition, she will be promoting a wide variety of her work. Her website is at www.MelicaNiccole.com She has many forms of social media as well! I hope to work with her on future projects between this year and next year! Thanks for stopping by as always! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

Five Star Electric- Ranked #10 In The United States!

hi everyone! I do not name my shops that I work for in my books. I must brag about my home for the past 3 years and counting, Five Star Electric! We have been ranked #10 in the United States for the past few years! I love my working environment, opportunities, growth, and wonderful coworkers. I have some great mentors to learn from along the way! I am sharing an article where we are ranked. I am proud to be a Five Star/Tudor Perini employee. I plan to stay and learn for as long as possible! I am hoping we shift to the top 5 in the next few years! Enjoy the article! Cheers! Leslie M Jasper

The Breakthrough by Carla Marrero!

hello everyone! I want to share with you some work by a fellow author and illustrator, Carla Marrero. Carla is an art teacher in Massachusetts. It is very important to help promote the work of people that you work with on projects. Her book is called, The Breakthrough. I enjoyed talking with her and checking out her work. We were talking about my book. She was interested in reading my book. I sold a copy to her to read. I told her that I was interested in creating the children's version of my book, Construction Tales. I am very interested in seeing what she creates through what I develop. Now that I have an illustrator on board, I need to create the book. I envision a young girl who wants to do things different than playing with dolls. Her dad believes in her and encourages her to pick up a trade; something she was born to do. The beauty is that her dad saw it in her before she saw it herself. It mimicks my teen years where my dad truly believed in me. He had me doing things that I didn't even know that I was capable of as a kid and a teenager. He had me learning bolt sizes, watching him do mechanical work, and fetching him tools. He serviced 24 tractor trailers in his shop. At any given moment, he would send me out to start up one of the trucks and back it into the bays for service. The clutch was so heavy and I had to remember the different shift patterns in the truck. I had so much pressure on me for a young woman at the age of 14 years old. However, I felt that my dad needed me so I was super carful and backed them in perfectly! I didn't realize the magnitude of what he was laying on the line at the time! He could have gotten fired or sued for letting me drive them into the bays!! I think the owner must have known that I was doing the driving. The guys in the shop had alot of faith in me too! I had a few of them let me drive the trucks on the highway on a run to load the truck with wood chips. The owner gave me a big chunk of money for my work at the end of the summer going into senior year. It helped me pay for senior pictures and other items you buy senior year. My dad used to have me hunt and chop wood with him. There was nothing off limits for me. My childhood and relationship with my father is what helped me jump into a male dominated career with no second thoughts. My youth will be the basis for the book. I am hoping to inspire young girls to walk in my shoes and enter a great career in a trade with no fear or hesitation. I will offer some clips once I get it on some paper. I encourage feedback on all of my posts. As always, thank you for stopping by my blog and checking it out! Enjoy your weekend!! Check out Carla's work: Cheers! Leslie M Jasper www.lesliemjasper.blogspot.com