As we celebrate Women’s History Month and Women in Construction Week, Plumbing & Mechanical is shining the spotlight on 10 influential women who are leading the plumbing industry to great success.

1. How long have you been in the industry?

I’ve been in the plumbing industry for over 20 years, and in many ways, I’ve grown up alongside it (and I still am! There is always so much to learn, I'm humbled every day!). When I first stepped in, my husband had just started our company. It was small — receipts in a shoebox, big dreams and a lot of uncertainty. I came in through the business side, organizing the finances and helping create structure. Over time, that evolved into building systems, developing leaders, shifting our business model to residential service only (away from new construction) and helping shape the culture of what would become Seaside Plumbing.

As the company grew, so did my sense of responsibility to the industry itself. I began advocating for workforce reform and apprenticeship accessibility, working to remove unnecessary licensing barriers that make it harder for good people to enter the trades. I saw firsthand how powerful this industry can be when access is expanded and when people are introduced to the trades as a career path. That’s what ultimately led to launching our nonprofit, Seaside Toolbox Academy — a training and outreach organization dedicated to creating real pathways into skilled trades careers.

2. What is the most rewarding aspect of your career in PHCP-PVF?

The most rewarding part of my career is unlocking potential in others. I get to watch young people step into a trade, build confidence, earn real money, and change the trajectory of their lives. I’ve watched technicians buy their first homes. I’ve watched apprentices become licensed professionals. I’ve watched families break generational poverty lines because someone gave them access to training, mentorship, and belief. We talk about plumbing as infrastructure — but it’s also human infrastructure. When you build a career, you build dignity. You build stability, and hope. There’s nothing more meaningful than that. Getting to start our own non-profit and live out this mission on a larger level has been a dream come true.

3. What do you wish more people understood or knew about the plumbing industry?

First — plumbers are more important than doctors. Without safe water, sanitation, and functioning infrastructure, public health collapses. Plumbing protects entire communities before anyone ever steps into an emergency room. Plumbing is literally one of the major distinctions between developed and developing nations.

Second — this industry is not “just a trade.” It’s technical, strategic and critical to the health of our nation. Yet we continue to put up unnecessary barriers to entry, including licensing bottlenecks that limit workforce growth. I’ve been deeply involved in advocacy work to modernize and remove outdated barriers so we can responsibly grow the next generation of skilled professionals. Through our nonprofit, we’re working to create clearer pathways into the trades — especially for young people who may not see themselves in a four-year college model. There are extraordinary careers here. We just have to make access possible. Plumbing is not a backup plan. It’s a powerful, purpose-driven profession — and it deserves to be treated that way.

Lastly - the trades have given my family and our team stability, purpose, and the ability to change lives - and they can do that for anyone. Now, my work is about making sure that door stays open for all, including women (who are an enormous untapped potential in the trades), and all future generations. It's about shifting stereotypes, so the trades are respected. Dentists and firefights go into elementary schools to teach kids, why not plumbers? They are just as important!