Margaret Saulsby’s first job out of college was in customer service at Rain Bird, and she liked it so much that she has stayed with the company for 26 years. As a senior product manager, Saulsby manages the landscape valve product portfolio for Rain Bird, working with the engineering, marketing and operations teams.
What first pulled you into irrigation—and what’s kept you in it?
I was just out of college and needed a job while I figured out what I wanted to do next. I never thought that first job would bring me into an industry that I have grown to love! I adore the people I work with; we share a mission to help produce amazing landscapes with products and services that embody “The Intelligent Use of Water.”
How do you work to be a champion of promoting smart irrigation?
I work every day to help make our products more efficient and effective in the way they work and water our landscapes. Irrigation valves don’t just turn water on and off; they are the heart of an irrigation system that can maximize the efficiency of an entire system.
With drought affecting many areas of the country this summer, what role can smart irrigation play in helping communities reach their water-saving goals?
Smart irrigation can not only help save water but also create cooler and more welcoming spaces in communities that residents can use and enjoy.
If you could snap your fingers and fix one barrier to smarter irrigation adoption, what would it be?
Our water districts and water agencies already do an amazing job driving education for smart irrigation practices, and we see their creativity every year with the annual SWAT awards. But more education and easier access to smart irrigation technology are key. This is where water agencies and manufacturers can work together to bring greater use of smarter irrigation practices.
