Meet Bridget Taylor, aftermarket execution manager at John Zink. Bridget joined John Zink in 2015 after earning her mechanical engineering degree, but her connection to the company runs much deeper. With a family legacy tied to John Zink—her grandfather worked at the company, and her father was a frequent customer—Bridget grew up familiar with the innovative work happening here. Now, she brings that personal connection full circle, leading a global team and helping shape the aftermarket portfolio with passion, collaboration, and a commitment to growth.
When did you join John Zink? What initially attracted you to John Zink?
I joined John Zink in 2015 after earning my mechanical engineering degree. I’ve always been familiar with the company—my grandfather, Ron Taylor, worked here for many years, and my father was a customer who often brought me along as a teenager to inspect equipment like control panels, boiler burners and flares.
Can you describe your role at John Zink and what your typical day entails? What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
No two days are the same, and I love that. Being part of a global company gives me the chance to collaborate with teams worldwide, solving challenges and building relationships. My role focuses on developing my team to maximize their potential while managing the aftermarket portfolio. I work closely with other roles to improve processes, remove barriers, and enhance our customers’ experience.
What has your career path looked like at John Zink?
I started as a project engineer and project manager for the boiler burner line. Later, I transitioned to value stream manager, aligning with my interest in manufacturing. I became the first female shop supervisor, overseeing the boiler burner line and paint while still managing as a value stream manager. Eventually, I focused on production control for thermal oxidizers and flares, and now I lead a team managing John Zink Tulsa’s entire aftermarket portfolio.
How would you describe John Zink’s culture?
John Zink feels like a family. It’s collaborative, and everyone is open to sharing knowledge to find the best solutions. Here, failure isn’t feared—it’s seen as an opportunity to learn.
What is your favorite tradition or event at John Zink?
I love the Halloween event because it's an opportunity for our work family to mingle with our personal family. I also enjoyed participating in the Tulsa Raft Race with my peers and the Tulsa Drillers. Building and paddling the raft was challenging but incredibly rewarding, especially seeing our team cheer us on as we navigated the Arkansas River.
Which PBM principle resonates with you the most, and how do you apply it in your role to create value?
Motivation – I love the idea that you can maximize your contribution by realizing your potential through self-actualization. You create, learn and grow so much when you are working on things you are passionate about. Understanding what motivates you, your peers and employees helps with fulfillment, adding value and feeling valued.
What is a personal passion or hobby that you’ve been able to incorporate into your work at John Zink?
I love tinkering and learning how things work. I am always working on a project in my personal life and enjoy learning new things that may turn into hobbies. John Zink is all about learning and growing. I have had so many opportunities to try new things throughout my career and am excited to see what is around the corner.
Just for fun - what's your favorite book, and why does it resonate with you?
My favorite book is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It emphasizes love, connection, and responsibility. The story reminds me that nurturing relationships, while challenging, gives life purpose and depth.
Anything else you’d like to share?
In addition to my work, I teach tap dance and enjoy writing and performing my own music.
