WGBI Member Spotlight Series – Melissa Floyd
Our next WGBI Member Spotlight shines on Melissa Floyd, a marketing and communications leader whose unconventional path—from data to software to batteries—has made her a powerful voice for the domestic battery industry.
⚡ Career Journey: The Road Less Traveled
Melissa Floyd has a favorite poem. The closing lines of Robert Frost’s The Road Not Taken—“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference”—capture something essential about how she sees her own journey: shaped not by a single straight path, but by a series of bold turns that led her somewhere unexpected and exactly right.
Melissa began her career in the data industry, where she spent nine years mastering B2B marketing and growing into leadership. When she and her husband welcomed their second child, she made the intentional decision to step back from the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom—a transition she embraces as part of her story. When her three children were older and back in school, she tapped her network (a move she strongly advocates for) and reconnected with a former contact who offered her a role at a software company.
Not long after, a recruiter came calling with an intriguing opportunity: a corporate communications role at a battery company. The pivot from software to manufacturing was unexpected, but the idea of marketing tangible products—real, physical batteries—captured her imagination. She took the leap, and she hasn’t looked back.
Today, Melissa serves as Chief Corporate Marketing & Communications Officer at Stryten Energy, where she is responsible for building the brand both internally and externally. Her work extends beyond traditional marketing—she chairs the BCI Government Relations Committee, a role she describes as vital for the industry’s future. In 2025, she helped lead the first-ever BCI Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, where industry leaders communicated the importance of the 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production tax credit, battery supply chain protections, and the role of domestic manufacturing in supporting long-duration energy storage. “Energy security and independence rely on a strong U.S. manufacturing base for energy storage,” she says. “Advocating for the domestic battery industry on Capitol Hill is more important now than ever.”
🤝 Industry Insights: Bringing a Fresh Lens to Manufacturing
Melissa’s path through data and software before arriving in the battery industry gave her something rare: an outsider’s eye applied with an insider’s commitment. When she first joined the battery space, she noticed a significant gap in digital presence. “Coming from the data and software industry, we were utilizing online tools and platforms to reach our audiences—their ‘watering holes’—where they were looking for information,” she recalls. She saw an opportunity to meet customers, prospects, employees, and legislators where they already were: online.
She set about building Stryten’s digital footprint through social media, thought leadership, and rich product content—an approach that has become increasingly standard across the industry. “Today, I see a lot more progress in social media, websites, and informative content than there was even five years ago,” she notes. “That has increased awareness of who we are and what we do, which is integral to demonstrating our value to North America’s overall energy storage needs.”
Her ability to see the industry through a broader marketing and communications lens—rather than purely a technical one—has been a defining advantage, and a reminder that diverse professional backgrounds enrich every room they enter.
🌐 WGBI Involvement: A Founding Vision Realized
Melissa’s connection to WGBI runs deep—she was part of the founding group that brought the organization to life. “There was a vision to create an organization that would foster connections for women at all levels and provide educational opportunities to support personal and career growth,” she says. “Now, many years into WGBI, I can confidently say that the vision has been realized.”
At Stryten Energy, that commitment is backed by action. The company covers WGBI membership dues for its female employees, actively encourages them to engage with the organization’s professional development resources, and supports WGBI through volunteer committee work. Stryten is a proud WGBI Advocate Sponsor and sponsors the annual WGBI reception at the BCI Convention—a testament to the company’s belief in the organization’s mission.
💼 Advice and Inspiration
For women considering the battery industry, Melissa’s message is energizing: this is an exciting time to join. “The battery industry offers many career opportunities across marketing, sales, engineering, finance, operations and other disciplines,” she says. “The interesting thing about working for a battery manufacturing company is that the products we produce provide the power people, businesses and the Military need. Whether it is a battery in your vehicle that you rely on to get to work every day or a battery that provides backup power for a U.S. nuclear submarine, batteries are an essential part of our lives. The battery industry isn’t going away any time soon, and with advancements in battery technology, it’s an exciting time to be part of its evolution.”
She also points to WGBI as a particularly powerful entry point: a place to meet women across the industry at events and webinars, and to deepen technical knowledge through member education programs.
When it comes to professional role models, Melissa credits Tim Vargo, former CEO of Stryten Energy and current Chairman of the Board, as one of the most influential figures in her career. “He taught me to put your people first,” she says. “When your team feels valued, they will do their best work for the company and your customers.” Vargo’s example of leading with courage, unconventional thinking, and genuine care for people has given Melissa the confidence to embrace new challenges—and to pass that mindset on to others.
🌿 Life Beyond Work
When the sun is shining, you’ll likely find Melissa at the beach or out on the lake boating with her family. She is also an avid traveler with a goal she’s steadily working toward: visiting every capital city in Europe. One-third of the way there, she’s got plenty of adventures still ahead. Closer to home, she enjoys long walks on the country roads of Milton, Georgia, alongside her husband and their two dogs, Remy and Bella.
Melissa Floyd’s story is a testament to the power of taking the road less traveled—and to how a willingness to cross industries, embrace new challenges, and invest in community can shape a career that makes all the difference.