(Women in HVACR: Tallahassee, FL) -- Women in HVACR, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration trades, recently hosted its Bet on Yourself conference in Las Vegas, where it introduced its new president, honored award recipients, and presented the organization’s new annual magazine.

Women in HVACR gathered in Las Vegas last October for their annual conference, where members celebrated new leadership, honored award recipients, and connected through workshops and keynote sessions.

Current Women in HVACR executive board vice president Jane Sidebottom was named as the group’s new president for the upcoming year. She’s the president and founder of Applied Marketing Knowledge LLC, a marketing and management consulting company that works with manufacturers, distributors, and service companies to grow their businesses.

Outgoing president Kristin Gallup says Sidebottom, as vice president of the organization throughout 2025, is uniquely prepared to lead the organization in 2026.

Gallup says, “As Jane steps into the role of president, I’m confident she’ll continue to build on the incredible momentum we have experienced throughout 2025. This momentum also culminated in a remarkable conference that was incredibly energizing. The caliber of speakers, the engaging workshops, and the meaningful conversations throughout the exhibition hall exceeded expectations. This conference showed the power of women supporting women in this industry.”

Women in HVACR also took the opportunity to celebrate three outstanding leaders with its inaugural Pillar Awards. These awards recognize women who embody excellence in mentorship, education, and networking within the industry.

Stephanie Postell, co-owner and chief operating officer of Anchor Heating & Air, was selected as the Mentorship Pillar Award winner for building her business around mentorship. Postell continually shares her expertise and empowers women to enter the trades while guiding entrepreneurs across the country to launch their businesses with confidence.

Nasim Rahman, senior product manager at Lennox, received the Education Pillar Award for her leadership in large-scale training, mentoring programs, and advancements in electrification.

Jessica Slaughter, marketing manager at Rapid Locking Systems (RLS), earned the Network Pillar Award for her outstanding work fostering partnerships through live events, digital communities, and national training initiatives.

The group also unveiled its first-ever magazine, Empowered, an annual publication celebrating women who are shaping the HVACR industry as mentors, market makers, boardroom leaders, and rising stars. The debut issue featured the Women to Watch recognition program, “Powering Progress: Influential Women in HVACR for 2025.”

While the magazine was handed out at the conference, digital copies can be viewed at https://www.womeninhvacr.org/empowered; hard copies can be ordered from the organization’s Swag Store.

Other highlights from the event include keynote speeches from Angela Gaffney, a leadership coach and the best-selling author of Feel Good, Look Good, For Life Journal (Blue Star Publishing, 2017); Erin Hatzikostas, a recognized leader on the effect of authenticity in the workplace; a presentation honoring the ACHR News’ Top Women in HVAC; and a range of workshops and after-hours networking events.

For more information about Women in HVACR, visit https://www.womeninhvacr.org/.