Success Stories
Charting Success
Through the Women in HVACR Navigator Program, mentors and mentees are charting new paths to success.
Spotlight
Mentor Spotlight
Amy Jo Meyers
“Don't let your expertise feel ordinary just because it's yours.”
What do you enjoy most about being a Navigator (mentor) in our program?
I’m grateful to have a few amazing mentors through my own career. I’ve learned that mentoring is one of the few professional investments where your accumulated experience creates immediate, tangible value for someone else. There's something energizing about putting years of experience and industry knowledge to work for someone who's in the middle of building their career. It's instructive for the mentor too; mentoring actively challenges your knowledge, assumptions, thought processes, and pushes you to distill and adapt.
Share an example of how you've been able to help Ashley as your mentee.
Ann Scott had developed a great program and built strong customer relationships. She had an amazing foundational body of work but was challenged by "proving the program's value". We worked through which metrics would actually matter to her functional team, her company, her customers, and then she ran with our discussion to structure a business case. In under 4 weeks, she had gathered the data and built the story. And extra bonus, one of her District Sales Managers won an award at their National Sales Conference and acknowledged Ann Scott's professional contribution as a big part of their success!
Why would you recommend someone who wants to be mentored to join our Navigator program?
A mentor cultivates their own assets over time & experience that are directly applicable to situations you haven't encountered yet: perspective (vantage point), disposition (approach), and earned judgement (decision). Whether it's thinking through how a plan might play out, reading the stakeholders involved, or understanding industry dynamics that aren't obvious from where you sit, a good mentor compresses your learning curve considerably.
What thoughts do you have for someone who is interested in becoming a mentor?
Don't let your expertise feel ordinary just because it's yours. Skills that took you years to build may be exactly what someone earlier in their career is working to figure out right now. As a mentor, you can speed someone else’s learning curve and help them intentionally shape their own professional path.
Mentee Spotlight
Ann Scott O’Brien
“The program gave me something rare, a relationship built on both genuine friendship and sharp professional challenge.”
What were you hoping for when you joined the Navigator program as a mentee, and how successful were you at receiving that from this program?
I knew I needed a mentor, but I didn't know where to start: who to trust, who had the right experience, and frankly, how to access that kind of guidance without a significant personal investment. The Navigator program solved all of that by doing something I couldn't do on my own: connecting me with an industry-specific mentor who could challenge me in ways that only someone who has navigated a career in HVAC could. It didn't just connect me with a mentor; it paired me with exactly the right one and exceeded every expectation I didn't even know I had.
What have you valued most about your mentoring relationship?
The program gave me something rare, a relationship built on both genuine friendship and sharp professional challenge. That combination isn't something you stumble into. I came into this program looking for professional guidance and found someone I'll carry with me far beyond it.
How has your mentor helped you navigate, whether personal or professional?
Amy helped me see what I couldn't see myself - that strong work still needs to be framed in a way that makes its value undeniable, and she guided me with specific tools to do that. Within four weeks I built a custom program and business case that resonated at every level and was acknowledged on the main stage at our National Sales Conference.
Why would you encourage others to join the Navigator Mentoring program at Women in HVACR?
There is something uniquely powerful about being in a room, even a virtual one, with a woman who knows this industry and chooses to consistently show up for you and cheer you on. A great mentor doesn't just share advice; she helps you stretch toward limits you didn't know you had and the Navigator program was built to make exactly that pairing possible. I found my navigator here, and I'm grateful every day for the partnership we've built. To anyone on the fence: if you've ever felt like you were navigating your career without a map, like you could see where you want to go but couldn't quite find the road, this program was built for you. If you're hungry to grow but missing someone who has already walked your specific path, if you have big goals but no one in your corner who truly understands this industry, those are your signs. And if you're nervous about putting yourself out there or not knowing what to expect, that's okay, I was there too. You don't have to have it all figured out to show up because a great mentor will meet you exactly where you are and help coach you through the partnership every step of the way. The best thing you can do for your career is put yourself in proximity to people who make you better, and the Navigator program was built to make exactly that happen.
Mentor Spotlight
Elisa Wagoner
Regional HR Leader
Trane Technologies
“Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways to ensure women have a voice and feel empowered in their roles.”
What do you enjoy most about being a Navigator (mentor) in our program?
