(INDIANAPOLIS) — Megan Glover, CEO and co-founder of 120Water, characterizes her career this way: “I like to say that, when I founded 120Water, water found me. I never set out to say, ‘Hey, let’s start a company in water.’ ” But in 2016, that’s exactly what happened.

Headquartered in Zionsville, 120Water combines cloud-based software and digital sampling kits to help execute water safety, compliance and wastewater monitoring programs. One of the most recent involves wastewater monitoring programs for COVID-19 in Illinois, Indiana and other locations.

Glover’s efforts have led the Indiana Chamber of Commerce to name her its 2021 Dynamic Leader of the Year.

“Three areas really jumped out to us with Megan. Her commitment to such an important task of improving water quality, providing resources to help customers remain in regulatory compliance and mentoring the next generation of professionals,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar.

Glover grew up in the northern Indiana town of Rensselaer and graduated from DePauw University. Over much of the next 10-plus years, she built a marketing career at businesses such as Angie’s List, Compendium, Delivra, DyKnow, RICS Software, hc1.com and 3 dots marketing.

The path led her to 120Water, which doubled its workforce in 2021 (totaling more than 70) and has customers in over 30 states.

“We’re still very new in our technology, but what we’ve built is really a way to help them (customers) centralize the data, automate workflows and at the end of the day show that trail of compliance, right?” Glover remarks. “No surprises. They can be a lot more proactive in their work.”

Glover also puts a strong emphasis on mentoring and talent recruitment.

“Working your way up – especially as one of the few female executives around the table – you have to be very personally aware,” she asserts. “You need to be able to synthesize the input you’re given and formulate your own point of view.

“You have to have some thick skin. I think (my) mentors found a way to convey how to get ahead in a way that was candid, helpful and actionable. So, that’s what I try to do (with others).”

Glover serves on the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet and is a founding member of the Indiana Technology and Innovation Foundation and is involved with Water for People, which promotes lasting access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

The Dynamic Leader of the Year Award will be presented at the Indiana Chamber’s 32nd Annual Awards program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield, November 9 at the Indiana Convention Center. A table of 10 starts at $1,650 and individual tickets are $165 each. All can be purchased online at www.indianachamber.com/ad or by calling (800) 824-6885.

The ceremony will feature three other statewide honors: the NextEra Energy Resources Community of the Year (announced as Greater Lafayette on August 26), Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year and Birch Bayh-Richard Lugar Government Leader of the Year. Recognitions in volunteering also will be given. The winners of the government and business awards will be revealed the next two Thursdays.

The event speaker sponsor is OneAmerica and PNC is the opening reception sponsor. Corporate sponsors are AT&T Indiana, CBRE, French Lick Resort, NIPSCO, Tilson and Zimmer Biomet.

Contributing sponsors are AECOM Hunt, Community Health Network, Corteva Agriscience, Fineline Printing Group, Indiana Soybean Alliance/Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Markey’s Rental & Staging, MCM CPAs & Advisors, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Sweetwater Sound, Inc., The Kroger Company and UPS.

The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”