Empowering Pumps recently began inviting people to Nominate a Pump Professional, so we were super excited to see this individual get nominated, especially with Engineers Week right around the corner!

Today’s Pump Person of the Week is none other than Christy Bermensolo, CEO of Engineered Software, Inc. We had a Q&A with this awesome industry pro and this is what she had to share:

Q.How did you get started working in the pump industry?

Christy: My parents began serving the pump industry in the early 80’s with technology solutions to assist in the search and selection of pumps and the design and operation of fluid handling systems. Having grown up in a family business serving the industry, I can’t really put a finger on exactly when I started ‘working’ in the industry.

My first official job for Engineered Software, Inc. (ESI) was digitizing pump curves for use in PUMP-FLO® and entering piping system design information into PIPE-FLO®. Before that, I was putting together bulk mailings, collating user manuals, and formatting disks in front of movies at home with the family. Since I only got “paid” for that with trips to Dairy Queen, I have a tough time calling that my first job, so we’ll just say that’s how I spent my free time growing up (::chuckles::).

Q. What is your favorite part of your job? What are you most proud of? What do you love about working in the pump industry?

Christy: We have a spectacular group of people working at Engineered Software, and my favorite part of the job is talking with them about how they’re contributing to our success. We’re a company of problem solvers, and I’m immensely proud of the way our teams come together to innovate around our core vision, which is to provide tools and services to help get the right pump into fluid systems that run efficiently and reliably.

What I love the most about working in the pump industry is the breadth of influence you can have in the world. Fluid handling systems are the hidden infrastructure which helps support the way we work, live, and play. We work with many different sectors of the fluid handling industry, including pump manufacturers, distributors, large EPC’s, small design firms, and industrial facilities across just about every industrial segment. Getting these diverse groups using technology to focus on the proper equipment selection, system design, and system operation is our mission.

Read “7 Things You Didn’t Know System Simulation Could Do.”

I am also very excited about the period we’re in within the industry. Our customers are embracing technology more than ever before, integrating our products into their core business processes to save time, money, and power. Having our technology play an integral role in our client’s business is a responsibility we take seriously; whether it’s ensuring plant capacity can meet demand on a weekly basis, or ensuring sales tools are accessible 24/7. This relationship also allows us to work with truly innovative clients to continually develop our tools and services to fulfill their ongoing needs.

Q. What advice would you give to someone new to the industry?

Christy: The pump and fluid handling industries are immense and can be overwhelming. Many different pump types, spanning many different industries, and each industry has several types of fluid systems within their plants and/or buildings. The advice I would provide someone new to the industry would be to get over the fact that you won’t know everything about fluid handling systems. Be sure you can articulate what you do know well, so you can bridge the gap with other industry experts within the field. Then get involved in organizations such as the Hydraulic Institute to ensure you have an opportunity to make connections with other experts and contribute your knowledge to the industry.