Women Who Drive GPA

Featuring Katelyn Tischler, Director of Customer Success

To kick off Women’s History Month, GPA is proud to recognize Katelyn Tischler, Director of Customer Success, in our Women Who Drive GPA spotlight.

At GPA, progress is driven by people who lead with consistency, expertise, and a strong commitment to our customers. Throughout her tenure, Katelyn has strengthened customer relationships and guided teams through complex initiatives. Her work helps ensure the reliable experience our clients depend on.

Leading Customer Success at GPA

As Director of Customer Success, Katelyn focuses on supporting clients across their full lifecycle with GPA, from the first conversation through long term partnership and growth. Her role connects customer strategy with execution across Sales, Account Management, and delivery teams.

“The intersection of departments allows me to help align what our customers need with how we deliver value as an organization.”

Day to day, she works closely with both prospective and existing clients to understand their goals, challenges, and where they are in their operational journey. This dual visibility enables GPA to tailor solutions that align with each client’s unique operational needs.

Internally, she plays a key role in keeping teams aligned so customer engagements remain consistent and intentional. At GPA, sales is highly collaborative and closely aligned with various teams across the organization.

“Sales at GPA is not a silo. It’s highly collaborative, and we work closely with our technical teams, project managers, and leadership to ensure what we’re proposing is both the right solution and something we can execute successfully.”

For Katelyn, customer success ultimately comes down to building durable, trust-based partnerships that extend well beyond individual projects.

A Career Built Through Experience

Katelyn joined GPA in October 2013, directly out of high school. Those early project experiences helped shape the practical, customer-aware perspective she brings to her role today.

“What started as an entry point into DCS migration and HMI conversion work quickly became a hands-on education in both the technical side of our business and the way we serve our customers.”

As the company expanded, she became deeply involved in developing GPA’s PMO structure and execution discipline. Her contributions helped strengthen the consistency and maturity of the organization’s project delivery approach, for which she was formally recognized in 2022.

Throughout her tenure, Katelyn has received multiple internal honors, including the Beyond the Call of Duty Award, the Team Player Award, and the President’s Award. She is the first and only female at GPA to receive the President’s Award, reflecting both her impact and long-term commitment.

“Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across multiple departments, and that cross functional exposure has shaped how I lead today.”

Her longevity at GPA has been driven by both the collaborative internal culture and the opportunity to grow alongside customers tackling complex operational challenges.

Strengthening Customer Partnerships

Katelyn believes effective partnerships begin with a clear understanding of each customer’s operating environment. In many industrial settings, there is a natural gap between corporate initiatives and plant level execution. GPA’s role is to help bring those perspectives into alignment.

“One of the most important roles we play at GPA is helping bridge the gap between high level corporate initiatives and what is actually happening at the plant level.”

Her approach emphasizes listening first and helping customers bring structure to initiatives that can otherwise feel overwhelming. This may include helping prioritize capital investments, coordinating across vendors, or aligning internal stakeholders.

Consistency is also central to building trust. Customers need to know GPA is committed not only at project kickoff but throughout the full lifecycle of the relationship.

“Our value is not just in the technical solution. It’s in being a steady, trusted partner who understands both the urgency and the practical realities of their environment.”

Through proactive communication and repeatable processes, she helps deliver GPA customer experiences remain consistent.

Guiding Complex Initiatives with Confidence

Complex initiatives require more than strong technical design. They demand alignment, communication, and realistic planning across multiple stakeholders. Katelyn’s cross functional background enables her to guide projects with a holistic view that keeps teams and priorities aligned.

“Success is rarely just about the technical solution. It’s about making sure the right people are involved at the right time, expectations are clear, and the path forward is realistic and well coordinated. The most successful projects are those where scope, timeline, and capacity are aligned.”

By maintaining realistic expectations and strong communication, she helps customers move forward with greater confidence while minimizing surprises.

Perspective as a Woman in the Industry

Entering the industry directly out of high school meant stepping into environments where Katelyn was often both the youngest person in the room and one of the few women present. She viewed that experience as motivation to build credibility through preparation and continuous learning.

She believes authority is earned through consistency and reliability rather than assumed through title alone.

“You don’t walk into a room with instant authority. You earn it by doing the work, by understanding the details, and by being someone people can rely on.”

Over time, she has seen meaningful progress across both GPA and the broader industry, with more women entering technical and leadership roles. Her advice to those entering the field is to stay focused on building a strong foundation through hands-on experience.

A Customer First Mindset

For Katelyn, a customer-first mindset begins with a deep understanding of the pressures customers face before introducing solutions or long-term strategy.

“There is often immediate pressure on their side, and if you don’t understand those realities first, you can’t build a path forward that is meaningful or sustainable.”

Consistency and proactive engagement help ensure GPA remains a steady partner throughout the customer lifecycle. Her team focuses on maintaining structured internal processes alongside meaningful external touchpoints.

“A customer-first approach is not about pushing a specific solution. It’s about making sure customers have the information and context they need to make the right decisions for their operation."

This disciplined approach continues to strengthen long-term partnerships across GPA’s customer base.

Looking Ahead

Looking forward, Katelyn remains focused on helping customers make progress that is both strategic and achievable. While the industry continues to generate momentum around digital transformation, she emphasizes the importance of strong foundations and intentional execution.

“Long term success doesn’t come from chasing the latest trend. It comes from building a strong foundation and taking intentional, well-aligned steps over time.”

Internally, she is committed to strengthening alignment across teams and continuing to develop people across the organization. By maintaining a disciplined, customer focused approach, she is helping position GPA and its clients for sustained success in an evolving industrial landscape.