(Marietta, Ga. – April 4, 2017)
Three Chattahoochee Technical College students are refusing to let their gender hinder their ability to be successful in a traditionally male-dominated program.
Air Conditioning Technology (AIRC) students Maria Gonzalez, Stephanie Hobson and Rachel Shay, who attend class on the Marietta Campus, are breaking down gender stereotypes as the only women enrolled in the program for the spring semester. With women making up only 1.4 percent of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning workforce, the sky is the limit for these nontraditional students.
“Not only is an increased salary an incentive for individuals considering nontraditional careers, but the opportunities for professional growth are endless,” said Special Populations Coordinator Brannon Jones. “Setting boundaries based on gender is actually detrimental to the workforce, and breaking down those walls will ultimately have a positive impact on society and change our perception of these so-called ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions.”
According to Jones, a nontraditional career is any occupation in which women or men make up 25 percent or less of the total employment. For women, these fields can include Automotive Collision Repair, Commercial Truck Driving, Welding and Joining Technology, and Computer Programming. Nontraditional careers for men include Cosmetology, Nursing, Early Childhood Care and Education, and Occupational Therapy Assistant.
Kennesaw resident Stephanie Hobson entered the Air Conditioning Technology program at Chattahoochee Technical College in hopes of continuing her late father’s legacy.
“My dad passed away and actually owned his own AC company,” she said. “I wasn’t really sure what I was going to study in college, and this was a program that I could accomplish in a year to a year-and-a-half. I’d like to continue to grow my dad’s business and hopefully see it expand.”
Both Maria Gonzalez of Cartersville and Rachel Shay of Douglasville were also influenced by family members.
“I was introduced to heating, ventilation and air conditioning by my dad, Sam. I love to work with my hands, and I do not mind getting dirty when I have to,” Gonzalez said. “The more I helped him at work, the more fascinated I was about how air conditioning works. I decided to enroll in CTC’s AIRC program because I understood that if I achieve this program, I will shine brighter in this industry.”
Shay shared a similar sentiment.
“I think people are definitely curious when they see a woman in what is traditionally considered a man’s field, but the demand is high for females because, for the most part, we are more detailed orientated,” she said.
As one of three female students in a male-dominated class, Hobson said she was not intimated; in fact, she said her gender was a motivating factor in outperforming some of the men.
“On my first day of class, I sat down and everyone told me I was in the wrong room … that cosmetology was across the hall. That motivated me even more,” she said. “My advice for any woman interested in the program is to go for it. Don’t let the guys intimate you. I don’t think there are limitations on females, and if you want it bad enough, prove yourself.”
Female technicians, Hobson said, are also in high demand.
“A lot of times, when an air conditioning technician comes to your house, it’s just your wife at home,” Hobson said. “So, from that standpoint, it’s more comforting to have a woman walk in than a man. As a female, there are more opportunities in this field coming out of school.”
Currently employed in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning field, Gonzalez said any limitations that she has encountered were confines she placed on herself. Because she is a woman in what society says is a man’s job, she doubted her ability to perform the work.
Gonzalez couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I overcame the pressure I thought I had by the help of my co-workers, classmates and instructors,” she said. “There are no limitations that a women can’t overcome in this industry. If there is passion, then you can conquer anything you put your mind to. Every time I step into the classroom, my instructors help me every step of the way. They are patient and willing to answer any question I have.”
Chattahoochee Tech’s Air Conditioning Technology program provides students with a dynamic hands-on learning environment where they are taught how to install, maintain, diagnose and repair heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems.
“If you enjoy something that is hands-on and also a little bit challenging, you should definitely check out this program. It’s a quick program and it pushes you off into the industry,” Shay said.
The program is designed to take 64 weeks and has a 93 percent job placement rate.
“Chattahoochee Tech helps us gain employment by providing us with information about companies that are hiring,” Gonzalez said. “The instructors are willing to help you with a recommendation. I encourage any woman that is interested in a nontraditional program to take it. The more you learn, the easier it gets. The only barriers that you will have are the ones you create in your mind.”