Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Robin Donaldson.
Entrepreneur, Mentor, and Founder of Renew Construction Services & STEM Exposure
🔑 Episode Highlights 🔄 From Incarceration to Inspiration
- Robin shares her journey from a strict religious upbringing to incarceration due to drug-related activities.
- Served 5 years in prison, where she earned two associate degrees and developed a passion for learning and leadership.
🧹 Building a Business from the Ground Up
- Learned high-level cleaning skills in prison and at Hilton during work release.
- Founded Renew Construction Services, which grew from cleaning trailers to major contracts like:
- Tampa Convention Center
- NFL Super Bowl & Kickoff
- City of Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center, USF
🏗️ Strategic Growth & Collaboration
- Became a Home Depot distributor.
- Uses collaboration to uplift smaller contractors and scale projects.
- Emphasizes relationship-building and proactive planning over reactive bidding.
👩🏽🔬 STEM Exposure Nonprofit
- Founded STEM Exposure to introduce Black girls to underrepresented STEM careers.
- Offers local and global architecture and construction camps.
- Operates in 10 countries and 4 time zones with a focus on AI, engineering, and design.
🏆 Recognition & Legacy
- Honored with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Embraces her past as part of her story, using it to inspire others.
- Celebrates milestones like putting bills on autopay as symbols of stability and peace.
🌐 Websites
- STEM Exposure: stemxposure.org (drop the “e” in “exposure”)
- Renew Construction Services: renewconstructionservices.com
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I am Rashaan McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass,
where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success
stories and.
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Start planning their own. Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs.
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sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets to
their success.
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On Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald's host the weekly Money Making Conversation
Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show provides
off for everyone. It's time to stop reading other people's
success stories and start living your own.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you want to be a guest on my show,
Money Making Conversation Master Class, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations
dot com and click to be a guest. But if
you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit, have a product, motivational speaker, and influencer,
I want you on my shelf.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Now let's get started.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
My next guest Rose from inconstration to receiving the President's
Lifetime Achieving Award She built her company in the cleaning
industry and also provides architectural and construction camps inspire the
next generational architects and builders through design experiences. Let's hear
our story and the inspiration that changed her life. Please
(01:30):
walk with the Money Making Conversation Masterclass. Robin Donaldson. How
you doing, Robin?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I am amazing, I am amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, Robin, I've talked to you offline and you got
a lot of energy. So I gonna get that same
energy today because you went I'm amazing. I was kind
of low key effecting that. There you go, now, Robert,
where you based at?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
I'm in Tampa, Florida, born and raised. Down in Tampa, Florida,
born and raised.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Tell me about your life growing up That nothing a
consolation for it, just a part when you grew up.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Any potential college in your life. Talk about your life
as a teenager.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, my life as a teenager was really sheltered. So
I grew up in a very strict religious household and
education was not something that was even really spoke of, right,
And so for me, I went to a trade school
(02:30):
where I learned industrial electricity. And so that is really
where the love of construction came from as a result
of me graduating. I did have an opportunity to attend
Georgia Tech because I was the first female to complete
that program. However, again my mom, she was very religious,
(02:52):
and they did not believe in going off to college.
She felt that, you know, a trade was sufficient and
that I needed to get to work.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
So trade versus going to Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I didn't go off to college. I just got a
job locally with the Electrical Fund and that's where I learned,
you know, more hands on about industrial electricity. After a
couple of jobs, I decided I didn't like being out
in the sun, thank you and so, and actually I
(03:28):
had at a temple right right, and I'm talking about
being in it in small quarters. It was that was
not what I wanted to do for a long term, right,
So I changed my focus to being a hairstylist. And
so I had got my license for cosmetology and for barbering,
(03:49):
and for a while I was doing hair and that
was until I got connected with my kid's father. Actually
that's one of the reasons how I landed up in jail.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Now, you coming to this relationship, when did your values
changed the land to you being incarcerated.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Was it easy money?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Was it the thought process that hey, I was just
gonna do it for a little.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Bit and get out talk to his Robin.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, in order for you to understand, I'm and have
to back it up, let's back it off, do so
because I was in such a restrictive household, right, Okay,
the moment I graduated, I had my certificate in one
hand and I had my luggage in the next. I
had to give him away. And so from that I
ran to the arms of an older guy and he
(04:44):
happened to be a drug dealer, and things just really
spiraled out. I mean from me selling drugs from hell
to using drugs to make an stupid decisions in the
way of using my account to harbor money to write checks.
(05:06):
So I was just really running from one situation to
the other, and being with that my kid's father, I
was involved with a lot of illegal activity that's finally
caught up to me and as a result, I did
go to prison.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Okay, Now, how many children did you have at the
time when you went to prison.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I had two kids and I was pregnant with one.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Now, when you say the word drug dealer, that's such
a broad word.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
You could say that people who are these pharmaceutical companies
are drug dealers the way because they got to pay
out these money.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
But you are more along the lines of the street.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
What type of drugs were you guys selling crack cocaine?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And you are a user?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I was.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
At one point, did you not say to yourself, very smart,
young lady, this is not good.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I was a that smart thing. It was BookSmart, but
street smart. I had no idea. I was looking for love.
