Women in Water: Sherri Houston, Franklin Electric

About the author:

Bob Crossen is the senior managing editor for Water & Wastes Digest. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].

Compiled by Bob Crossen

Why Water?

I applied to Franklin Electric back in 2007 primarily because of the opportunities for growth. I was an Administrative Assistant and wanted to diversify myself by pursuing other roles. My journey continued, and I took on several roles in marketing. This led me to product management and eventually into my current position as e-Commerce Merchandising Manager. I have learned so much about the industry and our products in that time frame, and I'm now able to help consumers make better buying decisions. People will always need water, so it's a very stable industry to be in.

What about your current position excites you?

I manage content on e-Commerce, specifically for Amazon.com. It's exciting to be able to develop content to improve the customer experience and help the customer purchase the right product for the job. This saves on returns, improves customer satisfaction and increases sales.

What is your moonshot idea for solving what you consider to be the most important water industry problem today?

Climate change has many people worried and melting glaciers could increase the water levels in our oceans. Increased temperatures are causing draughts around the world. I think looking at desalination (removing salt from salt water) could be the answer to both of those problems. By utilizing the excess ocean water and transferring that water to areas around the world that are short of water, it's a win-win. This could solve many problems.

What role has mentorship played in your career to date?

When I started with Franklin Electric I was an Administrative Assistance, but I wanted to grow and was willing to learn. Management provided me with the mentorship I needed to expand my product knowledge and grow within the organization.

What piece of media (books, TV shows, movies, games, podcasts, etc.) has had the greatest impact on you in the past 12 months? 

The documentary "The Biggest Little Farm" gave me so much hope for a better world. It stresses diversity in farming and shows how using this strategy can protect farmlands from droughts and flooding. It's an amazing documentary and I wish I could share this movie with every farmer out there. This strategy could really help our planet.

What does it mean to you to be a woman who works in the water industry?

Women are becoming more prominent in this industry which is great to see. We have much to offer including different perspectives, insights and problem-solving tactics.