Our Industry Person of the Week is Dianne McMaster. Dianne is a Manager of Water Automation Solutions Business Development at Emerson Automation Solutions.
Q: How did you get started working in your field?
Dianne: I have been blessed with a long career with just one company starting right out of college. I began my career at Westinghouse when I was hired and our division was later acquired by Emerson in 1997. I have been able to move through a variety of roles throughout that time and I am currently a Water Automation Solutions Business Development Manager at Emerson. Our business focus has always helped customers with process control at their plants via our software and hardware platform but we really focused in to become experts in controlling power, water, and wastewater plants to help them automate their sites.
Q: What do you love the most about your job? What are you most proud of?
Dianne: I love the fact that I get to work with people in so many different departments and locations both internally and externally . Many of the customers I met at the start of my career are still in the industry and we have grown our knowledge and careers together. There is always the opportunity to learn something new as well as to share back your knowledge to newer people growing into their roles.
I am proud to been a part of a team that has worked with our customers to help control over 12 billion gallons of water per day with our product and to have relationships with these customers for over 25 years.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work or new to the field?
Dianne: I would advise people to choose to get involved. Once you get past the initial learning of your role, there are great opportunities to learn and grow via networking and joining some organizations in your profession. These groups often times provide training to grow your knowledge, the opportunity to present at conferences and events, and to shape the future of your industry by providing feedback and insight. Several of the groups I have worked with in water and wastewater (AWWA – American Water Works Association, WEF – Water Environment Federation) on the professional level have provided great opportunities at the local and national level to make an impact. Within your company, there are also opportunities meet more people with affinity groups, volunteer opportunities, and work with people outside of your current group to learn more about your business both locally and worldwide.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
Dianne: When you can, giving back to something that you love is a great way to pay your knowledge forward. I have several organizations outside of work that I have had the pleasure to work with, share a passion for their mission, met wonderful people, and hopefully left an impact on those we interface with. A few I work with are the American Lung Association Fight for Air Stair Climb, Penn State New Kensington COMETS (Courses on Math, Engineering, Technology and Science) Program, P3R (Pittsburgh Marathon), and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). I have learned a great deal from these groups, met wonderful people, and also grew in some skills that I can apply to my career.
Fred Rogers is a native Pittsburgher who hosted a show on public television (“Mr. Rogers Neighborhood”) and I have a quote I often share of his that reflects on giving back. “If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.”
Connect with Dianne on LinkedIn.
THANK YOU, DIANNE! WE LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING UP WITH YOU THROUGH THE #PUMPTALK COMMUNITY!
KNOW AN AMAZING PERSON WHO IS MAKING VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS WITHIN INDUSTRY? NOMINATE THEM TO BE AN “INDUSTRY PERSON OF THE WEEK”!
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