Lauren Fowler leads Hampton Roads Automation with a faith-first, people-first model

Lauren Fowler, president and CEO of Hampton Roads Automation in Waverly, Va., is building a women-owned automation company for water, wastewater and critical infrastructure customers while expanding veteran, apprentice and workforce programs. Her story is part of Influential Women’s 2026 recognition of leaders shaping their communities and industries.

Why it matters: - Hampton Roads Automation serves utilities and critical infrastructure that need reliable SCADA, controls and electrical support to keep essential systems running. - Fowler’s leadership connects technical delivery with workforce development, veteran hiring and apprenticeship access. - Her appointment as one of Influential Women of 2026 highlights women’s leadership in a technical field that still skews male.

What happened: - Lauren Fowler is president and CEO of Hampton Roads Automation, a Virginia-based automation and controls company in Waverly, Va. - The company serves water and wastewater utilities and critical infrastructure customers. - Hampton Roads Automation provides SCADA system integration, electrical and instrumentation services, control panel fabrication and 24/7 emergency support. - The company is a certified system integrator for Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric, SimpliScada, AVEVA and VTScada. - Hampton Roads Automation was founded in September 2021 with Fowler’s husband as a founding member. - Fowler left public service in January 2025 to work full time for the family business. - Influential Women honored Fowler as one of its Influential Women of 2026. - Fowler points readers to her Influential Women profile.

The details: - Fowler brings 15 years of public utility experience to Hampton Roads Automation. - Her background includes four years in executive leadership. - She worked for the Hampton Roads Sanitation District, the City of Petersburg, Va., and Warren County, N.C. - Her public career included roles from Material Operations Coordinator to Administrative Service Manager for Public Works and Utilities. - She finished her public service career as Assistant Director of Public Utilities in North Carolina. - Fowler also earned her Class C Distribution Operator license. - She holds Virginia Contracting Associate certification and spent more than 10 years in public procurement. - Fowler says that experience shaped the company’s structure, procurement processes, contracting opportunities, employee programs and family-oriented culture. - Hampton Roads Automation is a DPOR Class A Contractor in Virginia with an electrical specialty. - Fowler led the company to become a Virginia Registered Apprenticeship Partner for electrical apprenticeship. - Hampton Roads Automation also became a Department of Defense SkillBridge employer for transitioning service members. - In late 2024, Governor Glen Youngkin recognized the company as a V3 Virginia Values Veterans Program Certified Employer. - The company holds Women-Owned Small Business, Women’s Business Enterprise and Small, Women-owned and Minority-owned Business certifications. - Fowler earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. - She is pursuing SHRM certification and continues to study public procurement and utility processes. - Fowler is active in the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, the American Water Works Association, the Virginia Rural Water Association and the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing. - She also participates with the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce and local community events.

Between the lines: - Fowler frames the company’s mission around integrity, expertise and service, but her operating model also reflects a practical utility background that focuses on procurement, compliance and workforce development. - Her emphasis on faith and people suggests a culture strategy built around retention and trust, not just technical execution. - The apprenticeship and SkillBridge programs signal a long-term talent pipeline in a labor market where utility and electrical work can be hard to staff. - Balancing leadership with raising six children in a blended family appears to inform her emphasis on resilience, humility and grace.

What's next: - Fowler says she wants to keep expanding opportunities for employees, veterans and apprentices through Hampton Roads Automation. - She also suggests a future leadership role in community service or local government is possible. - Fowler hopes her path encourages other women to pursue leadership with confidence, resilience and authenticity.

The bottom line: - Fowler is building Hampton Roads Automation into a utility-services company with technical depth, workforce pathways and a values-driven culture.