Women in HVACR’s Lisa Knapp to Present Workforce Development Session at ASHRAE’s Annual Conference

Women in HVACR announced that board member Lisa Knapp will present “Targeted Career Development is Smart Business” at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Annual Conference, June 27-July 1 at the JW Marriott in Austin, Texas.

Knapp’s presentation will be part of the workshop, “Minding Your Business: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce Today,” scheduled for Sunday, June 28, from 8-9 a.m.

Knapp will discuss how targeted career development initiatives can help HVACR businesses strengthen their workforce by attracting and supporting more women in the trades. Women currently make up only about 3% of HVAC technicians and installers nationwide, despite ongoing workforce shortages and strong demand for skilled professionals.

During the session, Knapp will share examples of successful outreach efforts, including partnerships with schools, technical colleges and workforce development organizations that connect young women with career prospects. Attendees will learn how these collaborations can provide access to financial assistance, training and mentoring programs and other resources that can help close the industry’s skills gap.

In addition to her work with WHVACR, Knapp is president and founder of Sea the Possibility Leadership Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in executive coaching and development, organizational transformation and change. She brings more than 30 years of corporate experience, including senior roles at Trane Technologies and Avaya, where she directed talent development, workforce strategy and organizational effectiveness initiatives.

A passionate advocate for advancing women in the trades, Knapp also chairs WHVACR’s mentoring committee. Through initiatives such as the WHVACR Ambassador Program, the organization is expanding its efforts to introduce more young women to HVACR careers.

For more information about the ASHRAE Annual Conference, visit ashrae.org. For more information about Women in HVACR, visit womeninhvacr.org.