Winner of ISA’s 2024 Women’s Influence Award

Jennifer Murphy | President and CEO at NetPlus Alliance

Name: Jennifer Murphy

Location: Lockport, New York

Company: NetPlus Alliance

Years in the Industry: 18 years

Years as a WII Member: 12 years (since the founding in 2012)

How did you get started in our industry?

Our family has been in machining and distribution since 1885. My great-great Uncles incorporated Ward Brothers Mill Supply in 1931, which was later renamed Ward, Beals and McCarthy. My grandfather and father both worked in the business, and my sister and I grew up playing in the warehouse and working in the office in middle and high school. After the sale of the business when I was in college, my father, Dan Judge, ran I.D. One, the first industrial cooperative, of which Ward Beals was a founding member. When the members of the cooperative voted to dissolve the group, Dan wrote the business plan for NetPlus Alliance, which was founded in 2002. I came to work at the company in 2006, as the director of marketing and worked part-time while my children were young. My responsibilities and time in the business grew and became the VP of Marketing and COO, managing contracts, payroll, marketing and operations. I became the fifth generation and first woman President in 2013, and purchased the business in 2021.

Why did you want to join Women In Industry?

I was contacted by Susan Conrado in 2012, one of the women that was working with Kathleen Durbin to recruit women to join W.I.S.E., the Women Industrial Supply Executives group. She told me about the group’s mission to empower and bring together women in the industry to network, learn and cultivate relationships. I was ‘all in’ from the moment she said ‘empower’ and the group turned out to be so much more. I still have strong friendships with the women that I met in those early years in the group.

What do you like best about WII?

I love how the women that I know, both from the past W.I.S.E. group and present WII group, are ‘cheering each other on’ from afar. Whether it is through calls, seeing each other at events, or commenting on LinkedIn posts, I can feel their support. It gives me confidence to continue to advocate for women at NetPlus and throughout the industry.

What else would you like to see from WII?

I like the direction that WII is taking under Molly Langdon’s leadership. Bringing back the committees and getting women from across the industry to be involved in different areas will allow for new ideas and greater camaraderie. I feel that we can use the WII platform to reach more young women who are in college or getting ready to graduate to talk about job opportunities in the industry; help them understand our path and how we got to where we are in our careers, and talk about the great companies and sense of purpose that it has to offer.

What does it mean to you to be recognized as a Woman of Influence?

I am truly honored to be recognized as a Woman of Influence, although I do not think of myself this way on a day-to-day basis! I work to mentor and empower all the people that work at NetPlus, as well as all emerging leaders across our membership. I enjoy speaking publicly when I can, sharing my story and utilizing different platforms to be able to share the message of advocacy for women in construction and distribution. And most importantly, to give back to the community through mentorship, volunteering and giving my time to local causes.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I have a husband, Tom, and three children, Elaina, a mechanical engineer in Boston, Sam, newly graduated and going to work for Deloitte in Sacramento, and Henry, who just finished his freshman year at Florida State. They keep us quite busy, and being in different places allows us to travel and visit. I enjoy being outside, gardening, yoga and spending time with friends.

What is a fun fact about yourself?

I completed the Toronto Marathon in 2006, and qualified and completed the Boston Marathon in 2007.

What book have you read recently that you loved?

Daisy Jones and the Six. I wouldn’t say I loved the book, but I liked it and took a screenshot of the following paragraph, which says a lot about the important women in my life,‘…all I will say is that you show up for your friends on their hardest days. And you hold their hand through the toughest parts. Life is about who is holding your hand, and whose hand you commit to holding.