Straight Outta Crumpton

Women in HVACR Are Driving Change Across the Skilled Trades

hvacr

Trade school enrollment climbed 4.9% between fall 2020 and fall 2023, signaling a national shift toward skills-based careers as alternatives to four-year degrees. This modest but meaningful rebound underscores growing interest in trades like HVACR, where demand is high, but representation remains lopsided. For decades, women in the field have been overlooked despite playing…

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Straight Outta Crumpton
Turning a Career Pivot into Award-Winning Success in the HVAC Industry with Chloe Glynn

Breaking into a technical field of industrial sales without prior experience is a huge challenge. But someone like Chloe Glynn achieved such a feat and turned an accidental career pivot into an award-winning profession. As many industries continue to shift towards relationship-driven sales strategies, Glynn’s journey offers a blueprint for success in a…

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Articles Building Management
Women in HVAC: Pioneering Change in a Male-Dominated Industry

The HVAC industry is evolving, and with it, the roles within the sector are expanding beyond traditional boundaries. Amid rising tuition costs and strong demand for skilled labor, young people are increasingly choosing trade schools over a traditional college education. With such a shift highlighting the need for a more diverse workforce, the questions…

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Articles Building Management
A Greener Future in HVAC: Balancing Innovation and Environmental Responsibility with Mike Donahue

In an industry grappling with unprecedented changes, from liquid cooling innovations to bridging labor gaps, the HVAC world is evolving rapidly. With sustainability and efficiency becoming central themes, it’s a critical moment for rethinking solutions and workforce development. The stakes are high—data centers alone, for instance, are expected to account for 3-4% of global…

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Building Management
Scale Smarter in HVAC: Balancing Growth with Employee Engagement

The HVAC industry is undergoing significant growth, driven by increased suburban migration and a surge in home renovations requiring system upgrades. The U.S. HVAC market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% from 2025 to 2030. As businesses scale to meet this demand, balancing expansion with retaining strong…

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Straight Outta Crumpton
The Evolution of HVAC Media Through the Eyes of Kyle Gargaro

The HVAC industry is no longer just about furnaces and air conditioners, and neither is HVAC media. It’s an ever-evolving ecosystem, shaped by technological advances, regulatory changes, and shifting workforce dynamics. With more than a century of history, publications catering to HVAC-related news, such as ACHR News, have played a crucial role in keeping…

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Business Services
Building Trust and Simplifying Stories Strengthens Public Relations Strategies

The ever-changing public relations and marketing landscape requires authentic storytelling and strong relationships. As industries evolve with emerging technologies, companies must connect with their audiences by fostering trust and understanding their core values. Research highlights a clear divide in brand trust, with only 29% of low-income earners trusting their brands compared to 38% of…

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mentorship
WAVIT’s Mentorship Program: Cyndie Nelson on Building Careers Through Guidance
July 19, 2025

The AV industry, like many others in tech, often thrives on innovation—but it’s mentorship that sustains it. Behind every successful professional is often a mentor who provided guidance, shared hard-earned lessons, and opened doors that might have otherwise stayed shut. Programs like WAVIT (Women in AV/IT) bring this spirit of mentorship into focus by intentionally…

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mentorship
Empowering Innovation: Kim Porter’s Role in the WAVIT Mentorship Program
July 19, 2025

In an industry where innovation often hinges on experience, mentorship is the bridge that connects the fwisdom of the past with the promise of the future. Engineering, especially in the mechanical domain, is traditionally seen as a discipline of precision, but its culture is just as vital as its calculations. That’s why programs like WAVIT’s…

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mentorship
Passion, Power, and the Mentorship Paradigm Shift in Tech
July 19, 2025

In today’s rapidly evolving tech world, mentorship has emerged as more than a professional development tool—it’s a powerful human connection that fosters resilience, purpose, and authenticity. Particularly for women in engineering and STEM, mentorship isn’t just about career guidance; it’s a lifeline to navigating environments where their voices may still fight to be heard. While…

