Women In HVACR / Contractors Online Access
Women in Coolings: Include me in the International network for Women in Cooling
Colleen Keyworth is the 2022 President of Women in HVACR, a US-based non-profit that supports and promotes women in the heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration industries. In her seven years working with the organization, she has been instrumental in helping it grow from 100 to more than 700 members.
Colleen is employed by Online Access, an online marketing company specializing in the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical trades where she is the company’s Director of Sales & Marketing. The company provides website, social media, review systems, and online advertising services to more than 500 contractors across the US and Canada. She also serves on the board of the Southeastern Michigan Air Conditioning Contractors Association (SEMIACCA).
In 2019, Colleen was recognized in the ACHR News’s ‘Top 40 under 40’ in HVACR. And in 2020, Service Nation selected her as their 2020 Woman of the Year. Hers is a familiar face at many HVACR-related meetings, whether promoting Women in HVACR, Online Access, or conducting trainings to help contractors better succeed in their marketing efforts. An avid networker, she has helped develop strategic partnerships with OEM’s, industry organizations, distributors, and wholesalers to increase product awareness and create online marketing solutions.
Colleen explains her motivation and success:
Having grown up in my family’s HVAC and plumbing business, I fully understand the realities of contracting. We are distributor reps, owners, and technicians. So, I deeply relate to the unique issues and needs of those who work in this industry. This drives my passion, planning, and marketing skills into everything I do. As a ‘people’ person, there is no greater feeling than to pour yourself out to help others and to find you make a positive difference.
The online marketing world is always changing so keeping current and developing new strategies is an ongoing challenge, but it’s one I relish. That’s because our proprietary platform and full-time development team allows us to adapt quickly and produce tools that give our customers a competitive edge. Spotting opportunities is key to successful marketing and quite often they come wrapped in a problem.
It has been an honor to be involved with Women in HVACR. I, personally, have grown so much through collaborating to encourage and advocate for women working in a predominantly-male trade. One of our major focuses is changing the optics to highlight opportunities and attract women to an industry that not only needs them, but that is lucrative, secure, and recession-proof. The sense of belonging and the connection Women in HVACR provides is powerful.