Meet Keshia Boyd: Men and Women Building North America Series

When Lakeshia Boyd joined Kloeckner 14 years ago, she didn’t expect to build a lifelong career, let alone watch her family’s story unfold alongside the company’s own evolution.

Today, as Corporate Human Resources Manager in Roswell, GA, Keshia reflects on her journey from a Memphis warehouse to corporate headquarters, and on the lessons that helped her grow as both a leader and a mother.

Learning the Business From the Ground Up

Keshia’s story starts at the warehouse at Macsteel, where she quickly became the person everyone could count on. “At the branch, you’re a true generalist,” she says. “You wear every hat: HR, operations, shipping, invoicing, customer claims. You learn fast.”

It was a crash course in every part of the business. Over time, Keshia became the go-to person for the guys on the floor, known for being someone who listened, advocated, and bridged the gap between management and crew. That combination of trust and communication became her trademark.

When the opportunity came in 2017 to join the corporate team in Roswell, she jumped. “I wanted to learn more, to see the bigger picture,” she says. “At corporate, you go from supporting one branch to supporting them all. You realize how everything connects.”

Over the years, Keshia has been part of major acquisitions, onboarding initiatives, and safety improvements, helping new employees feel welcomed and equipped from day one.

“It’s still about people,” she says. “Being a real human resource, not just a department.”

Pride Beyond the Office

Outside of work, Keshia’s life has always been full, especially as a single mom of three. When she moved from Memphis to Georgia, she did it in true Keshia fashion: fast, fearless, and with a plan. “I rented a pickup truck, loaded up our furniture, and we were here in a week,” she laughs. “My kids started school the next day.”

Her parenting style mirrors her leadership approach with a balance of accountability, communication, and unconditional support.

“Each child gets a different version of you,” she says. “You grow and learn together.”

Her oldest son’s story is a testament to that philosophy. What began as a senior-year hobby turned into an impressive rise in men’s volleyball.

Starting in his local high school, he went on to attend Fort Valley State University, one of many HBCUs to establish a men’s volleyball program. The SIAC added men’s volleyball as its 14th sport in 2021, with six member schools launching programs. Fort Valley State University made history as the first HBCU to compete in the NCAA Division I Championship after winning the SIAC title back-to-back. He earned a spot on the USA Deaf Men’s Volleyball Team, competing internationally in Okinawa, Japan, and now at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan.

“He has two championship rings and a silver medal from the U.S. Open,” Keshia shares proudly. “He’s balancing college, athletics, and representing the country. Seeing him step into his own…it’s everything a parent could hope for.”

Her support has always been unwavering from day one, from volunteering at his games when he was younger to accidentally calling a ball out while refereeing one of his matches. “He looked at me like, ‘Really, Mom?’” she laughs. “I told him, ‘Hey, sometimes it’s your own parents!’”

Behind every win were countless long drives, sleepless tournament weekends, and “sleeping on conference room floors” to make sure he could keep chasing his goals.

Life on her Own Terms

Now that her kids are grown, Keshia is embracing life as a new empty nester, though she admits it’s been an adjustment. “I thought I’d love the quiet, but I miss the chaos sometimes,” she laughs.

When she’s not at work, you might find her traveling, reading HR and leadership books for her “one-person book club,” planning to learn guitar, or daydreaming about buying a Harley. A longtime motorcycle enthusiast, she calls it ‘two-wheel therapy.’

“It’s just you, the wind, and the road,” she says.

Building Up People, Wherever She Goes

Over the years, Keshia has held plenty of titles: office manager, HR manager, mom, mentor. But the one that seems to tie them all together came from outside the office: Khaleesi.

It started as a joke from a friend in her motorcycle group who said she reminded him of the Game of Thrones queen known as the Mother of Dragons. The name stuck because it fit. She’s the calm in chaos, the one who keeps things running and people connected, at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

She’s also the person people look to when things get hectic, the one who stays focused and reminds everyone it’s going to work out.

Turns out, you don’t need dragons to lead. Just a little courage, a lot of heart, and the kind of determination that keeps people moving forward.

To us, that’s what it means to build North America.