I was looking for a father figure, and that is
what I received.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
And so you are. I'm pretty sure you're a mentor.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
How do you feel when you communicating your story to
young ladies who you don't want to see go down
the same path you and Don Robin?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
How do you connect with.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Them by keeping it real? At one time, I was shamed.
I was shamed to tell my story and then also
to talk about all of the mental variable abuse that
I had to undergo just the just in the name
of love, Like I really did some crazy things like
from the abuse. I thought that was his way of
(06:46):
showing me that he loved me, to the point that
I would instigate an argument so he can whoop my behind.
Now that ain't that stupid?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, Now, when you got incarcerated, you say you were
pregnant at two children.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Okay, so before I got incarcerated, Before because I had
to turn myself in, I was eccluding the authorities until
I had my daughter because I did not want to
have my daughter in the penitentiary. So after I gave
birth and I was cleared, I turned myself in.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Now you have your child, you turned yourself in. How
many years were you incarcerated? Five five years? Which that through?
Did you get out early through probation or you did
the entire sentence.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I did the entire sentence.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Now I have to asked the question, did you learn
anything while you were in prison?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
That's what it all changed.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I had time to think, I had time to explore.
I had an opportunity to advance my education.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well a while in prison.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
While in prison.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
When you say advance your education, tell us about what
level of education you advanced too.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Associate degrees. So for me, president was very hard, and
I spent a lot of time in concern and I
made the best use of confinement. I'm confined for twenty
three hours, I go out for a hour. My time
my days was meditating and learning. Then I had guards.
(08:20):
We became very very close, and a couple of them
they were attending their local community college, and I would
assist them with their books. In return, I'm able to
read their books, you know. So if I'm going to
help tutor you on business law, well guess what I
know business law.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Now I'm talking to Robin Donaldson.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
She went from incarceration to be honored by the President
with a Lifetime Achievement award, and all she does camps,
mentoring camps for use in architecture and instruction design in
the area of Tampa, Florida. She not only turned her
life around, but now she's turning other young people's lives around.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And she's really tell her story.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
That's why she's on Money Making Conversation Master Last Day
to tell her story. She's not trying to hide her situation.
She's trying to convey from authentic matter that you don't
want to live the life that she lived. But if
you live this life, you can't turn your life around.
And that's the story I want to tell on the shoulderday, Robin,
you turning your life around. Now when you got out
(09:24):
of prison, you learned a lot while you were in prison.
Robin was there steps as you were seeing you, they
come up prepared for the exit.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Well, at the time, I didn't really have an exit plan.
And the exit plan came when I learned how to
strip in buff floors in prison at the highest level,
I mean the floor's glass, right, So what I did
I took that knowledge.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Did they ask you to do that or you just
stepped it up?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Okay? So you want to get back to that story, okay, because.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Why are you doing it at this level? But I
know you could have just done it at this level.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Okay, So you want to know the story story because
I again I frequent confined it a lot, right, And
it was one incident where I was allowed to be
released to the compound and the Wharton had stopped me,
(10:33):
he said, MS Doc and McDonald's. And you have a
problem with, you know, instigating things on the compound, He said,
I got I got a solution for you. While everybody's sweep,
I'm going to put you on third shift. You go
stripping wax the administrator build it right, all right? So
again that is where I learned how to strip wax
(10:56):
and buff floors like no other.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
On the third shift.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
On the third shift when everybody was sleep, when the
cor pound was open, then hours sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So he saw your true gift was to stop you
from having personal contact and put you to work when
everybody else was sleep and when everybody would up, you
were asleep. Yes, sir, Now, as you came out, because
I mentioned in your intro you have you have a
cleaning bit. But when you come out, we know that's
(11:31):
not an easy accent. You know you have three children
out there. Way to know you what was the man
of your life at that point? Was he still in
your life?
Speaker 3 (11:41):
He was doing time as well?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Okay? Cool?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So you came out by yourself basically, how did you
start getting those feet and putting those feet down on
that concrete and start walking forward like you know you
belong there?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Talk to me, Robin.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
So what happened was I was able to get on
work release. It was six months prior to my release state.
They allowed me to go to a work release program
where I would be local, not in prison. It's a
halfway house.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
It's transitioning there.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
You go a transitioning house and one of the requirements
is you had to have a job. And so right
up the street there was a homewood Suites by Hilton,
right and I applied, and that's where I learned how
to clean at the highest level. Hilton is by far
one of the cleanest chains that I know. And again,
(12:35):
learning how to clean at the highest level, plus knowing
how to strip wax and buff at the highest level,
it only made sense for me to be a cleaning service.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Reason I liked listening to you because that's to say,
that's a smile on your face, because that means you
good at it. You know, it's always great to be
good at something. You know, I'm gonna take the word out.
