Women in Irrigation Conference

NOV. 18, 2020 | 12-4 p.m. Eastern

Women in the irrigation industry — come join other passionate, like-minded professionals as we explore the challenges and opportunities in our industry. Hear from women who have navigated their way to achieving successful careers in irrigation.

Be a part of this unique event as we gather virtually to engage, connect, empower and support each other to grow and achieve success in this industry.

Cost:
By Nov. 5 | Member $99 | Nonmember $119
After Nov. 5 | Member $129 | Nonmember $149

Sponsored by

Premier Sponsor

Presenting Sponsors

Conference Schedule

Conference times are Eastern time zone. Times and schedule are subject to change.

12:00 p.m.
Welcome
Hunter Industries Inc.

12:10 p.m.
Resiliency as Women in Irrigation: What 2020 Has Taught Us
Meg Mason, Sr. Director of Marketing, HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.
2020 has been a real roller-coaster ride. With remote work, fewer in-person meetings and organizational priority shifts, so many things have changed — including this conference! We’ve all had to be resilient in our personal and professional lives. At times it’s almost comical — you’re frantically hitting mute on a work call as one child can’t log in to their school Zoom session, the dog is barking at the Amazon delivery person, and your spouse takes a loud virtual meeting, all at once. Other times, you may be panicking that you can’t continue on like this for even one more day. Listen in as Meg Mason offers her perspective on what 2020 has taught us and how we can continue to be resilient women both in and out of the workplace.

12:40 p.m.
Breakout Rooms: Resiliency

1:00 p.m. | Wellness Break

1:20 p.m.
Becoming Confident Communicators
Denise Mullikin, Vice President of Domestic Sales, Hunter Industries Inc.
Tough conversations are happening in business now more than ever. During this session, you will learn some strategies for approaching uncomfortable topics, ways to give constructive feedback and the power of owning up to failures. Additionally, you will leave with tools and tips to feel confident saying what needs to be said.

1:50 p.m.
Breakout Rooms: Confident Communicators

2:10 p.m. | Wellness Break

2:30 p.m.
Pushing Past Boundaries: Sharing Stories of Achievement
Panelists: Carol Colein, Executive Director, American Society of Irrigation Consultants (representing HARCO Fittings); Kristen Hillger, Director of Operations, Eco-Drip Irrigation; Jaclyn Ishimaru-Gachina, CEO, Gachina Landscape Management; and Katie Powell, President, Munro Companies Inc.
Moderator: Christine Sionne, Trade Show Manager, Hunter Industries Inc.
Tap into the expertise of these industry leaders as they discuss how to build a competitive advantage, driving change and creating success on a company and personal level.

3:30 p.m.
Making Connections

Speakers

Meg Mason

Senior Director of Marketing, HydroPoint Data Systems Inc.

Meg Mason’s career led her to HydroPoint, a smart water management organization that offers both WeatherTRAK and Baseline smart irrigation solutions. She is responsible for ensuring HydroPoint has more conversations with potential customers and more engagement with existing customers. After various marketing and communications roles in finance and biotech, her current role brings together Mason’s experience in sales and marketing with her natural inclination for data and analysis.

She started her college years at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo as a soil science major, graduating with a biology degree, and she is now able to put that knowledge into practice. Mason loves spending time outdoors with her family as they go to the beach, ride bikes and hike throughout Sonoma County in California.

Denise Mullikin

Vice President of Domestic Sales, Hunter Industries Inc.

In her role at Hunter, Denise Mullikin leads 85 green industry sales professionals in the United States and Canada, along with Hunter’s Global Sales Operations, Global Sales Support and Domestic Customer Service teams. As a proud ambassador of the Hunter culture, she believes in creating exceptional customer experiences, achieving positive business outcomes through strategic collaboration and partnerships, and delivering on Hunter’s commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability.

During her 23 years with the organization, Milliken has also held key positions in distribution sales in the United States and Latin America. She is a graduate of Scripps College and currently lives with her husband and two children in San Marcos, California. Outside of work, she enjoys golfing, gardening, traveling and going to the beach.

