A Salute to Our Women Leaders at CoolSys
With hard work, determination and a trailblazing spirit, women have proven themselves to be strong, capable, talented and creative leaders in all levels of business and in every specialty field imaginable. At CoolSys, we’re proud of the accomplishments of women throughout our organization. Your unique contributions to the success of CoolSys are represented in the four stories we’re highlighting below.
Angela Collins • Divisional Vice President
CoolSys Light Commercial Solutions • Phoenix, Arizona
When Angela wanted her first car as a teenager, she had to abide by her father’s rule: You don’t get to drive a car if you don’t know how to maintain it. So she went to work in his service station. When she was 19, a stroke of luck landed her at Trane, where she discovered her talent and love for HVAC-R. Her career took off, and she earned her way up the ranks in well-known HVAC-R companies before arriving at CoolSys in 2019.
Among her responsibilities, Angela enjoys developing the next generation of HVAC professionals. “I get really jazzed when I see younger people coming in,” she says. “I have learned to spot talent and get them not just on the right bus but in the right seat on the bus.” As a woman in a traditionally male industry, Angela has faced challenges, but she still views HVAC-R as a great choice for young women. “You will have to work harder in the early stages, and you will encounter bias,” she advises. “But if you find good mentors, prove yourself and outwork everyone else, you’ll discover this industry provides great opportunities.”
Meredith Daniel • Vice President of Customer Experience
CoolSys Corporate • Brea, California
The past 30 years of Meredith’s career have been all about removing barriers — for customers, for co-workers and for herself — and helping people succeed. From the beginning as a customer service representative through customer service management to her recent executive-level appointment at CoolSys, Meredith has focused on providing value and a great experience for customers and making sure they keep coming back. “The better we serve our customers, the better they can serve their customers,” she says. Among her chief responsibilities at CoolSys are to examine the entire organization through the lens of a customer to look for opportunities for improvement and to ensure that customers are top-of-mind in all decisions.
Meredith credits strong female mentors for encouraging her to achieve her goals in a traditionally male-dominated industry — and she wants to do the same for other young women. “The sky’s the limit,” she says. “We’re breaking the glass ceiling all over the place. We’ve witnessed the first woman to be elected vice president of the United States and the first woman to be named general manager for an MLB team. No one should be afraid to chase their dreams just because they’re female.”
Aimee Rogers • Director of Accounting and Finance
CoolSys Energy Solutions • Savannah, Georgia
It started with a high school job at a Ford dealership — and ever since then, Aimee has grown her career in accounting and finance within traditionally male businesses. For 15 years, she has worked with Anthony Tippins, division president of Professional Solutions at CoolSys, and others who have supported her career development. Aimee calls herself a jack of all trades at CoolSys Energy Solutions, handling the business side of the company from simple data entry to month-end financials. “Whatever it takes to get the job done,” she says. Aimee loves being an example to her four daughters, ages 14 to 29. “I strive every day to be the best and do the best so they can see that hard work pays off and it can be rewarding at the same time,” she says.
Aimee believes that female employees are valuable in traditionally male industries, in part because of the different perspective they bring to issues. And she is enthusiastic about more young women getting involved in the trades. “The most important thing is to not get discouraged,” she says. “If it interests you and you’re passionate about it, follow your dreams.”
Michelle Roomsburg • Director of Internal Operations
BRR Refrigeration • Virginia Beach, Virginia
Michelle calls her role at BRR Refrigeration, a CoolSys company, her “third career.” With a college degree in criminal justice, she worked for her local sheriff’s department before getting a teaching degree and becoming an elementary special-education teacher. During that time, she and her husband, Joe, founded BRR. They grew the company to 55 employees, and in 2015, Michelle joined the team full-time. Although her three careers might seem completely separate, Michelle says they have a common theme: taking care of others. While she manages accounting, finance and HR responsibilities at BRR, Michelle particularly enjoys working directly with office employees and technicians, helping them solve problems and creating a family-like atmosphere at the company.
HVAC-R is a necessary and in-demand field, Michelle says, making it a great option for women who are interested in working in the trades. “They’ll never lack for a job,” she says, “and they can do it. As a woman, you have to be tough and learn to stand your ground, but you can certainly succeed.”