I'm not saying good.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
She's smiling because she's great at it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Because she uses the word highest level, she's never used
to work, I'm undermining her talents.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And I apologize. She keuld use the word.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I learned at the highest level. I buff at the
highest level. So those skills you recognize were different from
everybody else because you put in more effort. Are you
just naturally talented at it?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Well, see, it's part of a bigger plan. When I
came home, I said, I opened the cleaning service but
the ultimate goal was to be into the construction industry.
That has been the overarching goal. And what better way
to get into the construction industry is by cleaning the
construction trailers. I mean, because that's where all the decision
(13:44):
makers are, that's where all action happens. And so I
started cleaning trailers. Then I developed relationships, and then they
had me doing final clean, post construction clean. Now they
haven't me cleaning their whole extablishment.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Please don't go anywhere, We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashan McDonald.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And from that, that is how I was able to
secure the contract for the Temple Convention Center.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
I had three shifts, three ships with sixty five employees,
and then from that I was selected by the NFL
as the premium cleaning company for the Super Bowl in Temple, Florida.
They liked the job that I did so well they
called me back for the NFL kickoff. From that, I
(14:51):
was on the news Channel thirteen. I get a phone call.
Somebody said, I'm calling from Home Depot. I want to
make you a distributor. I said them, I'm getting pranked
something right now, Like, how did you get my number?
He said, I saw you on the news and we
wanted to follow the money trail. And as a result
(15:11):
of that, I'm a distributor from home depot. So now
all of the clients that I cleaned for now I
supplied them with their supplies and their paper products. And
then I took it a step further because I am
a minority, and so I had contracts with the City
of Tampa, Mafit Cancer Center, and USF providing them with supplies.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Now, Robin, first of all, you've been incarcerated five years,
how do you get past that? Because I'm sure there's
a trust factor that people a stereotype. You're black, owner drugs,
incarcerated five years. How do you start getting past those
negative points that stopped a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I start with it, like I don't I don't tiptoe
around it. I mean, that is not a selling point,
but it's nothing that I'm ashamed of either. Right, So,
for for a long time, I would never use my
government name because I didn't want anyone doing any type
of research that I don't care. This is who I
am right. And it was one superintendent who told me something.
(16:24):
He says, Robin, that's what you were, not who you are.
And he said, there is nobody walking, even breathing, that
does not have a family member or have been affected
by such. But you are a sterling example of what
you could, what you were, what you could be. And
I took it for what it was. And so again
I have no problem introducing myself as inmate four seven, five,
(16:45):
nine to eleven, because that's not who I am today.
And if you want to stick to what I was
when maybe we're not, we don't need to work together.
And that's just how it is.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Because I'm a novice here. When I start, I know
nothing about the cleaning industry. How do you get recognized
or how do you bid on jobs as a cleaning
company and get it well?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
As of today, I no longer have to bid, But
I'll answer that question for it.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Was something else.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You know, you know that that was a moment that
right you say, you're talking to Rawber, I don't bid.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
They come to me when you were in your beating days, roping.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Okay, okay, let's go bedding day, Let's go back, Let's
go back let's go back in.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Your beating days. How are you securing jobs?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
And as an rn P, they call a request for
proposed Right, what does that?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
What does that look like? What did you have to submit?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So I start before the RFP ever comes out, So,
to be very frank, it's like playing chess instead of
playing checkers. When an RP hits the streets, right, you
have to maybe a month to respond, depending on the
(18:01):
scope of work. I don't I don't want to. I
don't wait for those opportunities. I know first of all,
I have a goal. I have a plan as to
who I would like to work with and the type
of work that I want to do. So I study
those individuals. I understand what the forecast looks like for them,
(18:26):
and I'm going to go ahead and develop the relationships.
So when opportunities do arise, my name Renewed Construction Services
is the first one on your tongue. You're going to
notify me. And then also I attend events in understanding
again the forecast of a found uh projects and again
(18:47):
cultivating those relationships. And that's how I am able to
secure most of the contracts. But I think that something
else that I learned in prison. And it's the art
of collaboration because one thing I do, I do not
play small. However, I understand my limitations and my strengths.
(19:12):
So one thing that I have done is other smaller
construction companies that are looking to scale, I will respond
to a large RFP that would require me collaborating with
smaller pets, right, and so now they have an opportunity
(19:33):
to put on their resume that they have done or
as a part of a project of such magnitude. And
that's the classic example of what I did. Just past
two months ago, we had the opportunity for to clean
Yankee Stadium, the Styry Brenner Stadium here locally in Tampa,
(19:54):
and I was yes, and that was a large contract
and I was able to bring three other smaller contractors
and collaborating together. Now they didn't have all of their insurances,
which was okay because I brought them up undermind wing.
And so now when we're looking for larger opportunities, this
(20:18):
is a collaboration effort.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Now being at your you've been blessed, how do you
share those blessings with the young people in the community.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Deal every time I can, I can get the ear
of a youth. I impart something from Nugget. However, either
the focus or the majority of the impact would be
through the nonprofit which is called STEM Exposure. You know.
