Do you have any traditions to celebrate the new year? In my family, we all go around and we each say our proudest accomplishments for the year. Going into 2025, my proudest accomplishment was perfecting my chocolate chip cookie recipe – which may seem small, but that’s just because you haven’t tried them! This year, though, I have a lot more to be proud of. I got engaged while on vacation in Washington this year, surrounded by the beautiful waters of Lake Crescent. I also started working at Plumbing & Mechanical magazine in April of this year.

Deciding to switch to a brand new field after three years was certainly no easy decision. I had worked in the jewelry industry as an editor for three years, and what girl doesn’t love jewelry? As much as I loved looking at gorgeous rings and necklaces all day, there was something missing. I didn’t wake up with a passion for what I was doing; I was working for a paycheck.

The jewelry industry was all about hopping on trends, and trying to convince people to buy things that, at the end of the day, they didn’t really need. The luxury business, I quickly found out, was all style over substance. It wasn’t for me.

I know that it’s difficult to find a job that doesn’t always feel like a job, but I also knew that it wasn’t impossible. My mom always told me, “If you have a job you love, you’ll still work, but you’ll be a lot less miserable!” I took that sage advice to heart.

I wasn’t sure exactly what industry I wanted to work in, but I knew I wanted it to be something that actually mattered. After some soul-searching, I decided to return to my family roots in plumbing.

When I started at Plumbing & Mechanical magazine, I was welcomed into the community with open arms. I’ll never forget the kind words that were sent to me after I published my first article! I’ve already learned so much from this job, and met so many incredible people. I can say without any shadow of a doubt that the work we’re doing here matters.

That sense of purpose is what ultimately led me here, and it’s also what shapes how I view this industry as a whole. In just a short time working in the industry, I’ve come to realize that this is a field built less on flash, and more on follow-through. The people I’ve spoken with aren’t chasing what’s new simply because it’s new. They’re asking whether it works, whether it lasts, and whether it serves the people who rely on it every day.

As I start a new year — and reflect on a new chapter in my own career — that mindset is what gives me confidence in where this industry is headed.

In just a short time working in the industry, I’ve come to realize that this is a field built less on flash, and more on follow-through.

Whether the conversation centers on new technologies, water efficiency, workforce development or evolving codes, the response is rarely reactive. Instead, it’s thoughtful. Solutions and systems are tested, refined and proven in the field before they are widely embraced. In an industry where failure has real consequences — for buildings, for budgets, and for public health — that discipline matters.

It’s also what makes plumbing and mechanical work so resilient, albeit quietly so. While other sectors chase disruption, this industry prioritizes reliability. Progress here isn’t measured by how quickly something can be adopted, but by how well it performs five, 10, or 20 years down the line. That long view is a major strength strength.

As we look ahead to the year to come, the challenges are real. Aging infrastructure, labor constraints and rising expectations around efficiency and sustainability aren’t going away. But, luckily for us, neither is the industry’s ability to adapt with intention. I’ve seen firsthand how professionals across the supply chain, from manufacturers and engineers to contractors and reps, approach change with an incredible mix of curiosity and caution, innovation and accountability.

That’s why I start this year confident. Not because the path forward is easy, but because this is an industry grounded in fundamentals, guided by experience and committed to getting it right. And, as someone who has found both purpose and community here, that’s a perspective I’m proud to carry into 2026.