For more than 70 years, Xylem’s Bell & Gossett has trained thousands of professionals, and now it has reached another groundbreaking milestone: the launch of its first-ever women’s-only course. Held last week at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Morton Grove, Illinois, 15 women participated in a three-day Modern Hydronics Heating Systems class. This initiative highlights Xylem’s commitment to empowering women in the HVAC industry and fostering innovation within the trades.
Professionals from across the U.S. gathered for the three-day class led by industry veteran Mike Licastro, manager of training and education for commercial building systems and HVAC, and Taylor Goade, technical training manager for applied water at Xylem’s Bell & Gossett. The course covered fundamental principles of hydronic heating system design and operation through lectures, problem-solving exercises and live demonstrations. Participants also had the opportunity to engage with female leaders at Xylem, connect with their peers and attend an evening reception to build community and foster relationships that will grow far beyond the walls of the Little Red Schoolhouse.
“At Xylem, we’re committed to empowering women in the HVAC industry,” said Jennifer Freres, global product manager, centrifugal pumps for Xylem’s Bell & Gossett. “This course is not just about learning the principles of modern hydronics heating systems, but about building a supportive community where women can connect, grow and advance both their professional and personal development.”
“To see women succeeding…and supporting and uplifting each other is extremely encouraging,” said Casey Chronister, class participant and inside sales associate at Blackmore and Glunt Inc. “[This was only my second day of work] and I feel super lucky that I was able to come to this type of seminar [where] I am surrounded by supportive women…women that have worked super hard and for ten, twenty, even some thirty years.”
“This training is designed not only to deepen technical expertise but also to inspire participants to make a broader impact,” said Goade. “The knowledge gained here can be a foundation for mentoring others, stepping into leadership roles and encouraging more women to pursue careers in hydronics and HVAC.”
Known as the industry’s educator among engineers, contractors and other hydronic HVAC and plumbing professionals, the Little Red Schoolhouse stands out by emphasizing a systems-based concept of teaching rather than focusing on product features and benefits. Graduates of Little Red Schoolhouse courses earn CEU or GBCI CE hours to enhance their professional development.
Listen to the Empowering Industry Podcast with Bill Fisher from Xylem.
