Her Story
About Sharon
I'm President and CEO of Devmar Manufacturing, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, where we produce specialty products that cure pain points in industries. We focus on pathogen remediation, and we're currently working on a formulation to reduce toxic polyethylene plastics in the environment. We also develop products that prevent slips and falls in hospitals. We work with Fortune 500 companies, some Fortune 50s, and we produce all our products inside the United States. I've been an entrepreneur for 35 years and have been in safety products and development for over 25 years. My journey started in banking where I owned a mortgage company, then I segued into real estate and real estate development and received my real estate agent's license and broker's license, which I still have today. When the economic downturn hit in 2008, I moved into the Jansan industry. From there, we wanted to be more than just a Me Too products distribution company, so we started to develop our own unique product technologies. My educational background is in green and sustainable enterprise management with an emphasis in sustainability, and my master's is in International Business. These last few years have been formative and very important as we work with Fortune 500 companies to help them with their reduction of their carbon footprint. We have unique formulations that are patented technology, including liquid loading technology where you can load any type of liquid onto a powder for agriculture, hospitality, or pathogen remediation. We have 21 plus patents on that technology. It's about creating our own product technologies that make a difference in the world and our environment while keeping the sustainability feature in all of those products.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sharon
01What do you attribute your success to?
Aside from really wanting to leave a legacy, and being a community advocate for generations in Nashville, Tennessee, it is never taking no for an answer. Just a lot of hard work. And it really has been very tough. I'm in a male-dominated industry, so I've had to really endure a lot of the challenges that go along with that, from raising capital to growing my business. We're looking to become a billion-dollar enterprise in the next 60 months. So it's just never take a no for an answer and overcoming the challenges. And always having purpose in what I do. So it's leaving a legacy for my family, being a huge advocate for the communities in which we serve. And you know, giving back. Giving back is extremely important.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I always tell the women that I mentor, and I've mentored hundreds of women along the way in my career, whether it's up close and personal, or maybe I'm on a panel or podcast, and I've been told several times that I've inspired women just all over the country - find your passion in what you love to do. I know it sounds cliche, but it's so true. Whether you are getting paid from it or not, if you love it, you'll stick with it. And make sure that it has meaning, and can impact your community in a positive way.
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