Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment

This week Charli and Bethany talk about what you should and shouldn't be doing on social media during a crisis.

Then Charli interviews Amanda L. Holloway, Demand Generation Manager, Xylem Rental & Service Solutions and founder of the Solving Water podcast.

[Interview Starts @17:50]

Watch on YouTube!

Amanda Holloway is a marketing communications professional specializing in strategic content creation for the water industry, in which she’s spent the past 12 years of her career. She is currently the Demand Generation Manager for Rental and Service Solutions in the Americas for leading global water technology provider, Xylem. Amanda is also the founder and host of Solving Water: A Xylem Podcast – launched in 2019 – that focuses on thoughtful and informal conversations on timely topics with experts across the water industry. 

linkedin  |  twitter  |  facebook   |  youtube  |  instagram

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. March 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, March 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• A Faster Solution for Outage Schedules; The VSG.
• Gasket Thickness; Is Thicker Better

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany finish their discussion on personal branding in the b2b space, by going in-depth on what to do once you've built your brand.

Then Charli interviews Stephen Ballard, the CEO and Co-founder of EcoTech. Stephen explains the decision to start his own industrial distribution company and how focusing on the customer needs first is defining the company's success.

[Interview Starts @37:15]

Stephen Ballard, is the CEO and Co-founder of EcoTech. He lives in Fairhope, AL and loves watching sports, fishing, boating, and most of all spending time with his wife and 2 children. He attended Samford University on a baseball scholarship, and earned a degree in Business Administration with a focus in Management & Marketing. He and EcoTech’s other founder, Trent Cameron, share a strong passion for serving people. This passion drives them to make sure every decision made benefits their customers and team members, both at work and at home. Stephen believes there’s no stronger business than one built by joyful people who show up everyday to fulfill a greater purpose.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwballard/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecotechnical/
https://eco-technical.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Resources and Links:

• EPIC - event information
• EPIC - Charli's blog
• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. March 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, March 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany continue their discussion on personal branding in the b2b space.  

Then Charli interviews Gakuo Ndonga about his work as an application engineering expert at SKF, his expertise in rolling element bearing applications, and his thoughts on creating long-term change through diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the industry.

[Interview Starts @25:16]

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Gakuo Ndonga is an application engineering expert with SKF USA Inc. He has spent over eight years working in the fluid industry with expertise in rolling element bearing applications for pumps. Gakuo is a graduate of Rowan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Early in his career Gakuo was exposed to working in the industry as mechanic and later as a sales engineer. This early exposure helped him understand technical problem solving from different perspectives and segments of the business. As an application engineering expert, Gakuo contributes to industry publications such as Pump and Systems, Pump Engineer, and Plant Services magazines. He also helps train and mentor others in the field. Gakuo is also passionate about fostering diversity, equity and inclusion and is helping his organization drive meaningful change both internally and out.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkndonga/
https://www.skf.com/us 

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. March 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, March 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Top 5 Questions About Solving Water Hammer
• Thick as Sludge – Evaluating the Hidden Costs Of Your Digester Mixing Process [Webinar] Vaughan

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany discuss how to build your personal brand through your company brand.

Then Charli interviews Mike Murphy, Segment Communications Lead for ABB, all about the ABB Solutions Podcast series.

[Interview Starts @26:30]

Watch this episode on YouTube

Mike Murphy has been with ABB over 18 years.  and is currently their Segment Communications Lead, based in Greenville, South Carolina. He works with product managers to promote the right product with the right message.  He recently became the host of the ABB Solutions Podcast series. Murphy has an undergraduate degree in Communications from University of South Carolina and an MBA from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. 

 
www.abb.com
ABB solutions podcast: https://abbsolutionspodcast.buzzsprout.com/
linkedin.com/in/mike-murphy-9a076226

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. March. 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Feb. 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• United Electric Controls: The Best Maintenance Ally Is Information
• Triangle Pump Components Inc. Expands Manufacturing Facility

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany discuss why personal branding is  important to leadership.

Then Charli interviews  Hyon Rah, a sustainability and resilience strategist about steps we can take now to build a sustainable future.

[Interview Starts @31:18]

Watch this episode on YouTube

Hyon K. Rah, MSc, MArch, Fitwel Amb, LEED AP, ENV SP, EcoDistricts AP, is a sustainability and resilience strategist with over a decade of experience developing and delivering strategies to future-proof our built environment. She helps business and policy leaders in commercial real estate, energy, and water management through systems-based and context-specific sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies. She has lived in 7 countries and worked in over 20, navigating different disciplinary, cultural, and regulatory landscapes in five languages.

Rah is a faculty member for Goucher College’s Historic Preservation Master’s program, where she guides future preservation leaders to position historic preservation to help shape a future that is equitable, sustainable, and resilient. In her capacity as an appointed member of the Baltimore County Design Review Panel, Rah helps formulate binding recommendations on sustainability and resilience for developers, designers, and planners in the region.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hyon-rah/
https://rah.solutions/ 

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Feb. 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Feb. 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Wanner: Reducing Energy Usage up to 50% for Industrial Sectors
• Armstrong Helps Customers Reduce Energy Use by over 2.5 Billion kWh
• Personal Brand & Leadership

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany discuss trends and predictions for social media in 2022.

Then Charli interviews  Robert X. Perez, Rotating Equipment Engineer and author.

[Interview Starts @25:25]

Robert Perez is a mechanical engineer with more than 40 years of rotating equipment experience in the petrochemical industry. He has worked in petroleum refineries, chemical facilities, and gas processing plants. He earned a BSME degree from Texas A&M University at College Station, an MSME degree from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a Texas PE license. 