(20:49):
STEM Exposure is a non a nonprofit whose mission is
to expose black girls to unrepresent in its STEM careers
as it relates to architecture, construction, beauty sports. I could
honestly say that after I did start my business, I
(21:14):
had a mentor and my mentor, her name is Ann
mcmill down in South Florida. She's an amazing individual. She
took me around the country and exposed me to different
fastest though construction until I found my calling. And that
is the same thing that I do to others. Basically,
I encourage people to bring their talents to the construction industry. Right, so,
(21:37):
whatever it is you're good at it, let's see how
it applies to the construction industry. And then from that,
I also teach the construction trades. So it's all about
whether you are a third through twelfth grader or you
are an adult. I'm going to inspire you one way
or the other.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
You rose from a conservation to getting the President's Lifetime
Achievement award. Now, it wasn't about getting the contract for
an NFL, the Tampa or the Tampa Convention Center, all
your legacies that you created. It's about those kids that
you're changing, those girls who you were inspiring to pursue
(22:21):
stam opportunities. That's what makes you special. When you got
the President's Award, did you understand that?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I don't think you understand that, Lusha the same to
see that locked me up was the same agency that
gave me a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, And I'm a
posed on that one.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
No Poles keep speaking because there was pain and fear
there was tied to that agency. Now there was celebration
and hope there was tied to that same agency. That's
why I don't have to pause because I know or
you go out the front door, sometimes going out that
back door, it's the same house, pbsolutely. That's why I
(23:05):
wanted to interview you because see, we all got these
stories out here.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Because your story is daring. Their movie.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
I'm just let you know that darn that movie now,
cause you're because you were combative in jail and you
know you didn't get along with nobody. They had to
put you in confinement all the time. That means that
you didn't talk to nobody, couldn't nobody tell you nothing.
You were just robbing, hard headed dogs, that's who you were.
But somebody saw something in you put you on that
(23:35):
third shift and the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Rest is history.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
So what's the future for Robin?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Well, remember I told you in the beginning, the whole
the over archering goal was to be a contractor, and
you know, start my construction company. And I am glad
to say that twenty nineteen is when actually we started
the construction company. And I always knew what it was
(24:06):
going to be, so I named it as such, Renewed
Construction Services. We are licensed roofers, we are licensed contractors
and architectural desires.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Now I can pause. Now I'm pausing, not because you
know you got that little smirk.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Well, I'm gonna tell you if I wish I was live,
it's the only inview I would done about life. I
wish our lives like yeo, I five hug. And because
you're just so calm about it, because but you know
the hard work being put in place, When would you celebrate,
Robin or you've not at the finish line.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Yet, Well, I celebrate all the time. I celebrate my
little wins. But I'm gonna tell you which one it
had the most impact. Okay, when I was able to
put my bills on auto pay, Yes, let me know
that I was doing.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Something which is very smart, by the way.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
And you know it's a piece of piece. He's like,
I don't have to even think about my bills like
that gives me space to think about other creative things
that I need to do. But that was again something
that I struggled with, you know, Robin Paul to pay Peter,
not knowing how I was going to but to now
(25:17):
know that I can financially sustain myself not have to worry.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Hey, Robert, you have a foundation. Can we tell everybody
how they can find your foundation?
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Stem Exposure ww dot, stem S t E m x
p O s U r E dot org. I have
wanted to mention that there's two opportunities if you are
one local. We are hosting an amazing timely summer camp,
(25:54):
the Science of Survival. Because we live here in the
Tampa Bay area and we were impacted by three hurricanes
back to back. We're hosting our architectural camp where we're
going to introduce architecture, AI, engineering and construction. And then
also we're going to have a global camp. I didn't
(26:16):
make mention of the Global camp, but our global camp
where we were in ten countries in four different time zones.
And so we're going to host a camp the last
week in July for the Global Architectural Camp. So anyone
who wants to participate again is virtual and it will
be an amazing opportunity because we will have different students
(26:38):
from different parts of the country, different parts of the
world collaborating together. And again you can find more information
on our.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Website stem exposure dot com.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yes, drop the E in exposure.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Cool. Now, what about your business?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
If you wus just want to go down there and
see this great business and learn more about you, Robert Donaldson,
tell us your website that.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Would be ww dot renew Construction Services dot com.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Would it be renewed r E W R U R
E N E W. There you go, my friend. I
know you were recommended to come on my shall. I've
never had a guest like you on Mishelle, which is
always a new experience for me, which is good for
me because there's so many paths in life that people
(27:34):
deal with to be successful or to achieve happiness. I'm
seeing both happiness and success, and more importantly, to be
recognized by the President of the United States for a
lifetime achievement of war, for the work that you're doing
in the community and how you turned your life around
and became becoming an AX paying hiring individual. Just recognized
(27:59):
from the n to the Center of Tampa. Congratulations, Robin,
Thank you so much. This has been another edition of
Money Making Conversation Masterclass posted by me Rushaun McDonald. Thank
you to our guests on the show today and thank
you for listening to audience now. If you want to
listen to any episode I want to be a guest
on the show, visit Moneymaking Conversations dot com. Our social
(28:22):
media handle is money Making Conversation. Join us next week
and remember to always leave with your gifts.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Keep winning.
