When new Women in Energy applicants are asked what they need most, they respond with one common theme: how to navigate within a male-dominated industry.
Many of our members have been not-so-silent partners in the family businesses that make up the male-dominated heating and cooling industry for over a century. These businesses, now with several generations of history, started with the husband driving the fuel, ice, or coal truck and installing and repairing the equipment while the wife handled the billing, payments, and appointments from the kitchen table while simultaneously handling the children, the laundry, and the cooking.
Times have changed, and many women have driven themselves to the front of the line. Some have taken over family businesses, others worked their way up from entry-level positions, and others were attracted by the opportunities offered for well-paying, secure careers.
A space for women in energy
Women in Energy established itself as a non-profit in 2018 with the mission to connect women working in the energy industry with networking and educational opportunities. One of its initiatives is a mentorship program. When new applicants are asked what they need most, they respond with one common theme: how to navigate within a male-dominated industry.
Judy Garber knows a lot about that. Garber was among the group that founded Women in Energy after she spent decades in the industry and then as executive director of the National Association of Oil & Energy Service Professionals. Now retired, Garber can recount the numerous times she was asked to make coffee before meetings, or told that “a woman can’t do that.”
“Even though times are different now, it still comes down to respect — getting it from the people around you, but also demanding it. No matter what business you’re in, there will always be people who won’t believe in you. As long as you believe in yourself, you will prove them wrong,” Garber says.
Opportunities for all
There are more and more women entering trade schools to become HVAC service technicians or getting CDL driving licenses and hazmat certifications to deliver liquid fuels. More women are choosing engineering so they can design new products needed for the future. All are attracted to the above-average salaries, benefits, and stability these jobs offer.
There are opportunities for women with all types of skills and interests: those who want to break down and repair a boiler or air conditioner, drive a truck, climb a utility pole, work behind the scenes as support staff, or even those looking for opportunities to own or manage a business. Many positions do not require a college education but may require appropriate experience, training, or certification.
Liz Hill, senior vice president of Women in Energy, started at PriMedia, Inc., in a part-time entry-level clerical position, and is now manager of the client services group, supervising the administrative, service, and project team as well as handling direct client accounts.
“I never expected my sales and marketing career to be focused on the energy business, but we are breaking new ground, creating software that integrates with advanced HVAC technology, and there’s always a new way to help our clients streamline their work,” she says. “I have made great friends through Women in Energy, and as chair of the Industry Outreach Committee, I can help guide women new to the industry.”
Garber adds, “How to navigate in a male-dominated industry? Just get in there and do the job. The opportunities are really endless, and with the diverse membership of Women in Energy, there are many people for you to turn to for advice.”
