2025 Top Women in HVAC: Samantha Houchin

Samantha Houchin
How and when did you enter the HVACR industry?
It all started with a dream and a janky Dodge van. Starting an HVAC company was my husband Chris’s dream. He’s the one who introduced me to this incredible industry. In 2009, Chris and I launched the company from our dining room, which we’d converted into an office. Chris brought hands-on field experience, and I had an operations and accounting background. It was the perfect partnership. Together we set out to turn his dream into our shared reality.
From the beginning, we knew we wanted to break the mold of the traditional HVAC company. We wanted to change the way customers viewed contractors — with honesty and authenticity as our cornerstones — building a business that prioritized people over profit and treated both customers and employees like family. Our goal was to create something lasting — a company that could become generational and one day be passed down to our children.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in HVACR?
Most people don’t think about their heating and cooling system until it stops working. It’s one of those “out of sight, out of mind” essentials, and many homeowners have no idea what a workhorse their HVAC system truly is. I love getting the chance to change that by educating people about their systems, solving comfort challenges, and seeing the impact the right solutions can make in their lives.
Describe the proudest moment in your career.
For years, we ran our business out of our home, garage, and a storage unit. We knew we were outgrowing the space, but the leap into an actual office and warehouse felt huge and, honestly, a little scary. We decided not to let the fear of the unknown hold us back any longer.
Finding our first real office space was a turning point. I’ll never forget pulling into the parking lot that first morning, seeing our name on the door, and feeling an overwhelming sense of pride. Even now, every time I park in front of that building, I think about how far we’ve come and get excited about how far we are poised to go. From the dining room office to an office with our name on it, it’s a daily reminder that we are seeing our dream come to life.
How can we increase the number of women in HVACR?
We need to show people, especially young women, that the trades offer a bright, rewarding, and lucrative future, and college is not the only option. A career in HVACR can open doors just as wide. The industry offers a variety of opportunities, whether you are in the field or in the office.
I know how important that visibility is, because when I started, I rarely saw women in the industry, and it made it harder to picture myself as a leader in it. That changed when I met other women who were thriving in HVACR, and it opened my eyes to what was possible.
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What remains on your HVACR bucket list — what do you aspire to do that you haven’t accomplished yet?
One of my biggest goals is to continue growing our company and expanding into other home services, like plumbing and electrical. We want to be a one-stop solution for homeowners and a trusted partner they can turn to for all their home comfort needs.
It’s not just about adding services — it’s about building a team and a reputation that can deliver the same level of quality, care, and expertise across every part of a customer’s home experience.
What advice do you have for women who are considering entering the HVACR field?
Don’t stay anywhere you’re not appreciated. Find a seat at a table where your experience, our opinions, and your voice truly matter. Never put yourself in a box that limits your growth or keeps you from moving your goals forward. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up, motivate you, encourage you, and believe in even your biggest, boldest, and most outlandish dreams.
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