Rising Stars at CoolSys
March 26, 2021
Celebrating the Women of CoolSys
At CoolSys, we value diversity. That includes actively seeking and supporting the employment, development and career growth of women in an industry that is, traditionally, overwhelmingly male. To celebrate all of the strong and inspirational women in our CoolSys family, we’re sharing the stories of four Rising Stars.
Rebecca Gray • Representative 1, Payroll
Certified Refrigeration & Mechanical (CRM) • Madison, Wisconsin
Rebecca is a popular person at CRM — She’s the one who makes sure employees get paid accurately and on time! She loves staying organized and keeping a routine, but she also wants to continually grow and advance in her career and apply what she’s learning to help her company. After more than 20 years in healthcare administration, she joined the CRM team two years ago.
As the only person doing payroll for CRM, Rebecca really appreciates the support she’s received from CoolSys, especially in the area of new technology. Her big goal now is to get everyone in her company on an electronic payroll system. Three of Rebecca’s four children are daughters, and she encourages them and other young women to pursue their dreams, even into areas that are traditionally male-dominated. “Kids think they have to go to college, but they often don’t think about the trades,” she says. “I talk to many girls about getting a summer job in the trades, to at least learn about that option.”
Kristen Kimmel • Service Tech
Commercial & Industrial • Houston, Texas
It might be unusual to find a female HVAC/R technician, but the career is second nature for Kristen. She grew up doing a/c work with her dad, who owned a residential a/c company, and her cousins, who also have their own shop. “That was the way we spent our time together,” Kristen says. In the nearly four years since she joined Service Refrigeration in Houston, Texas — now a CoolSys company — she has excelled. Recently she was promoted to a Level 4 Tech.
Kristen can’t think of anything she’d enjoy doing more than HVAC/R. “If I retire turning wrenches in the field, I’m OK with that,” she says. She appreciates the opportunities Service Refrigeration and CoolSys have provided to her to grow in her career, as well as her co-workers’ enthusiastic willingness to share their knowledge and experience with her. Kristen is an inspirational trailblazer for other girls and women who are interested in HVAC/R and other trades. Her advice to them is, “Don’t be discouraged. When you put your mind to it, there’s no one who can do better than you, and you’ll be rewarded for the effort you put into the work.”
Jaclyn Ramirez • Senior Billing Manager
CoolSys Corporate • Denver, Colorado
Jaclyn finds inspiration in the 27-member team of administrators she leads. “They’re an amazing team, and seeing them reach their goals and hit their numbers motivates me to excel in my job,” she says. She loves the fact that every day in her department is different and that “there are so many moving pieces of the puzzle; you’re always on your toes and super busy.”
In return, Jaclyn is an inspiration for other women at CoolSys and beyond, having risen steadily in the company over nearly 14 years of employment. She truly appreciates the support CoolSys has provided along the way. “They have seen my potential and have given me the opportunity to be where I am right now,” she says. Her ultimate career goal is to become director of the CoolSys corporate billing department. Jaclyn has important words of wisdom for other women interested in working in the trades: “Don’t be intimidated,” she advises. “Know your value and what you have to bring to the table—and move forward with it.”
Keisha Thomas • Regional Business Manager, West Region
Commercial & Industrial • Fullerton, California
Keisha has a simple but effective career philosophy: “I believe you get out what you put in,” she says. It’s an approach that has served her well as she has grown and developed through her nearly seven-year career with CoolSys. Today, she’s responsible for the day-to-day operations of her regional support team and the organizational “health” of the region. “In this role, I’m forced to grow — and that’s exactly what I want,” she says. “And I want to help my entire team continually grow and develop in their careers.”
Keisha appreciates the fact that CoolSys is a company that recognizes and rewards diligence and hard work. “If you’re willing to put forth effort and stay with it, and you’re committed to doing your best, you won’t be overlooked,” she says. Having worked in traditionally male industries since she was 19 years old, Keisha has wise advice for women who might want to follow in her footsteps. “Don’t be afraid to be true to who you are,” she says. “You are enough. Put your best foot forward in your work, and trust that it will speak for itself.”
Women Make Their Mark at CoolSys
Every day, these women — and all the other women they represent in our organization — make CoolSys better through their talent, leadership, work ethic and commitment to excellence. Thank you for the unique insight and perspective you bring. We salute you!