PRIORITIZING LEGACY: Inside Global Water Technology’s Unconventional Rise
Featured Story
PRIORITIZING LEGACY
Inside Global Water Technology’s Unconventional Rise
Cover Story | North Connections Magazine
Every company has a story. Few have the opportunity to have that story told by an independent publication.
Global Water Technology, Inc. is honored to be featured as the cover story of the Summer 2026 edition of North Connections magazine. Titled PRIORITIZING LEGACY: Inside Global Water Technology’s Unconventional Rise, the feature explores the principles that have guided GWT’s growth, our commitment to remaining an independent, family-owned company, and our long-term vision for serving customers, developing people, and preserving the entrepreneurial spirit of the businesses that join our organization.
We invite you to read the full feature and learn more about the people, values, and purpose driving the next chapter of GWT.
Highlights from the Feature
Readers will discover:
- The history of Global Water Technology and the vision established by founder Maria E. Villarreal-Byerley
- How GWT has grown into one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent water treatment companies
- Why investing ahead of growth has become a defining part of our culture
- Our approach to strategic acquisitions and preserving entrepreneurial legacies
- The importance of people, leadership development, and long-term stewardship
Read the Cover Story
Experience the complete cover story in the interactive digital edition below.
What You’ll Discover
Investing Ahead of Growth
Learn why GWT believes the best time to invest in people, infrastructure, technology, and leadership is before the organization needs it.
A Different Approach to Acquisitions
Discover how GWT partners with business owners who care deeply about their employees, customers, and legacy, preserving what makes each company successful while providing the resources to accelerate future growth.
Leadership Built on Stewardship
The article explores how leadership at GWT is centered on long-term responsibility rather than short-term results, ensuring decisions benefit employees, customers, and future generations alike.
Building an Independent Future
As consolidation continues across the water treatment industry, GWT remains committed to growing as an independent, family-owned organization focused on entrepreneurship, technical excellence, and customer service.
A Story About People
While this feature discusses strategy and growth, its central theme is people. Every milestone achieved by Global Water Technology has been made possible through the dedication of our employees, the trust of our customers, the partnerships we’ve built across the industry, and the business owners who have chosen GWT to carry their life’s work forward. This recognition belongs to every member of the GWT family.
Looking Ahead
While this feature reflects on where Global Water Technology has been, our focus remains firmly on where we’re going.
We continue to invest in our people, expand our capabilities, strengthen partnerships, and grow responsibly across the United States. Every milestone reinforces the same mission that has guided us since 1990: to build an enduring company that serves customers exceptionally well while creating meaningful opportunities for future generations.
Thank you to the editors of North Connections for telling our story, and thank you to our employees, customers, partners, and the many organizations that have helped shape GWT’s journey.
About Global Water Technology, Inc.:
Global Water Technology, Inc. (GWT) is a second-generation, Minority-Owned national provider of industrial and commercial water treatment solutions, delivering customized, results-driven programs that help organizations operate smarter, more sustainably, and with greater confidence. Founded in 1990 to meet the growing demand for reliable, personalized water treatment services, GWT has built a strong reputation on decades of hands-on experience, deep technical expertise, and a people-first approach.
GWT partners with clients across a broad range of industries—including manufacturing, healthcare, commercial real estate, hospitality, data centers, food and beverage, and new construction—to design and implement solutions that reduce water and energy usage, extend system life, improve reliability, and provide enhanced visibility into performance. The company’s service portfolio includes custom treatment programs for cooling towers, steam boilers, closed loop systems, wastewater applications, and on-site analytical and training support, backed by advanced, data-driven tools and technologies.
Recognized repeatedly on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies, GWT combines local expertise with national scale. With regional offices, laboratories, and distribution centers across the United States, the company’s growth is driven by long-term partnerships, strategic acquisitions, and relentless focus on delivering measurable results for clients.
At GWT, the mission extends beyond treating water—by investing in innovation, nurturing technical talent, and protecting one of the world’s most valuable resources, the company works to create sustainable operational value for its clients and the communities it serves.
For more information about GWT, please visit our About Us page.
About North Connections:
North Connections is a quarterly publication dedicated to the industrial water treatment community, featuring business leaders, technical experts, and organizations shaping the future of the industry. Published by North Metal & Chemical Company, the magazine shares insights on leadership, innovation, business growth, industry trends, and the people driving progress across the water treatment profession. Through in-depth interviews and feature stories, North Connections provides a platform for independent voices and meaningful conversations that support the continued growth of the industry.
For more information about North Connections, please visit North Connection’s website HERE.
