Posted: February 28, 2025

Quality Tank Solutions expands with hands-on support from WaterStone Bank

Jimmi-Jean Sukys never set out to dominate the steel tank business—nor did she dwell on the rarity of being a woman in a male-dominated field. Yet today, Sukys, as CEO of Quality Tank Solutions (QTS) and a new member of the Women's Business Network and Advisory Council, is a recognized leader in the Midwest’s steel tank sector. A key partner in this journey has been WaterStone Bank, particularly Business Banker Jim Crowley. Sukys highlights their 12-year-long working relationship, crediting the bank with facilitating QTS's rapid growth. "Getting the right bank is super important, and I had to learn that," she reflects. "Jim has been there since the beginning, and WaterStone has been a big part of our growth.”

Sukys’s journey began in manufacturing sales, where each step deepened her interest in tank design, engineering, and production. Immersing herself in the process, she developed not only expertise, but also a passion for the craft and the tight-knit community she found. "It's the people I fell in love with," Sukys explains. "You get into something, whether it's hockey or sailing, and those people become your family. The people in this industry—my peers, and even my competitors—became mentors and friends."

Under Sukys’s leadership, QTS has grown into a premier designer and manufacturer of stainless steel tanks for a wide range of industries, including brewing, dairy, pharmaceutical and pet food. While the company initially thrived during the microbrewing boom, Sukys’s diverse background in food and beverage and pharmaceutical manufacturing allowed her to pivot as market demands shifted. She expanded QTS's capabilities to serve emerging sectors, such as non-alcoholic beverages, and invested in facilities that could handle the production of larger tanks. Throughout the expansion, says Sukys, “Jim and WaterStone Bank have been there to support us, making sure we had what we needed to take the next step.”

For Sukys, earning a spot on the Women's Business Network and Advisory Council isn’t just an honor—it’s a tool to keep pushing QTS forward. "It gives me an edge," she says. "If I can bring in more business, that means more opportunities for my employees."

Sukys’s strategic investment in some of the only facilities capable of producing super-large tanks is paying off. Now, with her focus on scaling up—finding ways to speed up production without compromising quality—the company’s relationship with WaterStone Bank will continue to be key. “WaterStone has helped us take smart risks,” says Sukys. “All along the way, they have backed us in letting us prove what can be done."