Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for women's advancement in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration industries, recently concluded its Bet on Yourself conference held in Las Vegas.
The event featured the introduction of the organization’s new President, honored several distinguished awardees, and saw the unveiling of its inaugural annual magazine.
Jane Sidebottom, who currently holds the position of Executive Board Vice President at WHVACR, was announced as the incoming President for the next year. Sidebottom is also the President and Founder of Applied Marketing Knowledge, LLC, a consultancy that aids manufacturers, distributors, and service companies in business growth.
Leadership Transition and Praise for Momentum
Kristin Gallup expressed her confidence in Sidebottom's leadership for the upcoming year
The outgoing WHVACR President, Kristin Gallup, expressed her confidence in Sidebottom's leadership for the upcoming year.
"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," stated Kristin Gallup.
She emphasized the success of the conference, noting the high caliber of speakers, interactive workshops, and fruitful discussions that highlighted the support among women in the industry.
Inaugural Pillar Awards for Industry Pioneers
WHVACR introduced its first-ever Pillar Awards during the event, recognizing women who exhibit excellence in mentorship, education, and networking. Stephanie Postell, Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Anchor Heating & Air, received the Mentorship Pillar Award for her commitment to mentorship and empowering women in trades.
Nasim Rahman, a Senior Product Manager at Lennox, was awarded the Education Pillar Award for her leadership in training programs and contributions to electrification.
Jessica Slaughter, Marketing Manager at Rapid Locking Systems (RLS), earned the Network Pillar Award for her role in fostering partnerships through events and training initiatives.
Launch of "Empowered" Magazine
Another highlight of the conference was the launch of WHVACR's debut magazine, "Empowered."
Another highlight of the conference was the launch of WHVACR's debut magazine, "Empowered." This annual publication celebrates female trailblazers in the HVACR sector, including features on mentors, market pioneers, and rising stars.
Attendees at the conference received copies, and the magazine is available digitally on the organization’s website, with print versions offered through WHVACR's Swag Store.
Noteworthy Conference Highlights
The event also featured impactful keynote addresses from leadership coach, Angela Gaffney, Author of "Feel Good, Look Good, For Life," and Erin Hatzikostas, noted for her work on authenticity in the workplace.
Additional highlights included a presentation honoring the ACHR News’ Top Women in HVAC and various workshops and networking events that provided opportunities for professional connection and growth.
Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, recently hosted its Bet on Yourself conference in Las Vegas, where it introduced its new president, honored award recipients and presented the organization’s new annual magazine.
Current Women in HVACR Executive Board Vice President, Jane Sidebottom was named as the group’s new President for the upcoming year. She is the President and Founder of Applied Marketing Knowledge, LLC, a marketing and management consulting company that works with manufacturers, distributors and service companies to grow their businesses.
Build on the incredible momentum
Outgoing Women in WHVACR President Kristin Gallup said as Vice President of the Organization throughout 2025, Sidebottom is uniquely prepared to lead the organization in 2026.
“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,” she said. “This momentum also culminated into a remarkable conference that was incredibly energizing. The caliber of speakers, the engaging workshops and the meaningful conversations throughout the exhibition hall exceeded expectations. This conference showed the power of women supporting women in this industry.”
Three outstanding pioneers with inaugural Pillar Awards
Women in HVACR also took the opportunity to celebrate three outstanding pioneers with its inaugural Pillar Awards. These awards recognize women who embody excellence in mentorship, education and networking within the industry:
- Stephanie Postell, Co-Owner and Chief Operating Officer of Anchor Heating & Air, was selected as the Mentorship Pillar Award winner for building her business around mentorship. Postell continually shares her expertise and empowers women to enter the trades while guiding entrepreneurs across the country to launch their businesses with confidence.
- Nasim Rahman, Senior Product Manager at Lennox, received the Education Pillar Award for her leadership in large-scale trainings, mentoring programs and advancements in electrification.
- Jessica Slaughter, Marketing Manager at Rapid Locking Systems (RLS), earned the Network Pillar Award for her outstanding work fostering partnerships through live events, digital communities and national training initiatives.
First-ever magazine
The group also unveiled its first-ever magazine, “Empowered,” an annual publication celebrating women who are shaping the HVACR industry as mentors, market makers, boardroom pioneers and rising stars. The debut issue featured the Women to Watch recognition program, “Powering Progress: Influential Women in HVACR for 2025.”
While the magazine was handed out at the conference, digital copies can be viewed at the website, and hard copies can be ordered from the organization’s Swag Store at the website.
Impact of authenticity in the workplace
Other highlights from the event include keynote speeches from Angela Gaffney, a leadership coach and the best-selling author of “Feel Good, Look Good, For Life” and Erin Hatzikostas, a recognized pioneer on the impact of authenticity in the workplace; a presentation honoring the ACHR News’ Top Women in HVAC; and a range of workshops and after-hour networking events.
