WOMEN IN HVACR EXISTS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR MEMBERS BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL AVENUES TO CONNECT WITH OTHER WOMEN GROWING THEIR CAREERS IN THE HVACR INDUSTRY

FOR THE YEAR 2026, WOMEN IN HVACR ELECTED JANE SIDEBOTTOM TO SERVE AS THE WHVACR PRESIDENT TO SUCCEED KRISTIN GALLUP, A LEADER IN THE HVACR INDUSTRY, WHO WILL MOVE TO THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT POSITION ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD.

2026 Women in HVACR President, Jane Sidebottom!

President’s message:

Dear WHVACR Members and Supporters

2026 will be a year that will go down in history…for our country and our organization.

As I write this letter, I am overwhelmed with the possibilities that 2026 presents Women in HVACR…in a very good way. This platform I have been asked to lead, has done so much to raise awareness for the opportunities and advancement of women in the HVAC industry and the trades as a whole. Our 2025 was packed full of growth in our mentorship, membership and content creation under Kristin Gallup’s strategic leadership. We were able to double the number of scholarships awarded and revamp our sponsorship program that resulted in growth in our sponsor and partner support. And our conference showcased so many accomplished women in our industry. I am grateful to Kristin and the retiring board of directors for helping to construct these great building blocks.

The attention on the trades is at an all-time high level, and we must capitalize on this energy now. This will involve amplifying what WHVACR and our partners are doing to demonstrate successful career paths for women in our industry. I believe firmly that career success starts with career vision at a young age. Our Ambassador Program will be a major priority to equip our members, partners and communities with the messaging and resources to guide both young women and women seeking a new profession, into this industry. Women often need to see what success looks like, and our Ambassadors are powerful and passionate advocates of career success.

Career vision is not enough. We must continue to provide the leadership development and resources necessary to support success. Whether a member chooses leadership in the field, the front office, or the corner office, I want her to find the knowledge resources, relationships and mentorship to support her success.

As speaking of that success, I am thrilled to announce that we will be launching a comprehensive mentor training program designed for women in the HVACR industry. This builds on the enormous success of our Navigator Mentor program that we launched in 2024. Our goal is to give every woman not just mentor support, but the training to be a mentor and carry that through into her business environment. The first module will be launched to a pilot audience in Q1/2026.

Our Contractor Advisory Council has been instrumental in guiding our thinking and we will selectively add additional advisors, with other backgrounds to guide our content development and delivery in 2026. These advisory roles are critical to helping the WHVACR board understand the needs of our members and industry. Staffing of these roles will be made with select thought leaders from across the industry and membership.

Our members have asked for the opportunity to network and learn on a regional basis. We look forward to launching two substantial regional events to compliment and build off our national conference. These events will focus on education/development, networking and we will look for opportunities to engage in the local community either through a coordinated Ambassador or Navigator session.

We look forward to partnering with other organizational partners to deliver opportunity, development and support for women across our industry. As I mentioned at our 2025 conference, 1+1 can equal 3 if we work closely with Women in ASHRAE, WHVACR Canada, women focused and/or led influencer groups or communities to share the message and networks. Together we can help fill the skills gap and reinforce that this industry holds the keys to a fantastic career for women and girls across North America.

Developing and reinforcing women leaders just makes good business sense. Continuing to offer scholarships to get women into the industry and then providing the development, networks and mentorship to help them be successful, equips our industry with the talent and knowledge to meet the growing demand for HVACR.

So,

• Mark your calendars for our 2026 national conference in Indianapolis, September 27-29th
• Get set to participate in all the great programs and opportunities we have planned!
• And Drive your professional development forward through WHVACR.