Today we’d like to introduce you to Tukz And Carrie Taaca
Tukz and Carrie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Tukz and Carrie Taaca, husband and wife team, started Safety First CPR in 2011, a grassroots effort to combine Tukz’s background in safety training with Carrie’s business sense, attention to detail and customer service. Tukz jokingly says, “Carrie is the brains and I am the brawn of the organization.” Tukz (pronounced like Tux) has a background in both Aquatic Safety and the in the education industry and they knew that with their combination of talents and abilities they had something unique to offer the community.
Tukz spent 20+ years in Aquatics Management in the Recreation Department industry, working for such organizations as The Walt Disney World Company, City of Westminster, Colorado, City of Coral Gables, Florida and First Coast YMCA. Among other things he did in those capacities, he trained and certified Lifeguards, taught CPR/AED and Basic First Aid and taught Swimming lessons. After leaving full-time Aquatics, and loving the teaching aspects of that career the most, he shifted into becoming a full-time elementary school educator, which he has been doing for the past ten years. He is currently in his third year at Duval Charter School at Flagler K-8 as the STEAM teacher (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) and loving it! During the school year, he instructs for Safety First as he is able. During the summer, he has much more time and in addition to their usual year-round certification courses, they can also offer some Swimming lessons as well.
Carrie has a background in Human Resources and has a great business sense and is a quick learner. She manages all aspects of the business and is also a certified instructor.
They enjoy working with schools, churches, neighborhood amenity directors, homeschool co-ops and businesses of all kinds in Northeast Florida.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
From Carrie – Nothing worth doing is easy or seamless! We have faced a few challenges over the years.
First of all, we never expected or planned to become small business owners and neither of us has a business background or degree. However, I am resourceful and have learned many things over the years by trial and error.
Second, we had to learn to work together as business partners and not just husband and wife. Plus, we manage our business from home, with no outside office, so business conversation and home life all blend together. It took time to learn how to balance it all and learn how to turn the business talk off at the right times.
Finally, I am a one-man-show (well, one-woman-show) when it comes to the business side of our small business. I do all of the finances, customer service, marketing, class scheduling, class paperwork and more. I have a pretty good handle on it now but it was extremely difficult when our children were younger. I was working from home and only got both girls into elementary school four years ago. So there were 9+ years of raising babies or having preschoolers in a in a few hours a week at preschool with me trying to cram a lot of work into those hours, doing the rest around taking care of them. At the time of this writing, they are now ten and fourteen, so they’re a little more self-sufficient and that helps a lot.
We’ve been impressed with Safety First CPR and Safety Training , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Established in 2011, we are a safety training company that has been serving Northeast Florida for over a decade in the areas of Community CPR/AED, Basic First Aid, Babysitting Safety for Youth, Bloodborne Pathogens, Lifeguard Certification, Group Swimming Lessons, AED sales and more! We specialize in conducting onsite trainings for businesses and groups of all kinds and we also do hold classes for the individual to join.
Why Choose Us?
We Cost Less Than Others
*We know the economy is tough and we don’t overcharge.
*We are trying to make ends meet just like you and we get it.
*We get significant discounts as a training center due to our longevity in business and we pass those savings on to you.
We Offer Great Customer Service
*Our response time to inquiries is fast. We don’t make you wait around.
*Certifications are issued quickly.
*Our staff is genuinely kind and friendly.
We Are Very Flexible
For private groups:
*We come to you.
*We offer both traditional classroom and blended learning delivery types.
*We can accommodate weekdays, evenings and weekends.
Our Instruction is Top-Notch
*Our instructors have many years of experience and keep the class interesting.
*We use a combination of learning styles – visual, auditory, reading/writing and hands-on practice.
*American Safety and Health Institute is a nationally accredited curriculum.
Our motto is: We keep your SAFETY FIRST!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Carrie – Growing up in the 80’s in the Arlington area of Jacksonville is my favorite childhood memory! Arlington was thriving and it was just the right location and the right decade. We lived on Rogero Rd a couple blocks from the river and my sister and I had a neighborhood of girls to play with (who we are still friends with to this day) and we had such a happy childhood. We all swam for Ft. Caroline Club swim team and attended Ft. Caroline Elementary School. Roller skating, bike riding, sticker collections, playing outside up and down the neighborhood, playing with Barbies and Easy-Bake Oven, wearing our bathing suits all day every day over the summer – I was living the life!
Tukz – My favorite childhood memory has to be catching crabs on the seawall in Port Charlotte, FL with my family while growing up. They just clung to the walls, tons of them. We must have scooped up 9 dozen or so one of the times!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.safetyfirstjacksonville.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safetyfirstjacksonville/
- Other: https://cprhub.org/
