Choosing the Challenge: Lisa Beckett’s Journey of Growth at Gray

Following the People Who Knew Her Best  

Lisa joined Gray in March of 2019, but her journey started long before then. Even early on, she wasn’t someone who would stay in one lane forever. 

 Her career began in the medical field as a practice manager at Lexington’s Sam Brown Health Center, where she met Beth Beldon, future Senior VP of People Operations at Gray. They worked at Sam Brown together until Beth took up a role with the city, and it wasn’t long before a role opened in occupational health and safety, “I have a background in the medical field,” Lisa recalled, “so that was perfect!”

Lisa worked with Beth for another five years before Beth joined Gray as a benefits manager, eventually asking Lisa to join her again as a benefits specialist, “I came in not knowing a lot about Benefits, and that’s what excited me the most—a chance to learn something new.” 

Her instinct to keep moving toward something more remained sharp—a mindset that didn’t just shape her career but also showed up in moments when Gray needed it most. 

See a Need, Fill a Need 

Lisa’s instinct wasn’t the only catalyst for career changes. Just one year after she joined Gray, COVID struck, shutting down offices across the U.S. “When that happened, we were working remotely for the next ten weeks. My internet was horrendous where I lived, so I’m like ‘I’ve got to find a way back into the office.’” 

Lisa wasn’t alone in this sentiment. Gray leadership was looking into reopening the office in compliance with CDC guidelines, which meant screening team member temperatures and ensuring masks were worn. They were in the process of outsourcing nursing staff to take this on when Lisa realized this was her chance to get back into the office. “I knew this was something I could easily do, and it would save the company a lot of money.” She spoke with leadership and pitched the idea. 

From then on, Lisa took on the new title of wellness coordinator. Her days started at 5:45 a.m., screening team members and ensuring those in office were adhering to CDC guidelines.  

Leaning into Change — Moving into the Field 

Lisa’s role would continue to evolve as the effects of COVID dissipated, but she didn’t slow down. The longer she worked in construction, she learned that the construction industry has the second highest suicide rate, four times higher than the general population. Moreover, Lisa found that 98% of construction workers who died by suicide were men between the ages of 25 and 44—a harrowing statistic for a group so young and full of promise. 

After learning more about the mental health challenges facing the construction industry, Lisa knew she wanted to do something to help. She got involved with Gray’s established Grow with Gray initiative, focusing on overall wellness for team members. She ended up taking the reins of the program and created a monthly newsletter with curated topics encouraging team members to focus and invest in their mental health and facilitated partnerships with community organizations like Journey Health to promote healthier lifestyles through proactive screening. Lisa also encouraged team members to eat healthy by working with Canteen, a local office snack vendor, to provide nutritious options for lunches and snacks.  

Still, Lisa wanted to do more. She wanted to make an impact while pursuing a career that allowed her to try new things every day. When the opportunity came to join the safety team as a site safety engineer, she leaped into the unknown. “When I think about Gray’s core values, I knew they aligned with who I was,” Lisa says. “I’m grateful for the role Beth has played in my career—she knew I loved to push myself and brought me to a company that gives me the space to do just that.”  

Earning Trust the Hard Way 

As with any new role, Lisa had to earn her team’s trust. “I won’t lie; it was a little rough in the beginning because people thought I was there to get them in trouble. I had to show them my sole focus was to getting them home safely.” 

Lisa knew the only way to gain her team’s trust was to be herself and let her actions speak for her. She focused on her job and making everyone around her smile. “I have a sarcastic sense of humor and a bubbly personality, so I was able to break down a lot of those walls just by being able to chew the fat with everyone,” Lisa says with wink. She’s since been adopted by the team: “they’re my people.”  

Showing up for her team not just as a safety lead, but as someone who genuinely cares has become a defining part of how Lisa approaches her work. 

Fast-Paced but Fulfilling—a Day in Lisa’s World

While many of us are still sleeping at 3:45 a.m., Lisa’s day is just getting started as she and her site safety manager, AJ, are heading to the project site. When they arrive, they conduct their first walk through to make sure everything is safe and ready for the team to begin their work. “We’ve had a few windstorms out here recently, so we’re usually out checking barricades and picking up cones that have been blown over.” After her early start, Lisa and AJ plan the rest of their day and make sure all internal meetings are covered.  

As team members start rolling in, Lisa’s day is filled with tasks to ensure the project is completed as safely as possible. This includes completing multiple walkthroughs each day, completing crane inspections and ground assessments, assisting team members with items or incidents that may arise, and making sure her team has everything they need to do their job and return home safely. In he role, Lisa also gets to lead the Wednesday all-hands site safety meeting, which typically includes Gray team members as well as other vendors and trade partners on the project. 

For many, that sort of schedule can seem daunting, but it’s exactly the kind of pace that Lisa has been looking for. When she isn’t conducting walkthroughs or meeting with team members, she’s learning about the various activities and machines that make a project successful. “It’s really cool to think that when I started this role, I didn’t know much about things on a construction site—and now, I’ll be out with my husband and see a crane worker performing elevated work and quickly find myself assessing their working conditions to see if they are doing it correctly.,” Lisa says proudly. “I’m constantly surprising myself with the knowledge I’ve absorbed.” 

A New Perspective 

Lisa has found the professional sweet spot—a role that allows her to do what she loves while continuing to challenge herself every day. But more than that, it’s given her a new perspective on what growth really means. 

“It’s not about money anymore,” Lisa says. “It’s about knowledge. It’s about continuing to learn and take in as much as I can.” 

After decades in the workforce, Lisa has shifted her focus from chasing the next opportunity to building something more lasting. For her, that means prioritizing growth, health, and long-term stability over short-term gains. It’s a mindset shaped by experience, and one she hopes others will embrace earlier in their careers. 

“People always think the grass is greener somewhere else,” she says. “But if you can stay patient and invest your time in the right place, it really doesn’t get much better than this.” 

Life Outside of Work—Simple, Full, and Grounded

When Lisa isn’t on site, her life slows down in the best way. 

She spends as much time as she can with her family—especially her new grandbaby, affectionately called her “nugget.” Whether it’s stopping by for a quick visit or planning time together on her days off, family remains at the center of everything she does. 

She and her husband Mike also make time for the simple things: driving backroads with the music up, enjoying quiet moments together, or heading outdoors. Biking is a family-favorite pastime; they’ve even set their sights on tackling portions of the Great American Trail together. 

“It sounds kind of simple,” Lisa admits, “but I like it that way.” 

The balance between the fast-paced intensity of her work and the quiet, grounded nature of her personal life is exactly what keeps her going. 

Still Wanting More 

If there’s one thing Lisa hasn’t lost along the way, it’s her drive to keep moving forward. 

Whether she’s learning a new skill, working toward additional certifications, or stepping into unfamiliar territory, she continues to chase that same feeling that’s guided her from the start—the desire to grow. 

“I’m always looking for the next thing,” she says. “As long as I’m being challenged and learning something new, I’m exactly where I need to be.” 

And for Lisa, that’s what “wanting more” has come to mean. It’s not chasing titles or change for the sake of it, but continuing to build a career—and a life—that keeps pushing her forward.