Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit supporting women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration industry, held its annual "Bet on Yourself" conference earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event included the introduction of the organization’s new president, the announcement of award winners, and the launch of WHVACR’s first magazine.
Jane Sidebottom, previously vice president of the WHVACR Executive Board, was named president for the upcoming year. Sidebottom is the president and founder of Applied Marketing Knowledge, LLC, a consulting company working with HVACR manufacturers, distributors and service providers.
Outgoing president Kristin Gallup said, “As Jane steps into the role of president, I'm confident she'll continue to build on the incredible momentum we have experienced throughout 2025.”
The organization also introduced its new Pillar Awards, recognizing achievements in mentorship, education and networking. The first recipients were:
Stephanie Postell, co-owner and COO of Anchor Heating & Air, for the Mentorship Pillar Award.
Nasim Rahman, senior product manager at Lennox, for the Education Pillar Award.
Jessica Slaughter, marketing manager at Rapid Locking Systems (RLS), for the Network Pillar Award.
WHVACR also presented its inaugural annual magazine, Empowered, which highlights women advancing the HVACR sector. The debut edition includes the "Women to Watch" list titled “Powering Progress: Influential Women in HVACR for 2025.” Digital and print copies are available through the organization’s website.
The three-day conference featured keynote addresses from leadership coach Angela Gaffney and workplace authenticity advocate Erin Hatzikostas.