Panelists

Carol Colein

Executive Director | American Society of Irrigation Consultants (representing HARCO Fittings)

Carol Colein’s longtime career as an irrigation consultant and her experience as a member of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants for the last 35+ years have led her to her current role as executive director of the ASIC. She strives to work with the Board of Directors to ensure the ASIC continues to provide meaningful opportunities for member interaction and education — a new challenge in our current virtual format. Colein has loved her career in the irrigation industry and all the people in it. She is especially happy to see more women becoming an integral part of the industry and looks forward to participating in the upcoming Women in Irrigation Conference.

Kristen Hillger

Director of Operations | Eco-Drip Irrigation

Kristen Hillger is the director of operations for Eco-Drip Irrigation, where she oversees the business activities of Eco-Drip’s eight branch locations spread throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. She began her career with Eco-Drip prior to finishing her college education, and while working, she received her Bachelor’s of Science from Texas Tech University in agricultural and applied economics. Hillger then went on to receive her master’s from Texas A&M University in agricultural leadership and development, achieving a lifelong goal to receive her Aggie ring and diploma! Aside from work, she is involved in the Irrigation Association and the Young Alumni Associations of the College of Agriculture at both of her respective universities. She also participates in the music ministry at her home church with her family. Being a mother is one of her proudest accomplishments, and she loves to spend as much time as she can with her three children and her husband, Darren. They love the outdoors and have a family dream to travel to as many national parks as possible!

H. Jaclyn Ishimaru-Gachina

CEO/President | Gachina Landscape Management

Jackie Gachina was thrust into the green industry in 2016, when her husband John, founder of Gachina Landscape Management, lost his battle to cancer. Within one month, she assumed the role of CEO, overseeing day-to-day operations and setting the vision for the future. Prior to this time, Jackie was not involved in the business other than as a sounding board for her husband; she literally jumped in and failure was not an option. The 350-person strong company, with revenues of $27.4M, worked diligently to bring back the sense of community in the company through its culture. They focused on technology, cleaning up accounts/contracts and safety. For 2020, Gachina Landscape Management had forecasted $40M with 430 employees; however, they will not hit that goal. Jackie’s focus has shifted to avoiding layoffs and keeping team members and their families healthy and safe. She has made time to really look at maximizing marketing channels and altering the sales process. Outside of the company, Jackie works with the National Association of Landscape Professionals to advance inclusion and diversity in the landscape and lawn care industry. Most importantly, she continues the fight against prostate cancer and possibly saving some of the 150,000 lives of men working in the green industry.

Katie Munro Powell

President | Munro

Katie Powell is the president of Munro, a manufacturer of pumps, pump controls, pumping stations and accessory products for the irrigation industry. With a foundation in marketing and business strategy, Powell has also worked in the financial services, telecom and higher education industries. In addition to operating Munro, she also leads an industrial supply business that serves western Colorado and eastern Utah. She will join the Irrigation Association Board of Directors in 2021, was the chair of the IA’s Smart Irrigation Month Committee for two years, is the chair-elect of the board of her local Chamber of Commerce and is a Girl Scout troop leader. Raised with the values of entrepreneurship and hard work, both her father and her mother owned and operated their own businesses, while raising four kids. Powell has three accomplished sisters and two daughters who are sure to change the world, and she believes strongly in the power and difference that women bring to teams and to leadership.

Christine Sionne

Trade Show Manager | Hunter Industries

A proud member of the Hunter Industries Marketing team for more than 30 years, Christine Sionne leads the company’s global trade show and custom display initiatives. She earned her Trade Show Marketing certification in 2013 and is currently mentoring exhibit industry professionals to achieve Diamond status. Sionne is constantly on the lookout for exciting ways to advance the exhibit and green industries. In January 2020, she was selected as one of five All-Star Award recipients by Exhibitor Magazine for outstanding achievements in trade show management. She also led the development of the innovative Hunter Presenter App, which earned first place in the category of Best New Media in the 2019 Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association Communications Contest. An active member of the Irrigation Association for almost three decades, Sionne joined the Exhibit Advisory Committee in 1991, served as committee chair in 2014 and returned by request in January 2020. She continually seeks to grow her leadership skills and has been a Toastmaster for just over a year. As president of Mojalet Dance Collective from 2003 to 2017, she helped the organization acquire nonprofit status while elevating the dance community in San Diego, California. She was also recently invited to join the exclusive Lightfair International Exhibit Advisory Committee, a goal for over 10 years. Outside of work, she enjoys travel and photography.