Kari Drerup — 30 Under 40 2026
Kari Drerup entered the spa industry during one of its most unusual periods. Six years later, she is helping lead MasterSpas’ national sales efforts through a very different market.
Drerup joined the manufacturer in November 2020 as dealer support manager, coordinating orders, shipments and dealer communications as unprecedented demand collided with pandemic-related supply chain constraints. After returning from the birth of her first child in January 2023, she became inside sales manager, working more closely with dealers on performance and growth strategies.
In October 2025, Drerup was promoted to national sales manager.
“My proudest moment is working myself into a leadership position at a relatively young age in an industry where experience and relationships carry a lot of weight,” she says. “I worked hard to gain the trust of our dealers in our network and got them to a point where they could view me as a strategic partner.”
— KARI DRERUP
That word — partner — is important to Drerup. She doesn’t view MasterSpas dealers just as customers and says getting to know their businesses, helping solve problems and celebrating their successes are among the best parts of her job.
Her relatively short career has already encompassed opposite ends of the demand spectrum. After experiencing the highs of 2020 through 2022, Drerup had to adjust as demand declined in subsequent years. She says staying focused on the facts, maintaining optimism and setting goals that push people slightly beyond their comfort zones helped her navigate the change.
Going forward, she wants data to play an increasingly important role in helping MasterSpas dealers grow their businesses. Her ambitions include eventually moving into executive leadership.
Drerup also hopes to see more women in industry sales positions — and more attention paid to an entirely different demographic.
“I’d love to bring the younger perspective to the industry,” she says. “And I don’t just mean those of us working in it, but how do we get into the backyards of the younger generations?”
Outside work, Drerup spends much of her time with her husband and two young children. When she gets time to herself, she enjoys golf, and the family travels whenever possible.
Locations refer to company headquarters; honorees may work remotely or live elsewhere.
