2023 Top Women in HVAC: Carmen Koo
Carmen Koo
What caused you to/when did you enter the HVACR industry?
I got into the industry by accident. I had no formal HVAC training, but a parishioner at my church, Norm Lussier, mentioned he had an admin position available at his HVAC firm. I fell in love with the industry from that admin position and learned all I could about HVAC. In 2008, Norm and I bought Applied Air Conditioning, and we’ve been running it ever since.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in HVACR?
It’s the privilege of working with so many people from the team members at Applied Air Conditioning, from customers to vendors to industry associates. The HVAC field is like a family, and I’ve become really close with a lot of them.
Describe the proudest moment in your career.
Mentoring young people and women and then seeing them thrive in the HVAC industry is thrilling. I also love that we’re able to provide a comfortable living for the team members at Applied Air Conditioning. It’s great to see so many Applied Air Conditioning team members start and grow families.
What challenges do women face in this profession?
While it’s gotten better, there are so many times that I’ve walked into a meeting and I’ve been the only woman. There have been instances where folks may not take you seriously, which is frustrating. I have faced some resistance, and there have been people who have looked at me a little differently. However, if you know your work and you know what you’re talking about, there’s no arguing there. You command their respect when you know your stuff.
The good news is there are more and more women joining the field, so being the only woman in the room or facing resistance based on my gender is becoming exceedingly rare.
How can we increase the number of women in HVACR?
We need to highlight and expose the field to young people. That includes going to junior high and high schools to spark their interest. I’ve found that when I tell young people about my story, they become interested in the field. Visibility is also important. It’s reassuring when young women see there are people like them in HVAC.
What does your day-to-day job entail?
My days can be meeting-heavy! One thing I’ve been focused on with SMACNA and CAL SMACNA has been fire life safety legislation. The effects of wildfires and the threats they pose have unfortunately grown over the years. I’m proud to partner with the teams at SMACNA and SMART to help get CalSHAPE ventilation verification legislation passed and work on the fire life safety action committee. Today, we’re putting on a program with 100 firefighters and legislators surrounding fire safety that I’m excited about.
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What remains on your HVACR bucket list — what do you aspire to do that you haven’t accomplished yet?
I want to grow the number of women who join the industry.
What words of advice do you have for females who are considering entering the HVACR field?
HVAC is a wonderful industry to get into. There are so many different avenues to pursue that can go beyond field work — although that’s a great option, too. The opportunities in HVAC are endless, and we’d love to have you join.
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