The nonprofit organization’s 13-member board celebrates how women in the skilled trades can redefine leadership roles Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, wants to lead by example, and its 13-member board of directors showcases how women have advanced in the skilled trades Read more
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The nonprofit organization’s 13-member board celebrates how women in the skilled trades can redefine leadership roles
Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, wants to lead by example, and its 13-member board of directors showcases how women have advanced in the skilled trades industry since the group’s inception in 2002.
“This board includes some of the most powerful women in the HVACR and home comfort industries,” said Women in HVACR Executive Director Amy O’ Grady. “Women in HVACR wants to lead by example, and this board exemplifies this goal. This is a group that will encourage any woman entering the skilled trades industries by creating the type of dynamic environment that inspires them to succeed.”
The executive board of directors is comprised of five members, including:
- President Lori Tschohl: Tschohl is the owner of Eagle Pipe & Mechanical, a leading HVAC contractor in Poulsbo, WA, specializing in gas piping, heating and cooling. With more than 35 years of industry experience, she has been a driving force behind the company’s growth and success since 2015. She has received the Service Nation Women of the Year award in 2022 and the Boundless Benefactor Award in 2023 for her exceptional leadership and has received numerous awards for her charity work. She also serves as an advisory board moderator for AB80 Queens of Contracting and is a founding member and state chapter president of Women in Plumbing and Piping (WIPP).
- Vice President Kristin Gallup: Gallup is the director of product management for Carrier Enterprise, a joint venture between Watsco, Inc. and Carrier Corporation. She has been in HVAC Distribution for over 17 years in multiple leadership capacities and has been a supporting member of WHAVCR for more than 10 years.
- Immediate Past President Marcia Christiansen: Christiansen is the business unit manager for PECO Control Systems, an Astronics company, a manufacturer of thermostats for the HVAC, industrial and commercial cooking industries in Portland, Oregon. She is a key technical resource for PECO and has worked in the industry for 27 years.
- Secretary Tanya Steindl: Steindl serves as the director of marketing for the aftermarket parts division of Daikin Comfort Technologies, a company that provides heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, refrigerants, and connected devices for residential and commercial spaces, located in Waller, Texas. During her time at Daikin, she has been instrumental in the development of private label parts and controls brands, which offers universal options available to any contractor.
- Treasurer Sarah Hammond: Hammond is the president of Atlas Electrical, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Plumbing Services in Alton, Texas. She also oversees Hummingbird Trailer Park and Alton X-Plex and is an investor in several local businesses. She also serves as the CEO for the Better Business Bureau in South Texas, and is the president of FemCity RGV, a community of more than 70 businesswomen in McAllen, Texas.
Other board members include:
- Erica Leonor, director of business development for Goodleap in Riverton, Utah.
- Laurelyn Arriaga, OME sales manager for McDaniel Metals, Inc. in Houston, Texas.
- Becky Hoelscher, senior account manager for Arkema in Sidney, Ohio.
- Jane Sidebottom, president and founder of AMK in Bonita Springs, Florida.
- Crystal Williams, founder and marketing strategist for Lemonseed Marketing in Burke, Texas.
- Linda Rodriguez, marketing and events manager for Quietflex in Houston.
- Angela Miller, brand ambassador for Goettl Air Conditioning & Plumbing in Las Vegas.
- Nicole Norris, strategic relationship manager for Service Nation in Coppell, Texas.
For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org.
RefrigiWear, the leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, announces the appointment of Leigh Stadelmeier as Vice President of B2B Outdoor Sales. In this role, Stadelmeier will lead RefrigiWear to further position itself as the market leader in insulated industrial workwear, building sales strategies to drive growth and revenue in the Read more
RefrigiWear, the leading manufacturer of insulated industrial workwear, accessories, and personal protective equipment, announces the appointment of Leigh Stadelmeier as Vice President of B2B Outdoor Sales. In this role, Stadelmeier will lead RefrigiWear to further position itself as the market leader in insulated industrial workwear, building sales strategies to drive growth and revenue in the B2B Outdoor division.
“We are thrilled to have Leigh join us as Vice President for our Outdoor division,” says RefrigiWear Chief Commercial Officer Wes Dye. “Leigh’s experience and passion for safety and protective gear strengthen our position in the outdoor market, where we are seeing robust growth in outfitting teams with PPE across construction, farming, transportation, and utilities. He knows what it takes to keep people protected while they’re working in cold, harsh conditions.”
Stadelmeier brings over 20 years of experience in construction distribution to the role. He is also an Authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer. Having experienced a traumatic fall while serving in the Army, Stadelmeier devoted his career to safety and training to prevent accidents on the job. His background also includes strategic leadership in corporate safety, expertise in personal protective equipment (PPE), and safety training for construction teams focused on fall prevention and safety best practices.
Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company, announced today that Mike Davis will become its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 8. Jon Shell, who has served as interim CEO since September 2023, will resume the role of Chief Financial Officer. “Mike is a highly successful CEO with a phenomenal track record of success across Read more
Neighborly®, the world’s largest home services company, announced today that Mike Davis will become its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 8. Jon Shell, who has served as interim CEO since September 2023, will resume the role of Chief Financial Officer.
“Mike is a highly successful CEO with a phenomenal track record of success across various industries, including significantly growing franchise businesses,” said David Brandon, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Mike brings an aligned strategic vision and commitment to innovation, making him the ideal leader to build on the incredible achievements and growth Neighborly has experienced.”
