EMPOWERING PUMPS & INDUSTRY CO - Key Persons
Having joined Empowering Brands in 2017, Amber Brewster-Graning is part of our Chicago-based operations team, performing e-publishing and social media support. With a background in sales and management, Amber enjoys family game nights and time with her friends.
Ari Copeland, PO is an Operations Specialist at Black & Veatch Corporation. Ari also worked at the American Water Works Association as a Water Quality Engineer - working with volunteers to create webcasts, edit and provide AWWA's manuals of practice and plan several of AWWA Conferences.
Ari is heavily involved as a volunteer with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC); He is a board member of AWWA serving as a Director at Large (starting at ACE21) and sits on AWWA Diversity and Membership Inclusion Committee (DMIC). Ari is also a member of the Association of Minority Speakers. Ari is a dual-licensed water (FL, ABC) and wastewater operator (MO, FL) and holds a professional operator's designation issues by ABC.
Ari enjoys water and wastewater treatment operations as well as talking about topics such as inclusion and equity - stressing how it benefits companies, industries and really everyone within the industries they serve.
Ari holds a bachelor's degree of Civil Engineering from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA and holds a MS degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio. Ari holds a certificate from the Yale School of Management on Fostering Inclusive and Diversity Experience.
Bekah started in the industry selling nuts, bolts, and washers. From there, she moved up to a technical sales position for pumps, compressors, and pneumatic tools. When she wasn't in the office selling, she was in the shop helping manufacturing with whatever was needed that day. Bekah joined the team with a desire to grow in the industry. In her free time, you can find her hanging out with her pups, enjoying live music, or relaxing outside enjoying nature.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Founder
- President
- CEO of Empowering Brands
- Leader for Social Media
Charli K. Matthews is a thought leader for social media and marketing in the pump industry with more than a 17 years experi ence connecting pump professionals around the world. Charli is the Founder and CEO of Empowering Brands that help customers and users to make valuable connections.
Charli is heavily involved with the Fluid Sealing Association; she formerly served as vice chair of membership and marketing chair for the organization.
Drawing on her experience with leading organizations and top trade shows, Charli empowers engineers and operators to network with professionals to grow their knowledge, brand and business through digital media. She helps companies transition from traditional media to the ever-changing contemporary digital space.
Charli holds a bachelor's degree from the Culverhouse College of Business at the University of Alabama.
Charli K. Matthews, the Founder & CEO of Empowering Pumps & Equipment, has worked with the pump and equipment industry since 2005 and is a known leader for building brands, growing online networks, and helping industrial companies embrace digital media. Her passion and deep understanding of how to leverage social media platforms has enabled Empowering Pumps and Equipment™ to become the connection hub for industry.
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Analyst
- Senior Research Analyst at Comparesoft
Charlie Green is Senior Research Analyst at Comparesoft. Maintenance, Manufacturing, IoT, Facilities Management and Asset Management are his key research areas. Charlie holds a masters degree which allows him to offer data led and empirical research driven reports.
Job Titles:
- Manufacturing
- Vice President of Communications, Marketing
Expertise: Vice President of Communications, Marketing & Sales with Expertise in Corporate Affairs, Growth & Innovation, Customer Experience, Marketing, Strategic Planning
Kristin Graybill is the Vice President of Communications, Marketing & Sales. She leads MAPI's External Affairs, focused on marketing, partnerships, and events open to the wider manufacturing community. Before joining MAPI, Kristin served as the director of digital marketing for Government and Healthcare at LexisNexis Risk Solutions and the director of digital strategy and marketing at ConnellyWorks, Inc., a government technology-focused agency. She started her career working for a Member of Congress, at a political consulting agency, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in press and policy related support roles. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Allegheny College.
Job Titles:
- Graphic Design & Digital Media Manager
Mallorie Bowling graduated from Franklin University and has spent the last 9 years specializing in B2B marketing for industrial manufacturing companies. She began her career working in the pump and equipment industry and made her way back in 2021 when she joined Empowering Pumps & Equipment. She enjoys working with companies to make their vision come to life, and spends her free time with her husband and two children in her free time.
Pump Wisdom: Chapter 13: Pump Condition Monitoring: Pump Vibration, Rotor Balance, and Effect on Bearing Life (Excerpt)
Randal Ferman has more than 45 years of experience in the pump industry. He is a registered Professional Engineer in California and in Texas. During his 32 years with Flowserve, a global pump manufacturer, his responsibilities covered a broad range of engineering assignments. He is presently Principal, Ekwestrel Engineering LLC, Austin, Texas, providing services on new and existing pumping equipment and systems. His clients span a range of industries including oil & gas, electric power generation, water, wastewater, solids handling, pump manufacturing, engineering and construction, energy efficiency, pipeline transportation, and pump service and repair.
Job Titles:
- Mechanical Engineer
- Rotating Machinery Consultant
Expertise: Process Machinery in Oil & Gas Applications
Robert Perez is mechanical engineer with more than 42 years of rotating equipment experience in the petrochemical industry. He has worked in petroleum refineries, chemical facilities, and gas processing plants. He earned a BSME degree from Texas A&M University at College Station, an MSME degree from the University of Texas at Austin and holds a Texas PE license. Mr. Perez has written numerous technical articles for magazines and conferences proceedings and has authored 5 books and coauthored 6 books covering machinery reliability. He collaborated with machinery reliability expert, Heinz Bloch, on his most recent book Pump Wisdom: Essential Centrifugal Pump Knowledge for Operators and Specialists, 2nd Edition (Wiley 2022). He is also the technical editor of Kane's Rotating Machinery Dictionary.
Job Titles:
- Senior Analyst
- Mechanical Engineer With
- Senior Market Research Analyst
Sandeep K. Mukunda is a senior analyst following and recording the developments in the global field devices and industrial automation market for process industries. He has more than ten years of work experience in the industrial valves and actuators space with various roles in engineering, market research and strategic consulting.
With his experience as a market research analyst in leading B2B market research analyst firms such as Frost & Sullivan and ARC advisory group, Sandeep specializes in industrial process automation and digital transformation research. He has worked with several leading suppliers from North America and Europe for developing digital transformation market strategies and uncover new growth potential by organic expansion or through mergers and acquisitions.
Sandeep is a mechanical engineer with MSc. (master's in science) degree from Cranfield University, UK.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
- President
Vince has worked in the media business within the pump and equipment industries since 2013. Executing sales and marketing strategies with excellence for his clients, he has received several awards over the years. His ability to understand different forms of media and the potential each yields when strategically utilized in a marketing program, Marino is looking forward to helping Empowering Pumps' Partners innovate with modern technologies.
Will is a graduate from the University of Alabama with a degree in Brand Marketing. With over a decade of sales experience, Will has consistently demonstrated his ability to understand client needs, deliver tailored solutions, and build long-lasting partnerships. His background includes significant roles in account management and sales, where he has successfully managed portfolios, driven business development, and fostered relationships. During his time away from work, Will enjoys spending time with my wife and kids (a girl, Rilynn, and son, Blanton, who are 16 months and 5 days apart in age), playing golf, and cooking mostly on the grill or smoker. Will is new to the pump industry but is looking forward to learning more and building lasting relationships into the future.