Following Your Path When You're the Only Woman in the Room
From Unexpected Career Turns to Leading Change: A Woman's Journey in Industrial Water Treatment
Most people don't plan to fall in love with industrial water treatment. Like so many in this industry, I fell into it—almost literally. It started with a job purchasing utility and wastewater chemicals, took a long detour through a career in education, and then landed somewhere completely unexpected: a newspaper ad for a comptroller role at a water treatment company. I said yes. That single decision changed everything.
"I said yes to a job I didn't fully understand, and it opened a door to an industry I never knew I needed."
Being the Only One
Walking into industrial water treatment as a woman means getting comfortable being the only one in the room—and doing it with confidence. There's no roadmap for that. Nobody hands you a script. You show up, learn the chemistry, understand the customers, master the business, and prove—quietly and consistently—that you belong. Not because someone gave you permission, but because the work speaks for itself.
What I've learned over the past 15 years is that being different in a room isn't a liability—it's an advantage. A different perspective. A different way of building relationships. A different way of leading. The water treatment industry is too important and too interesting to be limited to people who all look and think the same. Diversity of thought is what moves industries forward.
"Being the only woman in the room isn't a liability. It's an advantage—if you own it."
The Power of Saying Yes
About ten years ago, I attended my first AWT convention. I didn't know many people. In many ways, I was on the sidelines—watching, learning, and not yet sure where I fit. Then, Michael Bourgeois and Angela Pike pulled me into the WOW reception and told me something simple: get involved.
I resisted for a few years.
Then I jumped in.
The Business Resources Committee. The Convention Committee. The Board. The WOW Committee.
Each "yes" led to another, and each one shaped not only my career but also my understanding of what this industry could be. The relationships I built weren't just professional connections—they became lifelong friendships. People who show up, lift one another up, and push each other to grow.
Why Getting Involved Matters
AWT is only as strong as the members who show up and help shape where this industry is headed. The knowledge sharing, advocacy, and mentorship—none of it happens without engaged members.
If you're on the fence about getting more involved, my advice is simple: jump in.
The water treatment industry is too important—and the AWT community too valuable—to watch from the sidelines.
"The water treatment industry is too important and the AWT community too good to watch from the sidelines."
A Career Built on People
Two years ago, I took on the responsibility of leading marketing at HOH Water Technology. My goal was simple: build a team that moves as one with sales and our field teams—a true engine that drives growth.
But underneath all of it, what I'm most proud of isn't a campaign or a metric. It's the women I've had the opportunity to mentor. Watching them find their footing, build their confidence, and claim their place in this industry—that's the real accomplishment.
And it all started because someone I barely knew at a convention told me to get involved. Because I answered a newspaper ad. Because I said yes when I didn't know exactly what I was saying yes to.
Follow your path, even when it's unexpected.
Especially when you're the only woman in the room.