Davis’s career has focused on growth, driven by product or service enhancements, pricing strategies, marketing excellence, and customer service. He most recently served as the CEO of Mathnasium® Learning Centers since 2022, where the company advanced its mission of education and empowering franchise owners while experiencing record-setting KPIs across same-center growth, systemwide sales, lead generation, and conversion and expanded the network across three new countries. Before that, Davis was the CEO of Valpak, a franchised network and direct mail and digital marketing leader, where he helped revamp their business model, which ultimately drove significant growth.
“Working closely with the Board and the leadership team, Mike will refine, enhance, and execute the company’s existing strategy and roadmap, with a commitment to expanding the footprint of Neighborly’s service brands and driving awareness to strengthen its presence in key markets,” said Felix Gernburd, Neighborly Board Member and Partner at KKR. “He is the right leader to help guide the execution of key enterprise initiatives and the digital transformation in progress aimed to elevate Neighborly as a trusted provider to customers and an attractive investment for prospective franchise owners.”
Davis has more than two decades of leadership experience, including 13 years with Universal Music Group (UMG), where he became Executive Vice President and General Manager. He led a division during a disruptive time that outperformed nearly all others within UMG for four consecutive years. He has consistently driven profitable growth. His leadership has spanned companies across diverse fields, including multi-unit franchising, B2B, B2C, eCommerce, direct-to-consumer, third-party logistics, digital platforms, and media.
“Neighborly has established itself as a trailblazer in franchising with some of the most respected and leading home services brands in the industry,” said Davis. “The company has been served by outstanding leaders, most recently with Jon Shell, and prior to that with the late Mike Bidwell. I look forward to joining this great organization and building on the meaningful impact they have made.”
For more information about Neighborly’s service brands, visit www.neighborlybrands.com.
Amy O’Grady went from the fashion industry to an effective contractor and leader in the heating and cooling industry Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, today announced it has appointed industry sales and marketing expert and licensed HVAC contractor Amy O’Grady as its first executive director. O’Grady brings Read more
Amy O’Grady went from the fashion industry to an effective contractor and leader in the heating and cooling industry
Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, today announced it has appointed industry sales and marketing expert and licensed HVAC contractor Amy O’Grady as its first executive director.
O’Grady brings more than 13 years of experience as a licensed contractor, sales and marketing director and events manager to the WHVACR family. She also served four years as the executive director for the North Florida Air Conditioning Contractors Association (NFACCA).
“Women in HVACR has always been a completely volunteer-only organization, but since we now offer such a long list of networking events, educational programs and scholarship funds to our members, we needed someone on our permanent staff to manage all the good work that we do,” said 2024 WHVACR President Lori Tschohl. “With her background in the HVAC industry and executive director leadership, Amy brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic vision to our organization. We are confident she will provide the necessary oversight to help our board achieve its goals and take Women in HVACR to new heights.”
O’Grady is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in textiles and consumer sciences. After starting her career as a product developer and assistant buyer in the fashion industry, O’Grady began honing her leadership skills in business development, marketing and event planning as a marketing manager for a regional grocery chain and for Charlie’s Tropic Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Atlantic Beach, Florida.
“It was during my tenure as marketing director for Charlie’s Tropic that I discovered my passion for the HVAC industry and entrepreneurship,” O’Grady said. “I was able to modernize the company’s identity by crafting unique content and developing data-driven marketing programs to stay on top of the ever-changing digital market.”
She also reached a significant milestone at the HVAC company by becoming a licensed contractor, which helped her master her craft and put her on her current career trajectory.
Her next position was as the executive director for the NFACCA, where she demonstrated her adaptability and willingness to learn new skills. She spent more than four years in this role before accepting the position at WHVACR.
“My role at NFACCA certainly helped prepare me for the job I’m taking on at Women in HVACR,” she said. “I look forward to bringing my industry knowledge to our team so that I can help this organization grow and create a dynamic environment that inspires more women to start careers in the skilled trades.”
For more information about Women in HVACR, visit www.womeninhvacr.org/.
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor North America), a global provider of Uponor-branded products, today announced that Hailey Mick, business development manager of Engineering Services, was recently selected as the incoming president of the ASHRAE Tennessee Valley Chapter. Her two-year term will begin on July 1, 2024. ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating Read more
GF Building Flow Solutions Americas (formerly Uponor North America), a global provider of Uponor-branded products, today announced that Hailey Mick, business development manager of Engineering Services, was recently selected as the incoming president of the ASHRAE Tennessee Valley Chapter. Her two-year term will begin on July 1, 2024.
ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, advances the arts and sciences of HVACR and their allied fields while striving to achieve a healthy and sustainable built environment for all. As a long-standing member, Hailey was voted in as president by the ASHRAE Board and will draw on the theme of “Building on Foundations, Empowering Today, and Shaping Tomorrow.”
According to Hailey, “Being actively involved in ASHRAE is crucial for driving advancements in HVAC and refrigeration systems. As the incoming local chapter president, I am committed to fostering innovation, sustainability, and professional development within our industry. Our collective efforts not only enhance the efficiency and performance of the built environment but also ensure that we are leading the charge in promoting environmentally responsible practices. Through collaboration and continued education, we can inspire the next generation of engineers and uphold the highest standards of excellence in our field.”
As president, Hailey will represent the Tennessee Valley Chapter at both regional and national conferences, leading with education to bring value to the industry and inspiring others to take the necessary steps to improve the built environment.
“We couldn’t be more excited for Hailey as she steps into this role with an organization that’s highly committed to sustainability and innovation,” says Matt Bahr, vice president of Sales at GF Building Flow Solutions Americas. “Hailey is uniquely suited for this role with a passion for protecting the environment, advancing the industry with a new way of thinking, and inspiring others along the way.”
To learn more about the ASHRAE Tennessee Valley Chapter, visit ashraetnvalley.org.