Leadership Team

Most of my experience was acquired right here at Watkins Wellness. I joined Watkins Manufacturing in 1982. Since that time, I have held a variety of positions, including Marketing Assistant, Marketing/Advertising Manager, National Sales Manager, Director of Sales and Marketing, General Manager, Executive Vice-President and now President.

Watkins has done many things well, but one thing it has done exceptionally well is focus on the customer. I believe that if you take care of your customers, they will take care of you. I try to see things through their eyes, and put myself in their shoes. That said, the customers are not always right. As a part of our organization by extension, like most groups, our customers are looking to be led. They want to know that someone here at Watkins is looking ahead, innovating and has the wherewithal to take appropriate risks at the appropriate time. So to sum it all up, our goals are to do right by our customers and employees, but also to focus on the future—what’s next—and whenever possible be the first to get there.

People choose to work here because we actually “walk the walk.” We post our values and do our very best to live by them. Also, nothing is boring at Watkins. We try new things. We push the envelope. We are never standing still.

I’ve always worked in a service-oriented job. When I was 16, one of my first jobs was as a child social worker. I helped children cope with parents who were drug addicts. I knew then that my passion was working in a people services role. I spent several years in the finance/banking industry, where I held positions as a Compensation Manager, Sales and Management Trainer and a Computer-Based Training Analyst.

I joined the Watkins family in 1992 as the Human Resources Manager. I was promoted a few years later to Director, and became Vice President of Human Resources in 1999. As the Vice President of the People Strategy and Services group, I oversee everything from recruitment and employee training to benefit administration, compensation and payroll and employee safety and wellness. One of my team’s main objectives is to create programs that make a difference in the lives of our employees and those they support.

It is important to me to support an environment where people enjoy coming to work each day. We all need to work, so why not have fun doing it? Treating each other with respect, being open and honest and genuinely caring for one another are equally important. Watkins received a 97% favorable score in our recent company survey, with a 91.4% employee response rate. So I’m not the only one who enjoys working here—many others do, too!

On a personal note, I am a native San Diegan who loves to fish, spend time with my family and friends and volunteer with charitable organizations. I’ve been on the Board of Directors for the Vista Boys and Girls Club and served on the Board of Directors for North County Solutions for Change, a homeless shelter. Charitable giving is important to me and it is a Watkins core value.

I have a diverse career background in all disciplines of engineering: electro-mechanical, chemical, manufacturing and civil. My focus has been on the innovation and product development sides of defense, aerospace, bio-med and consumer goods. I also have a strong and diverse history in concept-to-grave product management, research, testing, and qualification of products, processes, and material science. I bring all of these skills to my job at Watkins Wellness every day.

The openness and transparency at Watkins clearly establishes the needs of our team effort and how that translates to the overall business fitness. Expectations are always clearly defined, feedback is always available and successes are always recognized by the whole team as a contribution to the overall organization. One person’s successes benefit everybody, and that’s how we look at it.

I love working at Watkins because the company encourages work-life balance. There is also a focus on each employee’s safety and fulfillment within the work environment, as well as encouragement and support for the well-being of the employee, his or her family and life outside of work environment.

I grew up in Europe and graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in International Business and International Economics. I started with Watkins Wellness as the International Service Specialist, with a focus on coordinating international tech support, service training, warranty procedures and customer service.

I transferred to Watkins Europe in Belgium as International Customer Service Manager and then was selected for the position of European Sales Manager in 2003. In that role, I was responsible for business development, managing regional sales managers and the European marketing team.

I transferred back to Vista, Calif. as Director of Sales & Marketing–Europe and in 2012, I took on the challenge of VP of International Sales & Marketing. I am responsible for the sales and marketing initiatives outside North America, working with a talented group of team members and dealer partners in more than 70 countries.

I love working at Watkins because the average tenure of our employees is 10+ years. That is testimony to a great company where people like to work. The management team truly cares about every team member.

I have several years of experience in leading international teams around the world, including living and working in Europe twice, for about a year each time. Being aware of cultural differences has enhanced my ability to communicate effectively across borders and time zones.

The Watkins Way defines who we are and what we do, and it positions us as an employer of choice. It is a clearly defined and well-communicated code. These key beliefs guide our actions and show that we value our employees highly. This consistent integration of beliefs and behavior, over a long period, sets us apart from other companies.

These beliefs are important to the success of each employee, and the organization as a whole, because they are a clear and concise code by which we conduct ourselves individually and collectively. When in doubt, The Watkins Way provides unambiguous guidance to make the right decision and take the proper action, which helps us all to be successful.