To coincide with our annual Women in Industry issue, Supply House Times will spotlight a new PHCP-PVF supply chain female executive each day during the work week in the month of March. If you would like to be included or know of someone who should be included in our 2019 presentation, email Chief Editor Mike Miazga at miazgam@bnpmedia.com.

Jennifer Deaton
Company: J.L. Brasher Co. (Kannapolis, North Carolina)
Position: Owner/President (13 years)

As told to Supply House Times by Jennifer’s husband, Jon Deaton. To Jon Deaton’s knowledge, Jennifer is the only female owner/principle of a plumbing industry rep agency in the company’s territories.

How did you get involved in the industry?

Jennifer’s mother and father had bought the company from the maternal grandfather in 1981.  As a small business, her parents had every desire to keep the business in the family and felt that their younger daughter would be a great choice.  Running on the successes their parents had created in the territory, Jennifer began working for the JL Brasher Co. in January 2005.  And now after 13 years in the business, Jennifer is almost halfway through a succession plan with her parents.

What do you like the most about your job/company you work for? 

Building relationships and maintaining trust with customers with product reliability.  We have been fortunate to have represented esteemed manufacturers since 1958. 

How important do you feel it is to attract young professionals into this industry?

Having young professionals entering our workforce is vital to the success of our industry due largely in part to the ever-changing and evolving landscape of the way we communicate and market ourselves. Young minds bring a new perspective and can often help rejuvenate teams.

How important do you feel it is to attract women into the industry? 

Although the road to get to this point had its challenges, it’s extremely gratifying to have earned the respect from my peers and customers in an industry that has long been dominated by a predominately male workforce.  Women tend to avoid male-dominated industries for many reasons; including, perception of incompetence, pay gaps, lack of support and unfair treatment in their role.  As more women immerse themselves in this type of environment, the more gains that can be made on rectifying these negative impacts. This will, in turn, help to continue the promotion of equality and dispel any preconceived notions younger women may have when considering their career path.