Murphy's Law: Sex in HVAC and Refrigeration

The all-volunteer military had to learn to become great marketers, just like every other business. The United States Marine Corp (USMC), the U.S. Army, and other branches of the military had to look further than its typical recruitment base - the white, Caucasian male. The need has evolved past the African-American male, another large contingent of the U.S. military in recent times. Now, a new breed of military exists: one that not only includes women but recruits them with fervor.

Look in the cars and trucks that surround you on your drive to work each day. What do you see?

Today, women comprise the majority of the workforce. Women make up the majority of college graduates. A woman represents 1/3 of the viable presidential candidates.

Fifty percent of a crew of plasterers I stumbled upon, while looking for an accountant’s office, was made up of women. One was less than 20 years of age. I had to smile when I saw her, as I thought how daringly smart this young woman must have been when she first walked into the union hall.

WOMEN IN HVACR

The Women in HVACR organization got its start a few years ago. It was the brainchild of a few perceptive people who realized that this industry needed help if it is to meet the growing needs of a world that just can’t live without its air conditioning, to say nothing of its heating.

From a membership of a mere handful of people in its first full year, the Women in HVACR has grown to over 200 members strong. However, it bothers me that so few of the vast number of women in this industry don’t see more value in membership. By the way, there are quite a few male members of the organization, as well. Still, the genesis of the organization was to gather momentum from those women already employed in the industry for the purpose of recruiting more young women to seek HVACR careers.

Accomplishments to date: Women in HVACR is the first international organization for women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. The organization hosts an annual meeting that has been steadily growing in attendance each year and continuously schedules networking programs during HVAC industry events and shows.

The most recent and important achievement is the expansion of the national organization into local chapters. The creation of the local chapters makes networking and education a more personal experience for members. Chapters also allow for members to take an active role in their own communities. Future benefits for national members are planned to include Webinars, training resources, and mentoring programs.

Goals of the organization: “Women in HVACR is organized exclusively for educational purposes, more specifically to further the growth of women in all areas of the HVACR industry including the field, sales, management, and ownership. It is our dream to provide our members with a variety of means to network and develop in a professional environment.”

ALL GOOD WOMEN

Ladies, it’s time to get more active in the industry. Every week I meet or hear of another woman in this industry who is doing extraordinary things in her HVACR career. Probably not often enough, I ask if she has ever heard of the Women in HVACR organization. My promise for 2008 is to do more to promote the organization because I believe that the future of our industry lay in the hands of the young men and women who are in junior high schools and high schools throughout the country. As they become of age for secondary education, the choice of an HVACR education/career is among their many great opportunities.

If you believe, as many people do, that the young women and men of America are truly America’s future, then it must not be too much of a stretch to believe the same to be true about the industry in which you work.

Please get involved. We need you.

For more information, go to www.womeninhvacr.org.

Publication date: 04/07/2008