Welcome to the show.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I am Rashaan McDonald, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass,
where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success
stories and.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Start planning their own. Listen up as I interview entrepreneurs.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
From around the country, talk to celebrities and ask them
how they are running their companies, and speak with dog
profits who are making a difference in their local communities. Now,
sit back and listen as we unlock the secrets to
their success.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Hi, I'm Rashan McDonald's host the weekly Money Making Conversation
Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show provides
off for everyone. It's time to stop reading other people's
success stories and start living your own.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Now.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you want to be a guest on my show,
Money Making Conversation Master Class, please visit our website, Moneymakingconversations
dot com and click to be a guest. But if
you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit, have a product, motivational speaker, and influencer,
I want you on my shelf.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Now let's get started.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
My next guest Rose from inconstration to receiving the President's
Lifetime Achieving Award She built her company in the cleaning
industry and also provides architectural and construction camps inspire the
next generational architects and builders through design experiences. Let's hear
our story and the inspiration that changed her life. Please
(01:30):
walk with the Money Making Conversation Masterclass. Robin Donaldson. How
you doing, Robin?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
I am amazing, I am amazing.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, Robin, I've talked to you offline and you got
a lot of energy. So I gonna get that same
energy today because you went I'm amazing. I was kind
of low key effecting that. There you go, now, Robert,
where you based at?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
I'm in Tampa, Florida, born and raised. Down in Tampa, Florida,
born and raised.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Tell me about your life growing up That nothing a
consolation for it, just a part when you grew up.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Any potential college in your life. Talk about your life
as a teenager.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Well, my life as a teenager was really sheltered. So
I grew up in a very strict religious household and
education was not something that was even really spoke of, right,
And so for me, I went to a trade school
(02:30):
where I learned industrial electricity. And so that is really
where the love of construction came from as a result
of me graduating. I did have an opportunity to attend
Georgia Tech because I was the first female to complete
that program. However, again my mom, she was very religious,
(02:52):
and they did not believe in going off to college.
She felt that, you know, a trade was sufficient and
that I needed to get to work.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
So trade versus going to Georgia Tech.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
I didn't go off to college. I just got a
job locally with the Electrical Fund and that's where I learned,
you know, more hands on about industrial electricity. After a
couple of jobs, I decided I didn't like being out
in the sun, thank you and so, and actually I
(03:28):
had at a temple right right, and I'm talking about
being in it in small quarters. It was that was
not what I wanted to do for a long term, right,
So I changed my focus to being a hairstylist. And
so I had got my license for cosmetology and for barbering,
(03:49):
and for a while I was doing hair and that
was until I got connected with my kid's father. Actually
that's one of the reasons how I landed up in jail.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Now, you coming to this relationship, when did your values
changed the land to you being incarcerated.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
Was it easy money?
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Was it the thought process that hey, I was just
gonna do it for a little.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Bit and get out talk to his Robin.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
Well, in order for you to understand, I'm and have
to back it up, let's back it off, do so
because I was in such a restrictive household, right, Okay,
the moment I graduated, I had my certificate in one
hand and I had my luggage in the next. I
had to give him away. And so from that I
ran to the arms of an older guy and he
(04:44):
happened to be a drug dealer, and things just really
spiraled out. I mean from me selling drugs from hell
to using drugs to make an stupid decisions in the
way of using my account to harbor money to write checks.
(05:06):
So I was just really running from one situation to
the other, and being with that my kid's father, I
was involved with a lot of illegal activity that's finally
caught up to me and as a result, I did
go to prison.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Okay, Now, how many children did you have at the
time when you went to prison.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I had two kids and I was pregnant with one.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Now, when you say the word drug dealer, that's such
a broad word.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
You know.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
You could say that people who are these pharmaceutical companies
are drug dealers the way because they got to pay
out these money.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
But you are more along the lines of the street.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
What type of drugs were you guys selling crack cocaine?
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And you are a user?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
I was.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
At one point, did you not say to yourself, very smart,
young lady, this is not good.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
I was a that smart thing. It was BookSmart, but
street smart. I had no idea. I was looking for love.
I was looking for a father figure, and that is
what I received.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
And so you are. I'm pretty sure you're a mentor.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
How do you feel when you communicating your story to
young ladies who you don't want to see go down
the same path you and Don Robin?
Speaker 1 (06:24):
How do you connect with.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Them by keeping it real? At one time, I was shamed.
I was shamed to tell my story and then also
to talk about all of the mental variable abuse that
I had to undergo just the just in the name
of love, Like I really did some crazy things like
from the abuse. I thought that was his way of
(06:46):
showing me that he loved me, to the point that
I would instigate an argument so he can whoop my behind.
Now that ain't that stupid?
