Sit-Down with Julia Kunlo, President of Raleigh-Based Evolution Safety Resources
Julia Kunlo, MSOSH, CSP, has been named President of Evolution Safety Resources (ESR), a workplace safety consulting firm that serves the construction sector and other industries from its Raleigh headquarters. Kunlo was instrumental in helping establish the start-up company (established 2017) in the Carolinas market while expanding services across the country and internationally.
GroundBreak Carolinas caught up with Kunlo to learn more about her background and gain insight into her strategic vision for ESR.
How did you get into the Occupational Safety profession?
I entered the construction industry after finishing college. I started off as a production manager, and then was eventually given additional responsibilities in the realms of quality and safety. Although safety was originally an add-on to my role, I fell in love with it immediately and wanted to find a way to pursue a career in it full time. When the opportunity to build a safety firm from the ground up presented itself, it was too exciting of an opportunity to decline. So, my family and I sold our house in Maryland, packed up our things, and made the move to Raleigh to give it a real shot.
You are a relatively young leader. To what do you credit your success?
I’ve always believed in settings goals and creating action plans. I’ve found that big accomplishments rarely happen by chance – they are the result of strategic planning, hard work, dedication, and constant assessment. The goals I set for this company were always focused on building and growing a consulting firm that met clients where they were, made workplace safety practical for them, and then built improvement plans to help them be the best versions of themselves. That model really took off. The company grew quickly, and I grew alongside it as a leader. It sounds cliché, but I really do love what I do; I believe that the energy I bring to the table tends to be contagious and has helped me connect and grow.
Evolution Safety Resources (ESR) has experienced steady growth from the outset. You’ve played a role in shaping the company into the innovative, award-winning firm it is today. How do you see the foreseeable future unfolding?
We receive a lot of positive feedback from clients who utilize us as their “outsourced safety department” (a fractional safety team, similar in fashion to a fractional CEO). These are clients that receive safety services from our team for a set number of hours per month. It’s a great affordable option for companies with 25-150 employees who need a safety team but don’t necessarily have a big safety budget. I see that model continuing to expand in the future.
What sets you apart from other Safety Consulting firms in the Carolinas?
I believe that ESR’s tactics tend to focus on understanding our clients first, meeting them where they are, and then developing solutions that are practical to their needs. It’s definitely not a “one size fits all” approach, which I believe tends to not make much of a difference long term. We also have a team made up of some of the most credentialed, degreed, certified, and well-established professionals in the market. Because we have so much safety expertise and years of experience on our bench, we are able to solve problems faster and strive to do so with the highest level of quality.
As a female leader in the World of Safety and the Construction Industry, what are some of the unique challenges you encounter?
While being a female in construction does have some challenges (sometimes, you need to prove yourself as opposed to getting instant credibility), I also like to see the opportunity. In most rooms I walk into, I stick out like a sore thumb. Instead of letting that make me feel uncomfortable, I try to step up to the plate and be remembered for my mind and abilities as opposed to my gender. Being memorable in a big group of people can be a real asset, especially in networking and business development.
How do you strike a work/life balance?
How do any of us? We try our best, we mess it up, and then we try to be better the next day. It’s a consistent battle, but it’s a battle worth fighting.
How do you think your staff would describe you?
I try my hardest to be a supportive and energizing personality in the office. I’m very grateful that our team consists of driven, smart, and positive players. I see my job as giving them encouragement, resources, and guidance – but also the appropriate amount of space to own their roles in their own unique way. I hope that they feel that!
Specialized Expertise
Kunlo’s safety related credentials include Certified Safety Professional (CSP), a master’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health, and OSHA OTI Level 500 & 501 instructor. She is an NCCER Craft Instructor and Performance Evaluator, has earned her Construction Manager of Environmental Safety and Health (C-MESH) designation, and is an authorized instructor for the National Safety Council (NSC). Over the years, she has developed specialized expertise in safety management system auditing and written safety program development.
Sharing Insight
Earlier this year, Kunlo was a featured guest on “The Case for Safety” podcast produced by the American Society of Safety Professionals. Check out the episode with Kunlo, titled “Accidentally a Safety Professional? Here’s What You Need to Learn Right Away.” Click here to listen.
