Women in HVACR has launched the Navigator Mentor Training Program, a structured mentorship and professional development initiative for women in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The nonprofit says the program is designed to provide targeted mentorship training based on the needs of women in HVACR.
The organization cited U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data stating that women make up about 3% of the HVACR workforce. Women in HVACR said participation in its Navigator program has tripled over the last two years, reflecting demand for mentorship and trained mentors.
Navigator was originally launched in 2024. The program pairs emerging professionals with industry veterans who provide real-world insights and practical guidance to help mentees move forward in their careers. The new training element is intended to give mentors tools to guide other women through current industry challenges.
The Navigator program is powered by MentorCity, a cloud-based mentoring platform for structured and automated mentor-mentee matching. Since launch, the program has recorded more than 400 mentorship meetings, engagement across discussion boards and more than 90 professional development goals set by mentees.
“The number one question I get asked by companies across the industry is around attracting and retaining women in their organization,” said Lisa Knapp, a Women in HVACR board member who has helped drive the Navigator program. “My response is always, mentorship. Data collected from our members show that mentorship has been particularly valuable in employee retention and advancement. And now that we have seen the impact of our Navigator program, we want to flood the industry with women trained to be mentors to other women.”
