2017 Supply House Times Women in Industry 20

Women are making a difference in the success of PHCP-PVF companies throughout our industry. Supply House Times asked our industry partners to tell us about these difference-makers. The results are our third annual look at some of the many women enjoying productive industry careers and their thoughts on their current positions, how they broke into the business and their advice for young women considering a career in the industry.

List Overview, continued:

Sara Alford

Company: Newmans Valve (Stafford, Texas)
Position: General manager (1 year)
Sara says: “As you look at many PVF companies today, women like myself have worked their way from the bottom to the top of an ever-growing industry and we do not let anything stand in our way.”

Kate Bailey

Company: Ferguson Enterprises (Newport News, Va.)
Position: Director of showrooms (12 years)
Kate says: “There is something special about working with a homeowner to select the kitchen and bath products that ultimately will go in their dream home or remodel.”

Brent Brake

Company: Dellon Sales (Albertson, N.Y.)
Position: Entrepreneur, manager and luxury consultant (23 years)
Brent says: “Dellon has allowed me to build and maintain relationships that have lasted and will last throughout my career. My work has allowed me to express my creativity, marketing skills and business savvy. I’m not sure if there is another profession with quite so much variety.”

Casey Broderick

Company: All America Threaded Products (Denver, Colo.)
Position: President (3 years)
Casey says: “I think women underestimate how well-suited they are to the manufacturing industry, which suffers from a lack of diversity of perspective and where a woman’s tendency toward non-linear thought unlocks new solutions to problems that involve complicated networks of people and processes.”

Julia Brong

Company: Crane ChemPharma & Energy (Houston, Texas)
Position: Key account manager — Houston EPCs (4 years)
Julia says: “Be strong, confident and professional. Learn your products and become the expert. Don’t sweat the small stuff — it helps to be a little ‘thick-skinned.’”

Robyn Brookhart

Company: Liberty Pumps (Bergen, N.Y.)
Position: Executive VP and COO (20 years)
Robyn says: “I love the energy at Liberty Pumps. We have a culture where even though we all have job titles there are no boundaries to our job functions. We do what it takes to get the job done.”

Denise Champagne

Company: Coburn Supply (Beaumont, Texas)
Position: Showroom product manager (12 years)
Denise says: “As a working single mom of three, my role as a mother comes first and Coburn’s is supportive of that purpose. With more than 50 branches in four states, no matter the location I always am greeted with a handshake and/or hug — genuinely regarded as family.”

Brenda Combs

Company: MRC Global (Houston, Texas)
Position: Senior director — implementation (18 years)
Brenda says: “Working for this company has allowed me to grow my knowledge base and utilize problem-solving skills to develop new solutions. It is rare to be able to work for a company that promotes flexibility and freedom to propose innovative ideas.”

Dawn Ford

Company: NIBCO (Elkhart, Ind.)
Position: Customer service manager (18 years)
Dawn says: “When I came to NIBCO I was young and looking for a job. I could not image that job would be the beginning of an amazing career in the plumbing industry.”

Yolanda Frank

Company: TMS Equiparts (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Position: Purchasing director (5 years)
Yolanda says: “My sales pitch is do it! Don’t overthink it! You will find this industry is rewarding, challenging and engaging. Many people within the industry are eager to share their knowledge and experience. Absorb all of it and put your own spin on it.”