Mr. Perez has authored numerous articles for magazines and conference proceedings, five books, and coauthored five books covering machinery reliability. He is also the technical editor of Kane’s Rotating Machinery Dictionary.

Pump Wisdom: Essential Centrifugal Pump Knowledge for Operators and Specialists, 2nd Edition; Wiley Publishing, 2022

Rotating Machinery Fundamentals and Advances, Volume 1: Design, Modeling and Reliability in Rotating Machinery; Scrivener Publishing, 2022

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-perez-43a1ba55/ 

Watch this episode on YouTube

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Feb. 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Feb. 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Social Media Implications
• ABB Takes Action in Fight Against Climate Change
• “Flushable” Wipes Clogging Issues Solved by Removing the Wet Well
• Sprout Social Webinar

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany wrap up their series on social media stats by talking about their commitments for 2022.

Then Charli interviews Yolanda Kokayi, Senior Director of Marketing & Communications at Mueller, about how she got into the industry and her take on the best way to adapt to change in the water industry.

[Interview Starts @24:32]

A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Yolanda has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications with a specialization in Broadcast Journalism. She has an extensive background in B2B marketing, communications, and public relations. As a marketer, she is a passionate brand advocate and has worked over the past two decades helping leading companies build engaging brands and telling their stories. 

 Yolanda is a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Empowering Women, Manufacturing Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Marketing Council and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council.

​For more information on Yolanda, visit linkedin.com/in/yolandakokayi
https://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Feb. 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Feb. 15
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Social Media Usage Numbers
• Social Media Implications
• SEPCO Event: The Importance of Coaching & Mentoring in the Reliability Journey
• Sulzer: New parts for legacy turbomachinery

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Bethany and Bekah talk about implications for the social media stats from 2021.

Then Charli interviews several members from the Fluid Sealing Association, all about PFAS, PTFE, and legislation surrounding the chemicals.

Joining us on the interview today we have:
Ron Frisard, Global Training Manager at AW Chesterton, Rob Coffee, VP of Sales & Marketing at Proco Products, and Phil Mahoney, Director of Engineering Services for AW Chesterton.

Charli digs into what they do for the industry and also touches on PFAS and the critical work that the FSA is leading when it comes to dissecting these and advocating for the chemicals under this umbrella that are in fact not hazardous materials - an example of this is PTFE that is critical for manufacturers in the sealing industry and shouldn’t be looped into the PFAS conversation and legislation. 

[Interview Starts @20:54]

Links to connect:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronfrisard/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-coffee-35808513/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-mahoney-9677141/
https://www.fluidsealing.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Person of the Week
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeroymathias/ 
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Feb. 9
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Jan 18
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Industry Person of the Week
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Tsurumi’s GSZ pump 
• Social Media Implications

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week Charli and Bethany launch the new season of the #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast by recapping their 2021 and highlighting social media stats.

Then Charli interviews Jamie Eichenberger, current president of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). They talk about the new infrastructure budget that was passed and how that impacts the water industry, they talk about diversity, equity and inclusion and tangible things we can do to make a change where we are, and then the discuss the importance of telling our industry's story.

[Interview Starts @31:55]

Jamie Eichenberger, P.E., is the 2021-22 president of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), an international organization of water quality professionals headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

Jamie is an associate vice president and senior project manager with HDR in Denver.

Jamie has been an active member of WEF since college, participating in student chapter events that ultimately led to his first job in the water sector. A member of the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association, Jamie served as president in 2010, before joining the House of Delegates where he served as Speaker of the House in 2015-16. He has also served on several WEF committees including the Government Affairs, Public Communications and Outreach, Finance, and Audit committees.

Jamie is a professional engineer and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in environmental engineering, from the Colorado School of Mines.

Connect with Jamie:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-eichenberger-21bb431b/
https://www.wef.org/

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Jan 12
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Jan 18
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Industry Person of the Week
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Sustainability Summit
• Bowl Diffuser Optimization
• Performance Tracking in Pump Manager

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Thank you to our sponsors of the podcast:

ERL @3:45 - https://www.erlmarine.com/

Cornell Pump @27:41 - https://cornellpump.com/

Proco Products @39:27 - https://www.procoproducts.com/ 

This week Charli and Bethany celebrate some highlights from the last 100 episodes of the #EmpoweringIndustryPodcast!

Then Charli interviews Steve Hernandez, founder of the WaterWisePro Community. They talk about the importance of leveling up in your career and personal life, about Steve's successful event the WaterWisePro Maintenance & Construction Expo, and look forward to even better things to come in the next year. 

[Interview Starts @35:40]

Steve Hernandez started in the water industry as a summer hire in 1999. He has held almost all field positions in distribution, production water quality and treatment, and has been in management for the past 13 years. He started @WaterWisePro  on Instagram to learn more about the industry and how other water professionals are doing their jobs.  This venture quickly turned into, not only a training program for water distribution and treatment operators but a culture that encourages, personal and professional growth, along with pride of the and commitment  by all to strengthen the industry.

He has trained over 3,000 California Distribution and Treatment Operators in the past 3 1/2 years through WaterWisePro Training 

www.waterwisepro.com

Watch this episode on YouTube.


Resources and Links:

• Get the digital edition
• Sign up for the Newsletter
• Nominate an Industry Person of the Week
• Empowering Women Meetup - Wed. Dec. 8
• Empowering Brands Meetup - Tues, Dec. 21
• Empowering Women Podcast
• Industry Person of the Week
• Sponsor Empowering Women
• Lunch & Learn with Vince
• Leadership Summit
• Six Tips To Make Holiday Shutdown A Success
• Blackmer® Increasing Manufacturing Footprint & Production Capabilities  

https://empoweringpumps.com
https://empoweringwomeninindustry.com

Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
[email protected]

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/