Contractormag 3758 Industrywomen 2
Contractormag 3758 Industrywomen 2
Contractormag 3758 Industrywomen 2
Contractormag 3758 Industrywomen 2
Contractormag 3758 Industrywomen 2

Memorial Day thoughts and influential women in the industry

May 27, 2014
A few months ago we featured a gallery of the most influential people in the plumbing and hydronics industry. This was a hit with our readers. In response to the popularity of this gallery, I thought it only makes sense to give a shout out to the influential women in the plumbing, hydronics and HVAC industries.

During the past six years working as senior editor on CONTRACTOR magazine, I have had so many great experiences, from attending industry trades shows, like the AHR Expo, Kitchen & Bath/Builder's Show and GreenBuild, to attending media events throughout the country, such as traveling to Montana to visit the Rehau Montana ecosmart house, and going to New York City to learn about the newest products DeWalt has to offer.  

By attending these industry trade shows and events, plus, conducting interviews for articles, I have had the opportunity to meet the great individuals that make the industry what it is today. They are all very passionate and committed people — they eat, sleep and breathe plumbing, hydronics and HVAC.  

A few months ago we featured a gallery of the Most Influential People in the Plumbing and Hydronics Industry. This was a hit with our readers. In response to the popularity of this gallery, I thought it only makes sense to give a shout out to the Influential Women in the Plumbing, Hydronics and HVAC Industries.

Pictured are Vicki LaPlant, Barbara C. Higgens, Mary Kennedy Thompson, Megan Lehtonen, Ellen Rohr, and Dina Dwyer-Owens.

CONTRACTOR would like your help compiling this list of influential women. If you would like to nominate someone to be included, please e-mail Senior Editor Candace Roulo at [email protected] with your nomination. Please include their name, title, company, headshot, and why you are nominating them to be included in our Influential Women of the Industry list.

I hope you can help us grow this list. I know there are women out there working in these industries that have a success story to share. Please do not by shy; let us know who else we should add to the Influential Women in the Mechanical Contracting Industry list.

Memorial Day Thoughts

Also, I want to mention the recent coverage we have had on veteran training programs. Since yesterday was Memorial Day, I started to think about how the trade industry is helping U.S. veterans.   

For example, Gillece Services, specializing in plumbing, heating, cooling, electrical, and waterproofing services, was recently approved in the fall of 2013 by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Veterans Affairs, as an authorized plumbing training school for veterans. Military veterans now have the opportunity to receive hands-on training through a plumbing apprenticeship with Gillece Services.

Read the article about Gillece Services offering veterans hands-on training via apprenticeships

We also ran an article in the May issue about how Troops To Trades is helping U.S. returning veterans gain skills and find employment opportunities at contracting firms. The Nexstar Legacy Foundations’s Troop To Trades program is the brainchild of Keith Mercurio, sales trainer for Nexstar.  Mercurio has friends that served in the military, and by seeing what his friends were experiencing firsthand when returning to the U.S.,  Mercurio came up with a great idea that would help returning servicemen and servicewomen, the plumbing and HVAC industries, and the U.S. as a whole.  

Read the article about Troops To Trades helping U.S. returning veterans gain skills, employment

Gillece Services and The Nexstar Legacy Foundation have both stepped up to the plate to help U.S. returning veterans. If you haven’t read these articles yet I urge you to read them. They are inspiring and great examples that it only takes one thought — one idea — to start something positive and help fellow Americans.

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend, and I look forward to receiving nominations for the Influential Women in the Mechanical Contracting Industry list!

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