Speaker 2 (06:55):
No, Now, when you got incarcerated, you say you were
pregnant at two children.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Okay, so before I got incarcerated, Before because I had
to turn myself in, I was eccluding the authorities until
I had my daughter because I did not want to
have my daughter in the penitentiary. So after I gave
birth and I was cleared, I turned myself in.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Now you have your child, you turned yourself in. How
many years were you incarcerated? Five five years? Which that through?
Did you get out early through probation or you did
the entire sentence.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
I did the entire sentence.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
Now I have to asked the question, did you learn
anything while you were in prison?
Speaker 3 (07:38):
That's what it all changed.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Talk to me.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
I had time to think, I had time to explore.
I had an opportunity to advance my education.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Well a while in prison.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
While in prison.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
When you say advance your education, tell us about what
level of education you advanced too.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Associate degrees. So for me, president was very hard, and
I spent a lot of time in concern and I
made the best use of confinement. I'm confined for twenty
three hours, I go out for a hour. My time
my days was meditating and learning. Then I had guards.
(08:20):
We became very very close, and a couple of them
they were attending their local community college, and I would
assist them with their books. In return, I'm able to
read their books, you know. So if I'm going to
help tutor you on business law, well guess what I
know business law.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Now I'm talking to Robin Donaldson.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
She went from incarceration to be honored by the President
with a Lifetime Achievement award, and all she does camps,
mentoring camps for use in architecture and instruction design in
the area of Tampa, Florida. She not only turned her
life around, but now she's turning other young people's lives around.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
And she's really tell her story.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
That's why she's on Money Making Conversation Master Last Day
to tell her story. She's not trying to hide her situation.
She's trying to convey from authentic matter that you don't
want to live the life that she lived. But if
you live this life, you can't turn your life around.
And that's the story I want to tell on the shoulderday, Robin,
you turning your life around. Now when you got out
(09:24):
of prison, you learned a lot while you were in prison.
Robin was there steps as you were seeing you, they
come up prepared for the exit.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
Well, at the time, I didn't really have an exit plan.
And the exit plan came when I learned how to
strip in buff floors in prison at the highest level,
I mean the floor's glass, right, So what I did
I took that knowledge.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Did they ask you to do that or you just
stepped it up?
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Okay? So you want to get back to that story, okay, because.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Why are you doing it at this level? But I
know you could have just done it at this level.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Okay, So you want to know the story story because
I again I frequent confined it a lot, right, And
it was one incident where I was allowed to be
released to the compound and the Wharton had stopped me,
(10:33):
he said, MS Doc and McDonald's. And you have a
problem with, you know, instigating things on the compound, He said,
I got I got a solution for you. While everybody's sweep,
I'm going to put you on third shift. You go
stripping wax the administrator build it right, all right? So
again that is where I learned how to strip wax
(10:56):
and buff floors like no other.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
On the third shift.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
On the third shift when everybody was sleep, when the
cor pound was open, then hours sleep.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
So he saw your true gift was to stop you
from having personal contact and put you to work when
everybody else was sleep and when everybody would up, you
were asleep. Yes, sir, Now, as you came out, because
I mentioned in your intro you have you have a
cleaning bit. But when you come out, we know that's
(11:31):
not an easy accent. You know you have three children
out there. Way to know you what was the man
of your life at that point? Was he still in
your life?
Speaker 3 (11:41):
He was doing time as well?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Okay? Cool?
Speaker 2 (11:43):
So you came out by yourself basically, how did you
start getting those feet and putting those feet down on
that concrete and start walking forward like you know you
belong there?
Speaker 1 (11:52):
Talk to me, Robin.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
So what happened was I was able to get on
work release. It was six months prior to my release state.
They allowed me to go to a work release program
where I would be local, not in prison. It's a
halfway house.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
It's transitioning there.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
You go a transitioning house and one of the requirements
is you had to have a job. And so right
up the street there was a homewood Suites by Hilton,
right and I applied, and that's where I learned how
to clean at the highest level. Hilton is by far
one of the cleanest chains that I know. And again,
(12:35):
learning how to clean at the highest level, plus knowing
how to strip wax and buff at the highest level,
it only made sense for me to be a cleaning service.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
Reason I liked listening to you because that's to say,
that's a smile on your face, because that means you
good at it. You know, it's always great to be
good at something. You know, I'm gonna take the word out.
I'm not saying good.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
She's smiling because she's great at it.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Because she uses the word highest level, she's never used
to work, I'm undermining her talents.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And I apologize. She keuld use the word.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
I learned at the highest level. I buff at the
highest level. So those skills you recognize were different from
everybody else because you put in more effort. Are you
just naturally talented at it?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Well, see, it's part of a bigger plan. When I
came home, I said, I opened the cleaning service but
the ultimate goal was to be into the construction industry.
That has been the overarching goal. And what better way
to get into the construction industry is by cleaning the
construction trailers. I mean, because that's where all the decision
(13:44):
makers are, that's where all action happens. And so I
started cleaning trailers. Then I developed relationships, and then they
had me doing final clean, post construction clean. Now they
haven't me cleaning their whole extablishment.
