A personal journey of breaking barriers in industrial water treatment, discovering the power of saying yes, and mentoring the next generation of women leaders in a male-dominated industry.
Her Story
About Tammy
I didn't get a degree until later in life, after my daughter herself went to college. I went to Laterna University in Texas for both my bachelor's and my master's degree when I was in my forties. That really was a launching point for me. I had kind of backed off my career as she was growing up, and then restarted after she went off to college. Since then, I've developed from somebody that was just in operations and handling controller customer service accounts into a vice president of a smaller water treatment company than the one I work for now, and then into my director role here at HOH. I've been in my current field for 17 years. As Director of Sales at HOH Water Technology Inc, I'm on the leadership team where I focus on leading the company, growing the company, and strategizing for new business. My time is spent working with our marketing coordinator and marketing team to develop our messaging and advertising campaigns, and working with my business development team and our corporate account managers to bring new customers and grow our brand and sales across the Midwest. We're an industrial water treatment company that treats water in systems like boilers and cooling towers in facilities such as hospitals, protecting equipment from corrosion and helping conserve resources.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the work ethic that my parents raised me with, and definitely what I saw my dad do. He did not have an education as far as college, he just went to high school, and he moved his way up the corporate ladder and was one of the few people without a college degree in his position because he was very smart and he just really, really worked hard. He instilled that work ethic in me, and that's what has driven my success throughout my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was when someone called me to apply for the job I have now. I said I've never been a sales manager, why do you want me? And he said, because you're the best person for the job, why would you say you don't want me? He pointed out that as women, we try to check all the boxes if we see a job application. We don't have to check all the boxes. We need to take a chance on our own selves, and know that we can do it, and know that we are worthy. Men will apply whether they're qualified or not, and we tend to not do that.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, most young women don't know about industrial water treatment. Most of them don't know what it is, and I would say just jump in and try. It's such a rewarding career that requires STEM skills and business skills. There's never the same day in water treatment, so I would just say, just try to find out what it is and jump in, because I fell into it, and most people do, and I just wish people knew it was a career path.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My faith is first and foremost in anything I do, and then beyond that, honesty, openness, and trust are most important to me. I pride myself on creating trust with my team. That's my focus, because when you have trust, you can be vulnerable, and you can also have healthy conflict to say, hey, there's a better way to do this.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Tammy
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.
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