DIG Insurance & Business Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 7

GROWING FORWARD
door, but it’s our job to keep our foot there,”
she says.
How? It sounds simple, but it’s not in this
industry, Gould shares.
“We show up on
time, we’re there
every day and we
have people out in
the field doing a
great job.”

Arriving to a jobsite on time can ensure
the contractor on a high-cost project is
preserving profits, which goes a long way
for building a relationship. “If we are on the
road directing traffic for a contractor that
has $10,000 an hour invested in paving a
road, including equipment, labor, trucks and
asphalt—if we hold them up for one hour,
that could cost him thousands,” O’Boyle says.
“This happens a lot in the industry when
companies are late.”
Also, Gould and O’Boyle overseeing every
contract in a hands-on way. “One of our
niche is that we can give companies the
service they need,” Gould says.
Because of this trust, and Gould’s efforts
to build bridges with competitors and
entities like the Maryland State Highway
Administration, the company has earned
repeat business and expanded its service
footprint.
“In this business, I have created personal
relationships,” Gould says.
O’Boyle pipes in: “If you call the business,
she answers the phone all the time. Any
aspect of the business, she’s doing it.”
LABOR PAINS
Hiring people who show up, work hard and
pay attention to the details is not easy in
any industry. And, that’s particularly the
case in traffic control, Gould says. So, the
company has tapped into creative recruiting
avenues. “Every other Saturday, we hold
an open house job fair here for one or two
hours,” she says. “We run ads in the paper to
get the word out. Then, instead of talking to
prospects individually on the phone, we can
give them information about our business
in a presentation and screen up to 20 people
in a day.”
Gould has a knack for identifying talent,
after more than two decades working on the
boardwalk. And, at Atlantic Traffic Safety,
there’s no tolerance for sub-par work ethic.
With Gould and O’Boyle setting the example
on the front lines, they expect their teams to
sweat, too—and in turn, they get rewarded
with opportunities to move up in the
business and take on new responsibilities.
“Everything in the business seems to flow
along if you get the right people on board,”
Gould says.
learned every aspect of the operation. She’s
a certified Manager of Traffic (MOT) in two
states and earned her flagger’s card. “She
doesn’t need these because she does not work
on the road, but she wants to understand the
business,” Gould says.
O’Boyle adds that the family dynamic
lightens the stress when things at the office
are moving full speed ahead, and that’s
pretty much the time. “They keep each
other sane!” O’Boyle says of his daughter
and wife. “They make each other laugh, and
they cry together sometimes, too. It has been
amazing for all of us.”
Gould adds, “We’re proud that we can leave
India a way to make a good living—it’s nice
to give a legacy like this to your child.” +
MOVING ON UP
A couple years ago, the couple recognized
that they had outgrown their garage home-
base and the time had come to search for
new property—specifically, a warehouse in
a commercial district that would provide
room to grow.
They looked at properties that required
renovation, and even considered building
a new facility. Then, they came across a
completed warehouse that was a bank
repossession. At 10,000 square feet with
completed electrical, plumbing, driveway
and mechanicals, it was ideal. Except,
working a repossession deal takes grit.
Gould and O’Boyle were just the team to
take this on.
The process took about nine months.
Now that they’re in, the space is providing
room to grow Atlantic Traffic Safety and
diversify its offerings with the addition of
an electric sign rental and crash truck rental
business.
TAKE AWAY TIPS
Hire Smart.
Your company—and brand—is only
as strong as your team. So, focus on
recruiting talent that aligns with your
culture, fills skills gaps and enhances the
qualities of your existing
team members.
Treat People Right.
The way you treat your people will have
a trickle-down effect, impacting the way
they treat your customers. When you
show your team members they are valued
and their talent is important to achieving
the company’s goals, they feel empowered
to serve. The net effect is a customer base
that gets the best
service possible.
LEAVING A LEGACY
Eventually, the couple’s daughter, India
O’Boyle, will take over the business. “She
has been an integral part of the business
for the last few years. When she graduated
from college, she decided she wanted to be
a part of the family business,” Gould says.
“She jumped in with both feet and has been
amazing for me and the company.”
Show Up.
Bring your passion and your skills—and
go ahead, bring the tough day or tricky
situation to work, too. We don’t live in
a vacuum. We can’t be entirely different
people at work than we are at home. Be
consistent. Be true. Be you.
India works alongside Gould, and she’s
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