Meet the Chairman: Kirk Wilson

Kirk Wilson, VMA Chairman. Source: Flowserve

We recently spoke with VMA’s Chairman Kirk Wilson, president of the Flow Control Division at Flowserve, to learn more about him and his experience in the industry, his vision for VMA and what he does in his not frequent enough downtime!

Tell us about your background. Where did you study, and how did you get involved in this industry?

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in mechanical engineering. I started my career in the pump industry as an application engineer for Ingersoll-Rand and basically never left the company. Over the years, the industry consolidated, and I ultimately ended up in Flowserve, serving in various leadership roles on the rotating equipment side of our business. In 2019, I transitioned into the valve side of our business as President of the Flow Control Division. So, I have been in the flow control equipment industry for 38 years, but focused on the valve industry for the last six years. I have enjoyed learning and contributing to Flowserve’s valve business and engaging with our valve industry peers as a board member of the VMA.

Sustainability, energy expansion, government regulations and legislation on PFAS, taxes and tariffs are all hot topics right now. What other issues do you think are pressing that the industry and VMA need to focus on in the coming year? 

These topics are the areas where we believe VMA is currently creating the most value for our membership and the industry, and we’ll continue to advocate for our member companies on these and other issues as they arise. Other areas of opportunity that I see for the VMA in the future are:

• Workforce staffing and development: While the pandemic brought this to light and while it has improved some, the industry still needs more workers at all levels. This is especially true in the U.S.
• Automation and AI: With fewer workers, our industry and the broader manufacturing industry need to find ways to do more with less. AI will be a big part of this, so understanding the opportunities for our industry and capitalizing on those will become a differentiator for companies.
• Navigating geopolitical shifts: The global political and business ground rules of the past 50+ years are changing and as businesses we need to understand what these changes are and the possible implications to us to manage our operations to meet demand. We need to be more agile and decisive, and we need to spend time on foresight and developing contingency plans for scenarios which may or may not ever come to fruition. 

What do you see as the biggest challenges we face in the industry today? What about the greatest opportunities?

As far as opportunities, I think there are favorable, long-term macro-trends including energy expansion, electrification, digitization and automation.

For challenges,  geopolitical uncertainty, end-market stability, aging workforce, knowledge retention and attracting and developing talent are all top of mind for me.

How do you see VMA serving and advancing the industry?

VMA provides a community that supports the North American valve industry and creates value for our membership. As a collective group, we provide insights to our membership and respond to common challenges. 

We continue to develop common platforms, tools and guidance for members and the industry as a whole, especially for industry sustainability, legislative and regulatory topics. While every company always needs to make their own business decisions, VMA can provide leadership on best practices and benchmarks, particularly on areas that all members are addressing.

Promoting our industry and member value to policy makers, the various markets we serve, and the current and future workforce remains a key set of activities for us. We continue to invest in educational topics and technical training for our membership and the broader industry.

VMA acts as leadership for the industry on the global stage. North America remains one of the strongest markets for our industry, and as the U.S. and Canadian industry trade association, VMA can help the global industry coalesce around key topics.

What will your focus be as a leader in the VMA?

• Refreshing our strategic plan to create more value for our membership.
• Engaging current members and expanding our reach to new members.
• Ensuring our committee structure supports VMA’s key focus areas and aligns with the Board of Directors and act efficiently and effectively.
• Continuing to create sustainability and governance management processes for VMA. 

What advice do you have for someone considering joining VMA?

Being a VMA member offers  companies a community and network at all levels for the organization, helping companies to benchmark and pool resources and knowledge to solve issues affecting us all. Membership also demonstrates your company’s leadership in the industry.

Membership and participation in VMA events both in person and online  is what you make it — get involved! Join a committee or create content for an article, conference session or webinar. The industry and the VMA benefit from your expertise and experience.

What advice would you have for those entering the industry either as a new graduate or mid-career professional?

There are unlimited opportunities for professional and career development in our industry. Find an area that ignites your passion in a company that has a culture where you can thrive. Commit to delivering value to the organization in your current role before looking for the next opportunity.

Remain flexible and open when presented with new roles and opportunities, even if they differ from your preconceived career path. In my career, I gained significant development while in roles that did not initially seem attractive to me. 

Tell us a little about what you do outside of work. 

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. My hobbies include outdoor activities, community support, theater, travel and Texas A&M athletics.