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AV
Lessons in Leadership: Mitek’s Cyndie Nelson on the Power of Mentoring Women in AV Technology
July 19, 2025

Mentorship has long been considered a cornerstone of professional development, but in the fast-evolving world of AV technology and sales, its value has never been more evident. The unspoken nuances of tradecraft—those bits of wisdom not found in textbooks—are often only accessible through the lived experience of mentors. Particularly for women in traditionally male-dominated industries,…

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Other Straight Outta Crumpton
Hiring for Values, Investing in Mentorship, and Leveraging Tech Boosts Retention and Workforce Stability in the HVAC Industry
April 15, 2025

The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) industry is experiencing significant growth, with the U.S. market projected to reach over $32 billion in 2024 and expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4% between 2024 and 2030. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for energy-efficient systems, advancements in smart technologies, and…

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People-Centric Leadership in Action: The Engineered Cooling Systems(ECS) Story
April 8, 2025

A strong workplace culture rooted in people-centric leadership is essential for retaining top talent and driving business success. Recent data shows that only 33% of employees in the U.S. feel engaged at work, underscoring the need for companies to foster environments where people thrive. This episode of Straight Outta Crumpton explores how one organization…

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HVAC Workforce Culture: Recruit with Purpose, Retain with Care
March 31, 2025

The HVAC workforce is shrinking as retirements continue to outpace new entries into the field. More than 50% of HVAC professionals are over 45, and the industry is replacing every five retirees with only two new workers.  The result is an urgent need not only to recruit new talent but also to retain it through…

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Building a Skilled Trades Workforce: Certifications, Simulation-Based Training & Reskilling with SkillCat
March 31, 2025

Industries across the United States are facing an unprecedented shortage of a skilled trades workforce. With millions of baby boomers retiring and fewer young people entering the trades, sectors like HVAC, manufacturing, and construction are grappling with a critical need for talent. This labor shortage is further compounded by a lack of awareness and…

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Building Trust in Real Estate Through Quality Services and Client Education
March 18, 2025

Trust in real estate is fundamental to customer loyalty. Research shows that  91% of customers are more likely to choose businesses they trust. This is particularly true in the real estate and property management industries, where clients entrust companies with significant investments. As clients increasingly seek reliable service providers, businesses that prioritize transparency, strong…

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Data Center Sector Opens Doors for Non-Traditional Career Seekers
March 3, 2025

The data center sector is expanding rapidly, driven by increasing digital demands across sectors. As this growth accelerates, data centers face a workforce shortage, with projections showing the shortage could persist for the next decade. According to a 2023 report by Uptime Institute, 50% of data center operators report difficulties filling open roles. This…

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Early Education in Skilled Trades Opens Doors to Solving Workforce Shortages
February 20, 2025

The need for skilled trades professionals is growing rapidly, with workforce shortages becoming a critical concern across various industries. To bridge this gap, early education in skilled trades and strong partnerships are making these careers more accessible, starting with hands-on experiences in schools. Studies show that early education and direct involvement with trades can…

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Balance HVAC is Raising Industry Standards Through Quality, Transparency and Customer-Centric Approach
February 4, 2025

HVAC systems are evolving to meet the demand for cleaner healthier indoor air yet challenges remain in bringing innovation to an industry often focused on quick fixes. Indoor is air quality becoming a pressing health concern, especially in climates like Florida. People spend substantial time indoors and homeowners are increasingly interested in solutions that…

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Mentorship and Knowledge Transfer are Key HVAC Workforce Development Strategies for a Growing Industry
January 20, 2025

The HVAC industry is facing a critical challenge: a growing demand for skilled workers amid a wave of retirements. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for HVAC technicians is projected to grow by 9% from 2023 to 2033. With this increasing demand, HVAC workforce development has become essential as companies…

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