What I enjoy most about being a Navigator is the opportunity to build meaningful connections with people who bring such diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences to the table. Every conversation teaches me something new, and I truly value the exchange of ideas and insight that naturally happens in this program. It’s incredibly inspiring to be part of a community where we are not only supporting one another but also growing together—both personally and professionally.
Share an example of how you've been able to help Ashley as your mentee.
Supporting Ashley has been one of the most meaningful parts of my experience as a mentor. I’ve had the opportunity to reflect back on my own experiences and help her build confidence—not only as a new mom navigating major life changes, but also as a professional working in a male-dominated industry. We’ve shared open, honest conversations about balancing responsibilities, setting boundaries, advocating for herself, and embracing her strengths.
Why would you recommend someone who wants to be mentored to join our Navigator program?
I would wholeheartedly recommend the Navigator program to anyone seeking mentorship, especially those who are newer to the HVACR industry or looking to build confidence and clarity in their career path. The program is such a valuable way to build meaningful connections, gain fresh perspectives, and receive guidance from people who genuinely want to see you succeed. It provides a supportive, encouraging environment that accelerates learning, builds professional confidence, and helps you navigate challenges with a trusted partner by your side. Having someone outside your direct company—but still within the industry—creates a safe space for honest conversation, questions, and exploration.
What thoughts do you have for someone who is interested in becoming a mentor?
My advice is simple: do it! Becoming a mentor is incredibly fulfilling, and in many ways, you end up gaining even more than you give. It offers the chance to reflect on your own journey, reignite your passion for your work, and see the industry through fresh eyes. It also challenges you to grow, listen differently, and think more intentionally about the way you support others.
As I’ve grown in my own career and life, I’ve realized how vital it is to help ensure that women have a voice and feel empowered in their roles. Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways to make that happen. When we show up for each other—openly, authentically, and wholeheartedly—we help create a stronger, more inclusive industry for the next generation.
As I’ve grown in my own career and life, I’ve realized how vital it is to help ensure that women have a voice and feel empowered in their roles. Mentorship is one of the most powerful ways to make that happen. When we show up for each other—openly, authentically, and wholeheartedly—we help create a stronger, more inclusive industry for the next generation.
Mentee Spotlight
Ashley Morrison
HR Operations Manager
Legacy Companies, Inc.
“What I gained ended up being even more valuable than I expected—it became guidance during a pivotal season in my life.”
What were you hoping for when you joined the Navigator program as a mentee, and how successful were you at receiving that from this program?
When I joined the Navigator program, I was hoping to connect with someone in the HVACR industry who had more experience than me—someone who could help guide me, expand my perspective, and teach me things beyond what I had self-learned in my role. Having moved around within my company and largely figuring things out on my own, I was really looking for that broader industry insight. I did receive some of what I was initially looking for, but what I gained ended up being even more valuable than I expected. The relationship evolved into something I didn’t even know I needed at the time. It became less about just professional development and more about overall guidance during a really pivotal season in my life.
What have you valued most about your mentoring relationship?
What I valued most was having someone who truly listened and understood where I was at—not just professionally, but personally. Elisa brought so much patience, flexibility, and insight to our relationship. During a time when my schedule was constantly shifting with pregnancy, maternity leave, and returning to work part-time, she always met me where I was.
Her willingness to adjust, check in, and continue showing up made a huge difference. It never felt rigid or transactional—it felt supportive, real, and tailored to what I needed in the moment.
Her willingness to adjust, check in, and continue showing up made a huge difference. It never felt rigid or transactional—it felt supportive, real, and tailored to what I needed in the moment.
How has your mentor helped you navigate, whether personal or professional?
Elisa helped me navigate one of the biggest transitional periods of my life. I was pregnant, navigating changes in my career, and trying to figure out how to balance work, family, and working within a family business. She offered perspective, reassurance, and ideas that helped me think about my future in a new way. She guided me not just in career direction, but in how to approach decisions with more confidence and clarity.
Why would you encourage others to join the Navigator Mentoring program at Women in HVACR?
I would encourage others to join because this program truly meets you where you are. Whether you’re looking for career guidance, industry knowledge, or support through personal transitions, it has the ability to evolve based on what you need. HVACR offers so many different career paths, and having access to someone who has navigated the industry—especially as a woman—can be incredibly empowering. This program creates space for those connections and gives you access to perspectives you might not otherwise have. This program doesn’t force a one-size-fits-all experience—it allows the mentorship to grow in the direction you need, when you need it. That flexibility and genuine connection are what makes this program so valuable, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experience.