Kathy V.
How did you get your start in the skilled trades?
I served in the Navy for 10 years and as a single mom, I needed a career change to provide a more stable environment for my son. A full-time position, 40 hours a week, at Damuth Trane, in Chesapeake, VA, as a dispatcher for service teams was presented to me and I took it. I worked as a dispatcher for almost seven years, and during this time I took every opportunity I could to learn about the customers’ service issues and the tricks and trade from the technicians. My friends and family will tell you that I am quite the conversationalist and I believe that I have used that to my advantage in this industry. I wanted to learn as much as I could about the industry.
In 2009, my son graduated from high school. I wanted to be a good example to him and show him that you have to be willing to take chances and believe in yourself. That is when I decided to take a job as a business development manager in Buffalo, NY, for Gerster Trane, where I had no friends or family, but I did have the drive to succeed. Unfortunately, after less than a year of being in that position, I was diagnosed with cancer and decided to move to Houston, TX, for treatment at MD Anderson. I can now gratefully say I am a cancer survivor!
What did you do to become successful?
This is a difficult question to answer, but I have always believed you are the company you keep, treat others the way you would like to be treated and most importantly never burn bridges. I have been told that I have a gypsy soul and I think that I have worked that to my advantage. Once I made the move to Houston, with a diagnosis of cancer, I needed a job and I hit the ground running and that is how I landed in distributions and outside sales at Johnson Supply. I loved working outside sales. The idea of walking into an unknown place to get a complete stranger to buy or sell your product was exciting to me. It was a challenge and an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends; that was my favorite part of the job!
In 2010 my spouse, who was in the Navy, was given orders to relocate to Denver, CO. I found a job there before my spouse was even to report to her command. So, I went house hunting for us, moved us in and started working before she even arrived. I worked as a Bard regional sales manager, responsible for the states of Colorado and Wyoming territories. We were in Colorado for a three-year tour and that is when we decided to retire from our military career. I was able to land a job at Carrier Enterprise as a business development manager in 2017, which led to an opportunity to become a manufacturer’s representative in 2020 at Hugh Cunningham. Then the opportunity presented itself to open our own distribution center and so we did. I’m still pinching myself on this one.
What obstacles have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?
The HVAC community is a male-dominated industry, but I attribute and am grateful for my time in the Navy, which taught me how to stand up for myself, to not cower and most of all to do the right thing even when no one is looking. The Navy taught me the importance of inclusivity, understanding and working with persons of all different cultures, religions and ethnicities. Women were not allowed to serve on board U.S. Navy ships until 1992, and they were not allowed to serve on board U.S. Navy Warships until 1996, and I was one of the first women to serve on the destroyer, USS McFaul DDG 74. I was so proud to be one of the first, and I made it my mission to lay the groundwork for future women to serve.
I have been fighting, never settling and having an appreciation for life that I believe has helped me to overcome many obstacles in my personal and professional life. I have learned that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen. Although the HVAC industry has been historically male dominated, the number of women in the industry is rapidly growing. I have had the privilege and honor to work with and meet some of the most incredible women in this industry. I’m also very proud to call so many of them my friends and to be a part of this rapidly evolving industry.
What advice do you have for women wanting to get into the trades?
Don’t be afraid, reach out to other women in the trades; you will be surprised to see how many of us are willing to help other women join these growing and prosperous trades. Make the most of the resources that are available to you such as professional social media platforms, company websites and job fairs in your local area to learn about different opportunities in the trades that may be of interest to you. Do the footwork and remember you only get one shot to make that first impression.
Learn how others got their start at Voices in the Trades.