Speaker 4 (14:01):
Please don't go anywhere, We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashan McDonald.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
And from that, that is how I was able to
secure the contract for the Temple Convention Center.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Congratulations.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
I had three shifts, three ships with sixty five employees,
and then from that I was selected by the NFL
as the premium cleaning company for the Super Bowl in Temple, Florida.
They liked the job that I did so well they
called me back for the NFL kickoff. From that, I
(14:51):
was on the news Channel thirteen. I get a phone call.
Somebody said, I'm calling from Home Depot. I want to
make you a distributor. I said them, I'm getting pranked
something right now, Like, how did you get my number?
He said, I saw you on the news and we
wanted to follow the money trail. And as a result
(15:11):
of that, I'm a distributor from home depot. So now
all of the clients that I cleaned for now I
supplied them with their supplies and their paper products. And
then I took it a step further because I am
a minority, and so I had contracts with the City
of Tampa, Mafit Cancer Center, and USF providing them with supplies.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Now, Robin, first of all, you've been incarcerated five years,
how do you get past that? Because I'm sure there's
a trust factor that people a stereotype. You're black, owner drugs,
incarcerated five years. How do you start getting past those
negative points that stopped a lot of people.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
I start with it, like I don't I don't tiptoe
around it. I mean, that is not a selling point,
but it's nothing that I'm ashamed of either. Right, So,
for for a long time, I would never use my
government name because I didn't want anyone doing any type
of research that I don't care. This is who I
am right. And it was one superintendent who told me something.
(16:24):
He says, Robin, that's what you were, not who you are.
And he said, there is nobody walking, even breathing, that
does not have a family member or have been affected
by such. But you are a sterling example of what
you could, what you were, what you could be. And
I took it for what it was. And so again
I have no problem introducing myself as inmate four seven, five,
(16:45):
nine to eleven, because that's not who I am today.
And if you want to stick to what I was
when maybe we're not, we don't need to work together.
And that's just how it is.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Because I'm a novice here. When I start, I know
nothing about the cleaning industry. How do you get recognized
or how do you bid on jobs as a cleaning
company and get it well?
Speaker 3 (17:10):
As of today, I no longer have to bid, But
I'll answer that question for it.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Was something else.
Speaker 2 (17:16):
You know, you know that that was a moment that
right you say, you're talking to Rawber, I don't bid.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
They come to me when you were in your beating days, roping.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Okay, okay, let's go bedding day, Let's go back, Let's
go back let's go back in.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Your beating days. How are you securing jobs?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
And as an rn P, they call a request for
proposed Right, what does that?
Speaker 1 (17:36):
What does that look like? What did you have to submit?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So I start before the RFP ever comes out, So,
to be very frank, it's like playing chess instead of
playing checkers. When an RP hits the streets, right, you
have to maybe a month to respond, depending on the
(18:01):
scope of work. I don't I don't want to. I
don't wait for those opportunities. I know first of all,
I have a goal. I have a plan as to
who I would like to work with and the type
of work that I want to do. So I study
those individuals. I understand what the forecast looks like for them,
(18:26):
and I'm going to go ahead and develop the relationships.
So when opportunities do arise, my name Renewed Construction Services
is the first one on your tongue. You're going to
notify me. And then also I attend events in understanding
again the forecast of a found uh projects and again
(18:47):
cultivating those relationships. And that's how I am able to
secure most of the contracts. But I think that something
else that I learned in prison. And it's the art
of collaboration because one thing I do, I do not
play small. However, I understand my limitations and my strengths.
(19:12):
So one thing that I have done is other smaller
construction companies that are looking to scale, I will respond
to a large RFP that would require me collaborating with
smaller pets, right, and so now they have an opportunity
(19:33):
to put on their resume that they have done or
as a part of a project of such magnitude. And
that's the classic example of what I did. Just past
two months ago, we had the opportunity for to clean
Yankee Stadium, the Styry Brenner Stadium here locally in Tampa,
(19:54):
and I was yes, and that was a large contract
and I was able to bring three other smaller contractors
and collaborating together. Now they didn't have all of their insurances,
which was okay because I brought them up undermind wing.
And so now when we're looking for larger opportunities, this
(20:18):
is a collaboration effort.
Speaker 1 (20:20):
Cool.
Speaker 2 (20:21):
Now being at your you've been blessed, how do you
share those blessings with the young people in the community.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Deal every time I can, I can get the ear
of a youth. I impart something from Nugget. However, either
the focus or the majority of the impact would be
through the nonprofit which is called STEM Exposure. You know.
