Her Story
About Brenna
Brenna Mays has spent nearly two decades building a career in sales, beginning in design work for a custom builder before pivoting into the industry in 2006 in the wake of the housing market crash. Newly widowed with a toddler at the time, she leaned on a contact in the flooring industry to help her find a new path, which led to a role that grew from inside to outside sales over the next twelve and a half years. She went on to spend more than seven years as a Builder Specialist with Dal-Tile Corporation, where she and a partner managed a $60 million territory across the Houston area. Four months before this interview, she made another deliberate pivot, leaving the flooring world behind to join a smaller, growing company in plumbing distributor sales, now serving as Sales Executive for the Central Region at Georgetown Building Solutions and covering new residential construction across the Gulf Coast.
A 1995 graduate of the University of Missouri, Brenna attended on an athletic scholarship, competing on the swimming and diving team and earning recognition as a letter winner while also making the Dean's List. Her path after college wound through social work and design before she found her footing in sales, and she credits her achievements not to formal accolades but to perseverance, adaptability, and the courage to reinvent herself when the moment called for it. Now active with the Greater Houston Builders Association and Professional Women in Building, she has built a reputation in a historically male-dominated field by combining confidence with a steady, resilient approach to her work.
Outside of her career, Brenna is deeply family-oriented, staying close to her daughter, son-in-law, and young grandson, and she credits her partner's encouragement for helping her pursue a modeling and acting career on the side, something she began pursuing in her early fifties simply to challenge herself. She maintains a disciplined personal routine built around early mornings, regular workouts, and a dedicated practice of yoga and meditation. She also gives back through animal rescue work, volunteering with South Central Bloodhound Rescue and American Black and Tan Coonhound Rescue. Grounded in family, faith, and a commitment to continual self-improvement, Brenna sees her career and personal life as reflections of the same guiding philosophy: stay resilient, stay adaptable, and never be afraid to follow a new passion.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Brenna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance and resilience. I don't take no for an answer, because I've learned that "no" usually just means "not right now."
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd tell young women not to be afraid to change. The woman you are today isn't necessarily the woman you'll be twenty years from now, so it's worth re-evaluating along the way. There's no harm in trying something different and following a passion — we all grow, and what we're passionate about today may look different down the road. My advice is simply to follow your heart, your dreams, and your passion.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
New residential construction, and plumbing distribution as well, remain very male-dominated industries. Early in my career I often felt overlooked or dismissed because I was a woman, sitting in rooms full of men while working with purchasing managers and other strong personalities. But I've seen that start to shift — there are now women serving as division presidents for national home builders, which wasn't always the case. I believe there's real opportunity for women to rise in this field, and a lot of it comes down to developing thick skin, commanding a presence, and having confidence.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family, friends, and my faith matter most to me. At the end of the day, I just want to know I was a better person than I was yesterday. Not every day is going to be a successful one, but that doesn't mean I'm not still striving — ultimately, I just want to be a good human being.
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