Best Friends to Business Leaders:
Navigating the Material Handling Industry
Sophia Bowden and Greta Norris are carving out a unique path in the materials handling industry, defined by lifelong friendship and a modern approach to business development. Their journey into the industry was far from linear, beginning in a kindergarten classroom over 20 years ago. Though teachers once predicted they would never be friends, the two remained close through high school before taking a five-year hiatus from one another to pursue separate paths.
A Circuitous Path Home
Bowden’s entry into the family business, WW Cannon, was born out of a desire for stability and growth after working in esthetics and then for a plastic surgeon. Her father purchased the company 30 years ago, and Bowden initially joined to make cold calls, eventually working her way up to Marketing Manager and now Business Development Manager as she transitions into sales.
Norris’ arrival at WW Cannon followed a similar “meant to be” trajectory. After leaving college and working a variety of jobs, including one as a high school lunch lady, she reached out to Bowden to reconnect. The rekindled friendship eventually led Norris to a three-month temporary calling campaign at WW Cannon. Two years later, Norris is now the marketing and business development lead, managing the company’s social media, website, and customer relations.
Fresh Perspectives in a Traditional Field
As young leaders, both women bring an innovative spark to an industry that has historically relied on face-to-face interactions and cold calling. Bowden observes that growing up with digital technology gives them a distinct advantage in understanding how to grab an audience’s attention through social media and digital marketing. Both women emphasize the importance of pivoting—changing direction and adapting to new realities when traditional methods fail, instead of repeating prior practices.
Norris highlights that entering the industry without prior experience allows for a “complete 180” in perspective, preventing the company from getting stuck in the past. This agility is essential in a field that Bowden describes as the backbone of everyday life, noting that without the products that material handling equipment dealers provide, necessities “like beer at a 7-Eleven or sorted Amazon packages” simply wouldn’t exist.
Mentorship and Leadership Advice
While Bowden credits her father’s 30 years of driven leadership as her primary inspiration, she also looks to industry peers for guidance. The best advice she has received involves transforming “why” into “how” and learning to assess situations without being clouded by emotion. For Norris, the mantra has been “fake it till you make it,” building the confidence to trust her own professional instincts.
Looking Toward the Future
Over the next decade, Bowden aims to be fully emerged in sales, supported by the close-knit community her family has built within the industry. Norris intends to continue growing the marketing department and expanding her understanding of the field. Their advice to other young professionals in multi-generational workplaces is simple: do not be afraid to push back respectfully. They encourage peers to reject being “put in a box” by those who may view youth as a lack of capability, urging them instead to share their ideas and give their best every day.