(20:49):
STEM Exposure is a non a nonprofit whose mission is
to expose black girls to unrepresent in its STEM careers
as it relates to architecture, construction, beauty sports. I could
honestly say that after I did start my business, I
(21:14):
had a mentor and my mentor, her name is Ann
mcmill down in South Florida. She's an amazing individual. She
took me around the country and exposed me to different
fastest though construction until I found my calling. And that
is the same thing that I do to others. Basically,
I encourage people to bring their talents to the construction industry. Right, so,
(21:37):
whatever it is you're good at it, let's see how
it applies to the construction industry. And then from that,
I also teach the construction trades. So it's all about
whether you are a third through twelfth grader or you
are an adult. I'm going to inspire you one way
or the other.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
You rose from a conservation to getting the President's Lifetime
Achievement award. Now, it wasn't about getting the contract for
an NFL, the Tampa or the Tampa Convention Center, all
your legacies that you created. It's about those kids that
you're changing, those girls who you were inspiring to pursue
(22:21):
stam opportunities. That's what makes you special. When you got
the President's Award, did you understand that?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
I don't think you understand that, Lusha the same to
see that locked me up was the same agency that
gave me a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, And I'm a
posed on that one.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
No Poles keep speaking because there was pain and fear
there was tied to that agency. Now there was celebration
and hope there was tied to that same agency. That's
why I don't have to pause because I know or
you go out the front door, sometimes going out that
back door, it's the same house, pbsolutely. That's why I
(23:05):
wanted to interview you because see, we all got these
stories out here.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Because your story is daring. Their movie.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
I'm just let you know that darn that movie now,
cause you're because you were combative in jail and you
know you didn't get along with nobody. They had to
put you in confinement all the time. That means that
you didn't talk to nobody, couldn't nobody tell you nothing.
You were just robbing, hard headed dogs, that's who you were.
But somebody saw something in you put you on that
(23:35):
third shift and the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Rest is history.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
So what's the future for Robin?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
Well, remember I told you in the beginning, the whole
the over archering goal was to be a contractor, and
you know, start my construction company. And I am glad
to say that twenty nineteen is when actually we started
the construction company. And I always knew what it was
(24:06):
going to be, so I named it as such, Renewed
Construction Services. We are licensed roofers, we are licensed contractors
and architectural desires.
Speaker 1 (24:17):
Now I can pause. Now I'm pausing, not because you
know you got that little smirk.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Well, I'm gonna tell you if I wish I was live,
it's the only inview I would done about life. I
wish our lives like yeo, I five hug. And because
you're just so calm about it, because but you know
the hard work being put in place, When would you celebrate,
Robin or you've not at the finish line.
Speaker 3 (24:40):
Yet, Well, I celebrate all the time. I celebrate my
little wins. But I'm gonna tell you which one it
had the most impact. Okay, when I was able to
put my bills on auto pay, Yes, let me know
that I was doing.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Something which is very smart, by the way.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
And you know it's a piece of piece. He's like,
I don't have to even think about my bills like
that gives me space to think about other creative things
that I need to do. But that was again something
that I struggled with, you know, Robin Paul to pay Peter,
not knowing how I was going to but to now
(25:17):
know that I can financially sustain myself not have to worry.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Hey, Robert, you have a foundation. Can we tell everybody
how they can find your foundation?
Speaker 3 (25:28):
Stem Exposure ww dot, stem S t E m x
p O s U r E dot org. I have
wanted to mention that there's two opportunities if you are
one local. We are hosting an amazing timely summer camp,
(25:54):
the Science of Survival. Because we live here in the
Tampa Bay area and we were impacted by three hurricanes
back to back. We're hosting our architectural camp where we're
going to introduce architecture, AI, engineering and construction. And then
also we're going to have a global camp. I didn't
(26:16):
make mention of the Global camp, but our global camp
where we were in ten countries in four different time zones.
And so we're going to host a camp the last
week in July for the Global Architectural Camp. So anyone
who wants to participate again is virtual and it will
be an amazing opportunity because we will have different students
(26:38):
from different parts of the country, different parts of the
world collaborating together. And again you can find more information
on our.
Speaker 1 (26:49):
Website stem exposure dot com.
Speaker 3 (26:53):
Yes, drop the E in exposure.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Cool. Now, what about your business?
Speaker 2 (27:00):
If you wus just want to go down there and
see this great business and learn more about you, Robert Donaldson,
tell us your website that.
Speaker 3 (27:07):
Would be ww dot renew Construction Services dot com.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
Would it be renewed r E W R U R
E N E W. There you go, my friend. I
know you were recommended to come on my shall. I've
never had a guest like you on Mishelle, which is
always a new experience for me, which is good for
me because there's so many paths in life that people
(27:34):
deal with to be successful or to achieve happiness. I'm
seeing both happiness and success, and more importantly, to be
recognized by the President of the United States for a
lifetime achievement of war, for the work that you're doing
in the community and how you turned your life around
and became becoming an AX paying hiring individual. Just recognized
(27:59):
from the n to the Center of Tampa. Congratulations, Robin,
Thank you so much. This has been another edition of
Money Making Conversation Masterclass posted by me Rushaun McDonald. Thank
you to our guests on the show today and thank
you for listening to audience now. If you want to
listen to any episode I want to be a guest
on the show, visit Moneymaking Conversations dot com. Our social
(28:22):
media handle is money Making Conversation. Join us next week
and remember to always leave with your gifts.
Speaker 1 (28:28):
Keep winning.
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