Describe the proudest moment in your career.

I have a few, and they revolve around our mom and dad — being able to show them our first $2 million year, our first $3 million year, our first $4 million year, and so on. Those eyes can get pretty wide with shock and pride, and I love it. It drives me. Ultimately, my proudest moment was seeing my mom and dad’s faces when we did our first commercial and aired it right before a Bengals game. I know they never dreamed their two ungrateful and curfew-breaking kids would ever knock it out of the park like we have.

What challenges do women face in this profession? Can you give a personal example?

There are several challenges that women face in this profession. The most common one is the everyday sexism we experience. Setting aside the obvious, the challenges I see working in HVAC are the assumptions that we, as women, cannot possibly be mechanically inclined, that we lack the knowledge to be in this business, or cannot possibly be the owner. The female territory representative from 2J Supply here in Cincinnati is one of the most knowledgeable HVAC professionals I’ve met in 55 years. To assume otherwise because she is a woman is, frankly, very insulting to her big, wonderful brain. Additionally, there can be an inherent lack of respect for authority from employees. A personal example: I discovered that a coworker was telling others that he didn’t have to listen to me. Sexism is a real and pervasive issue. The challenges can be blatant, and they can also be subtle, ingrained into everyday conversations. These challenges don’t always come from men in the industry, either. Disappointingly, during a demo for a new thermostat we are considering partnering with, the female presenter asked if my husband would be joining me. In response, I politely challenged whether she thought a woman couldn’t possibly be the owner and make decisions. This was in no way intentional on her part; she was both professional and a pleasure to work with. Had I not said something, she would have never realized what she said was ‘off’ and possibly offended someone moving forward and lost a sale.

How can we increase the number of women in HVACR?

I strongly believe that there should be more bold and in-your-face advertising campaigns directed towards women in the trades. But not just talks in schools, career days, and vocational brochures, either. This marketing strategy needs to drive it home, to everyone, that there are massive and inclusive employment opportunities in the trades.

What does your day-to-day job entail?

My day-to-day consists of accounts payable, payroll, part-time therapist, accounts receivable, light human resources, meetings with our service manager, territory reps, software company, IT company, sales demos, our coaching company, and too many other things to list. I don’t do it all in the office, though. We have a team of men and women who lift me up on the daily, and I gladly return the favor. We couldn’t do this without our employees and partners.

What remains on your HVACR bucket list?

I want our company to be known, behind the scenes, as the place where everyone wants to work. I want to allow our employees to create a culture that they envisioned when they interviewed. I want to live up to what they expect on their first day. I want to identify, create, and replicate this culture. When I retire, I’d love to work from home, teaching the soft skills and little nuances that make a company special for both employees and customers.

What do you aspire to do that you haven’t accomplished yet?

I would love to be more involved in the community. We do a food drive for our local pantry on site as well as collecting on service calls. I have always wanted to open our own Clark Heating and Cooling Food Pantry.

What advice do you have for women who are considering a career in HVACR?

Don’t take no for an answer. Don’t underestimate yourself, but don’t overestimate yourself, either. Know your worth. Not what you think you are worth, but take a long, hard look at yourself and ask what you bring to the table with professional image, knowledge, willingness to continue learning, and ability. Know that you may not get the job because you weren’t a good fit, not always because you are a woman. Don’t assume you got the job just because you are a woman. Don’t diminish your own value to your new company, even if you’re told or you sense that being a women did actually help you get hired. Take the win.