Her Story
About Maryella
Maryella did not leave engineering because she lost interest in stormwater. She stepped into marketing because she recognized that the industry needed advocates who understood both the technical details and the power of communication.
As Chief Storyteller, she translates complex stormwater solutions into clear, accurate, and compelling messaging. She ensures that technical content remains technically correct while also being understandable and visible to the people who need it most.
Unlike general marketing agencies, Digital Stormwater does not need to be taught the difference between stormwater, wastewater, and drainage. Maryella understands the regulatory landscape, MS4 programs, infiltration practices, and the realities engineers face when specifying products. This foundation allows her to create content and campaigns that resonate with civil engineers, contractors, regulators, and municipal decision-makers.
Digital Stormwater has helped stormwater companies increase online visibility, generate more calls and product sample requests, reduce advertising waste, and experience some of their highest grossing years. Website traffic has grown. Cost per lead has decreased. Most importantly, engineers who need specific solutions are now able to find the companies that provide them.
Maryella’s perspective is grounded in decades of technical experience, starting even before she graduated with her first degree in 1997. She believes stormwater should not simply be treated as a nuisance to move off a property as quickly as possible. In many cases, infiltration on site is the better answer. Stormwater can be managed as an asset rather than a problem.
That same philosophy shapes her approach to marketing. Not every product is right for every project, and not every company is the right fit for every agency. Digital Stormwater is selective because alignment matters. The goal is clarity, credibility, and long-term trust, not noise.
Her guiding principle is simple: Best known beats best every day. A company can have the most effective solution in the market, but if engineers and decision-makers do not know it exists, it will never be specified.
Visibility, when grounded in truth and technical accuracy, creates impact.
Beyond client work, Maryella contributes to broader industry conversations about stormwater performance, visibility, and public awareness. She is an author, speaker, and sometimes co-host of the Stormwater World Podcast. Maryella advocates for recognizing the value of clean water and for helping professionals communicate how everyday actions affect surface water quality.
She regularly develops educational content, speaks on practical applications of digital marketing in technical industries, and works to bridge the gap between engineering precision and public understanding at regional, national and international conferences as well as to local groups in her community.
Maryella co-authored a book, Making an Impact in Stormwater One Click at a Time, with her husband, Ty Garmon. She speaks at conferences discussing how using social media can be an impactful tool for public education, and has been a podcast guest discussing the origin story of Digital Stormwater and the importance of visibility in niche industries/stormwater.
Her unique position as both engineer and marketer allows her to approach stormwater communication with structure, discipline, and measurable results.
Outside of client work, Maryella has dedicated significant time to professional and educational service.
She has volunteered with the MathCOUNTS program for more than 25 years at both the local and state level. She has served as a past chapter coordinator and as the past Texas State MathCOUNTS Committee Chair, helping mentor middle school students and promote excellence in mathematics. Her long term involvement reflects her commitment to developing the next generation of problem solvers and engineers.
She is also a past president of her local chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, where she supported professional standards, continuing education, and advocacy for licensed engineers across the state. In addition, she is a member of the International Erosion Control Association, remaining actively connected to the evolving practices of erosion and sediment control and stormwater management.
These roles reflect the same steady discipline that defines her professional work. She believes in strengthening the profession, supporting ethical standards, and investing time where it will have long term impact.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Maryella
01What do you attribute your success to?
There is no single thing. Hard work. God. Having a great partner in life and business. Having gone through hard times, so I know I will make it through if things get hard again.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't just be a member [of a technical/professional society/organization]; be an active participant.
Network outside of your organization.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Before I became an entrepreneur, I was a civil engineer. That field, to me, is much more male-dominated than this one. I think that gave me a tough skin, and also perhaps a skewed perspective. I don't feel like this has been as difficult a field to navigate as a woman.
My journey into entrepreneurship was also easier because we had good corporate jobs as a safety net when we first started.
For anyone beginning their entrepreneurial journey, know that every day there are ups and downs. You are responsible for making sure your business succeeds, and you are responsible for your employees' livelihoods. It is also important to create a network so you don't feel isolated. Find other business owners, not necessarily in your same field or same geographic area, and connect with them. Having others who are going through the same business issues helps so you have someone to get advice or give a different perspective.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in digital marketing are 1) people still don't understand what it is or why they need it, and 2) everything is changing so fast because of AI.
The biggest challenges in stormwater are that people don't know what it is or why it is important. As long as your house isn't flooding, it seems like things are good...until you realize that everything that touches the ground (oil, trash, chemicals) could be headed straight for your drinking water source.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, providing value, and protecting the public.
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