Meet Tracy Hazel | 517 Safety Guru

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tracy Hazel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tracy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to work less and make more money as a single mother starting out my business. I had been working in the safety business since 1996 until 2007. I realized that I had the skills and knowledge to offer safety training and consulting to a wide variety of clients. I was able to manage my schedule easier owning my own business and that was the main thought process when I started my business in the beginning.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve worked really hard to learn more about creating my personal brand and logo as a business owner. Using the hashtag #517safetyguru has really taken off. When you google “517 Safety Guru” you will find me, and that is exciting to me as I grow my business. I’ve partnered with some great people who have provided excellent business coaching and mentoring. The one thing I’ve learned is that you never stop learning how to grow and advance your business. I am very active with local business networking groups, and I think that helps to meet new people and company representatives who are looking for my services. I think staying active in the community is critical in gaining support and recognition for what I do. There are new skills and ideas that surface all the time. I think the key is making a decision and doing everything you can to make it work. Of course, making adjustments to your business plan and staying flexible is critical, as things change. It’s hard to know everything when owning a business, so don’t be afraid to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you and subcontract certain things out to people who know that part of the job the best.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The “517” area is growing so much and there are so many things happening in the Lansing area. Individuals make a difference in the region, and we have so many unique and interesting people and places to visit here. By many measures we have a very positive business community that is growing and building rapidly. The Lansing area known as ‘Old Town”, a must see, has historic buildings and neighborhoods and many other progressive new shops and places to eat. Old Town is only one reason to “Love Lansing”. Just east of Lansing is home to Michigan State University, a beautiful campus that no matter the season it’s a nice place to visit and explore.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am grateful for all the advice and encouragement my mentors have given me over the years. When I first became a First Aid and CPR instructor in 1996, I had two people particularly who helped guide me through the steps of becoming an instructor for health and safety. Ray Merrill and Stormy McCall at the General Motors Training Center, in Lansing Mi., helped paved the way for me to become an instructor teaching lifesaving skills and OSHA compliance safety classes such as hazmat and confined space. As a result of those initial authorizations to teach safety classes, I gained the knowledge and passion that drives my business every day. Without their guidance and trust in me, I would not have a safety training and consulting business today.

Website: www.advancedtrainingandconsulting.com

Facebook: Advanced Training and Consulting, LLC and 517 Training Center Business Pages

Image Credits
Michigan Safety Conference 2024