Hi All!

So today this will be a combination of two different articles on an industry veteran by the name of Tina Peters, she has recently won the Pink Petro Grit award for being a stand out female in her line of business. We are also friends with Tina through social media and she shares, insight, wisdom and just down right get -er done when she sees something that catches her eye.

We met Tina through Instagram when we were first starting Rig Lynx, as we are also a small startup, she is much the same, she would share with us other small startups that were much like we were and she in turn would share our media on her outlets.

From all of here at OutPut and Rig Lynx we would like to congratulate Tina on her many years of success and on this Grit award, she deserves every single bit of it.

Let the show begin….

Original Article Link for Pink Petro 

Resilient, driven, and tough. They’re all positive adjectives—and they’re also all words you’d use to describe Tina Peters.

As the CEO and Owner of Mallard, Inc., a full-service environmental consulting firm, she knows a thing or two about facing adversity, tuning out the naysayers, and going after what you want anyway.

After successfully running her own business for the past 20 years (and still going strong!), she’s living proof that you can make a big name and an even bigger career for yourself—no matter how male-dominated the industry may seem.

We caught up with Tina to hear her story, learn from her experiences, and find out just how she does it all.

Where It All Got Started…

Born and raised in northwest Florida, Tina knew from an early age that she was destined for a life in the environmental field. She spent a great deal of her very first years with her grandfather on his farm, and she credits that experience with shaping her interest in the great outdoors and the world around her.

“At just a few months old, I was being held by him while he was on the tractor,” she remembers, “I took every step he took.”

“I learned from birth the quality of clean soil, water, and hard work,” she adds, “A farmer is the hardest thing you can be, as well as the most self-rewarding.”

From there, Tina’s interest in the environment only grew stronger. Following high school graduation, she landed a job with a local county agency, where she assisted in the development of the Public Works Department. The county ended up being in serious violation with the state regulatory agency.

Tina—being a self-driven go-getter—was handed all of the rules, regulations, and information about the violations and began communicating with the state to bring the county into compliance. From then on, she was hooked.

Eventually leaving the agency, she moved on to a career with a consulting firm that the county had been using. Tina helped them start up three separate offices and grow the business from 24 people to over 100 employees by the time she left to pursue her own business.

Taking a Leap of Faith

In August of 1996, Tina waved goodbye to her role with the firm in order to open her own environmental consulting firm: Mallard, Inc.

With her raw passion and pure drive, Tina found that she had everything it took to begin her own successful company—despite the fact that she didn’t have piles of money or a huge roster of existing clients to her name.

“People think that it takes a lot of money,” she explains, “But, Mallard was started with less than $10,000—which was enough to pay for the necessary insurance, rent for a few months, and some other miscellaneous expenses. I didn’t have any contracts lined up.”

Of course, this leap of faith meant that Tina was met with her fair share of doubts and criticisms—even from those who loved and supported her.

“I was told by several people that I should get a real job,” Tina shares, “Even by some family members. But 20 years later, and I’m still here—and I’ve seen many companies come and go, and people jump from job to job.”

The first year or two, I didn’t know if this was the stupidest thing I had ever done, or the smartest.

Needless to say, Tina’s hard work and commitment to her business has paid off. Fresh off celebrating her 20 year anniversary in business, she’s looking forward to an even brighter future.

“The first year or two, I didn’t know if this was the stupidest thing I had ever done, or the smartest. But, I do know that Mallard was started—and continues to exist—by God’s grace and a lot of hard work.”

Making a Name in a Male-Dominated Industry

When we asked Tina how she felt about owning her own business in such a male-dominated field, she was quick to respond with, “Add ‘good ol’ boy system’ on top of male-dominated!”

And, it’s true. This industry still tends to be very heavy-handed toward the men. But, that attitude and skepticism of the things she’s capable of only makes Tina stronger.

“My experience was typically something like, ‘Honey, this is too hard for you. You need to find something easier.’ Ultimately, that’s what fueled my fire,” she explains.

Now? Tina loves the satisfaction that comes along with being the boss—even if it ends up surprising a lot of her male counterparts.

“I love overhearing men inquire if the guy that owns the company is good to work for,” she adds, “The look on the guy’s face at the end of the day when I hand him a business card, or take control of the drill rig, dozer, backhoe, or excavator is priceless. Believe me, I’ve been known to make 6’7” guys weighing over 300 pounds cry.”

Finding Pink Petro

So, needless to say—like so many women—Tina found herself in a place of needing some female comrades in an otherwise male-dominated field. And, this is exactly why she was relieved to find Pink Petro.

“I first came to know Pink Petro when I saw a post by Katie on LinkedIn,” Tina explains, “I pulled up the website and then immediately sent her a message on LinkedIn. I read enough that just by gut feeling—believing her purpose—I knew I wanted to become a part of it.”

Today, Tina remains a very active and treasured part of the Pink Petro community. She’s always eager to respond with an insightful post or thoughtful comment, and she’s excited to help grow Pink Petro in any way she can.

When it comes to advice for other women, Tina has a few works of wisdom for all of us about getting what you want. And, looking at how much she’s accomplished throughout her years so far, we’ll definitely take her advice on this.

You never know unless you try, and life’s too short to regret not doing.

“If there is something that you cannot stop thinking about or feel that you have a calling, go for it! Do not allow anyone to say you can’t—just don’t listen to those that say you cannot, you should not. You will never know unless you try, and life’s too short to regret not doing.”

Blog Post created by Kat Boogaard

Original Article Link for Water Well Journal

It’s clear from Tina Peters’ bio she is passionate about her work.

Her credentials speak for themselves. Listed in no order are the following: licensed well driller in Florida and Mississippi, certified environmental inspector, certified environmental manager, certified environmental specialist, certified environmental consultant, and
certified remediation specialist.

Peters is also certified in stormwater and erosion control, groundwater and surface water sample collection, monitoring well installation, excavation and trenching, and OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Standard program.

Peters is president of Mallard Inc., a consulting service company in Bonifay, Florida. She has 30 years of experience in the groundwater and environmental industry.

Her years of field experience conducting, managing, and providing oversight for the well installations for assessment activities, environmental studies, and remedial cleanup activities have given her a vast knowledge that is rare. She has been involved in all stages, from investigation and planning, design, implementation of excavation and backfill activities, trenching, remedial system installation, operation and maintenance, to the decommissioning of systems and the restoration of sites.

Active on social media, Peters is concerned about the future of water in the United States. She believes the nation needs educated, experienced voices to speak up today. To that end, Peters is an active member of the National Ground Water Association, Florida Ground Water Association, Environmental Assessment Association, Water Environment Federation, Pink Petro (a social media and learning community created for women professionals in the energy industry), and Women for Agriculture.

Water Well Journal caught up with Peters to discuss a range of topics regarding water treatment.

Water Well Journal: What would you say to those water well system professionals who are considering adding water treatment to their services?
Tina Peters: Conduct research, learn about the onsite kits for testing, proper collection, and labs. Before proper treatment can be designed and implemented, we must first know what we are treating and its level. Otherwise, it not only costs the well owner, it costs in future business. All living things need water. Clean, pure drinking water is vital to human health. Adding treatment service will make any company more marketable.

WWJ: What water treatment tools stand out most in your mind for being most helpful?
Tina: My first go-to is NGWA. I also look at the local well permitting agency to assure that any treatment will adhere to
guidelines.

WWJ: Can you share some of the common water treatment challenges in your region of the country?
Tina: Iron, calcium, and sulfur.

WWJ: What are some of the uncommon water treatment issues you face from time to time?
Tina: Contamination from pesticide due to sprayer fill-up with washout being adjacent to a well, contamination from livestock due to a well being downgradient from the animals and waste, and contamination from a petroleum tank.

WWJ: How do you stay current with the latest water treatment options in the industry?
Tina: The National Ground Water Association and Water Well Journal. The NGWA website (www.NGWA.org) has amazing resources. The state groundwater associations do too. I search the web for recent articles. Regulatory agencies, both state and federal, help too.

WWJ: Some water well professionals are intimidated to add water treatment to their services. How do you view it?
Tina: Personally, I view it as a responsibility as a licensed driller and industry professional to stay educated and current on how best to assist well owners in cost-effective ways to maintain clean water for human consumption and use along with any animals, gardens, etc. It also is an added service to offset when installation is slow and to assure the water well and pump is operating as it should.

WWJ: You are active on Facebook and Twitter in dialoguing with those in your industry. How have you benefited from being active on social media?
Tina: Twitter and LinkedIn are the two most useful media tools for me. Others in the same profession or similar post questions, comments, and share stories along with the various manufacturers of products. Regardless of my schedule, NGWA and WWJ always post articles that allow me to read on a break during busy times.

WWJ: Lastly, what are your thoughts on the economics of investing in water treatment?
Tina: I recommend it. The expense of drilling and the cost of materials is not getting cheaper. Regulations and rules—federal, state, and local—are forever changing. Minerals are natural and the possibility of increased minerals in performing wells stand a chance of increasing the longer a well is utilized. It is a great service to offer, a lasting service, and a service of pride to assure clean water for an owner.

By Mike Price from Water Well Journal

Tina Peters is President of Mallard Inc., a consulting company in Bonifay, Florida

You can reach her here:

Freephone:      (850) 258-0843
Telephone:      (850) 258-0843

https://www.mallard-inc.com/

Brought to you by OutPut