TL;DR
Suzanne Morrison, an installation manager with Ace Hardware Home Services, was named an ACHR News 2026 Top Woman in HVACR. In an interview with Hardware Retailing, she described her path from office assistant to manager and said visibility, mentorship and fair advancement opportunities can help women build careers in the trades.
Suzanne Morrison, an installation manager with Ace Hardware Home Services, was named an ACHR News 2026 Top Woman in HVACR, according to an interview published by Hardware Retailing. Morrison used the recognition to discuss how women enter and advance in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work, saying that the industry offers career paths beyond field service but that perceptions and credibility barriers remain.
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Morrison told Hardware Retailing that she joined the industry as an office assistant, initially helping a friend and later looking for a way to return to work as her children grew older. Her early duties included filing, inventory tracking, customer follow-up and coordinating inspections. As the company expanded, she took on more responsibility and moved into an installation coordinator role before becoming an installation manager.
She said working more closely with customers, installers and leadership helped her learn the business and contribute to processes and customer service. Morrison described saying yes to opportunities, continuing to learn and asking questions as factors in her progression. She also said she had to build confidence as her responsibilities grew, and that experience helped her prepare for leadership.
In the interview, Morrison said women have become more visible in HVAC over the past decade, including in leadership roles. She said companies are having more conversations about attracting and developing women, but added that perceptions of the trades can still limit awareness of the range of jobs available. Women may also have to establish their expertise before their contributions are fully recognized, she said.
Broadening Routes Into HVAC Careers
Morrison’s career illustrates that HVAC and home improvement work can include operations, coordination and management, not only hands-on installation or repair. That distinction matters to people who may not see themselves in the trades, as well as to employers seeking to recruit and retain workers across a range of roles.
Her account also points to workplace practices that can shape whether employees advance: mentorship, clear pathways and equal development opportunities. Morrison said employers should make sure staff feel heard and are judged on their performance and contributions rather than stereotypes. Those are her recommendations from experience; the interview does not provide industry-wide data measuring the prevalence of barriers or the effects of particular programs.
For readers considering a career in the channel, the interview offers an example of a route from administrative work into operational leadership. It also makes clear that visibility alone does not remove obstacles: Morrison said women may still need to demonstrate credibility and challenge assumptions about who belongs in the industry.
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From Office Support to Management
Morrison said she did not begin her HVAC career with a plan to become a leader. She was initially seeking an opportunity to re-enter the workforce. Her view changed as she learned how the work affected customers and found that she enjoyed problem-solving and relationship-building.
Her progression followed a sequence of growing responsibilities: office support, installation coordination and then installation management. Hardware Retailing’s interview focused on that path and on the broader opportunities available to women in home improvement. The source identifies Morrison’s recognition as an ACHR News 2026 Top Woman in HVACR, but does not provide further details about the award process or the full list of recipients.
“When people think of HVAC, they often picture only field roles.”
— Suzanne Morrison, speaking to Hardware Retailing
Details Beyond the Interview
The source does not explain how ACHR News selected its 2026 honorees, identify other recipients or provide the date Morrison received the recognition. It also does not include industry-wide figures on women’s representation, promotion rates or workplace experiences, so Morrison’s observations should be understood as her account rather than a statistical assessment of the sector.
Hardware Retailing’s supplied interview text ends as Morrison begins answering what the recognition means to her personally and professionally. Her full response to that question is not available in the source material. The interview also does not specify which company, mentorship or training initiatives are currently in place at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Employer Practices and Career Pathways
The interview does not announce a new program, policy or company initiative. The next steps described are broader recommendations from Morrison: companies can make career pathways clearer, offer mentorship and development opportunities, and foster open communication so employees’ contributions are recognized.
Further details about the award, Morrison’s full response and any specific employer initiatives are not included in the supplied report. For now, the development is a recognition of Morrison’s career and an account of the opportunities and continuing challenges she sees for women in HVAC and the wider home improvement channel.
Key Questions
Who is Suzanne Morrison?
Suzanne Morrison is an installation manager with Ace Hardware Home Services. Hardware Retailing reported that she was named an ACHR News 2026 Top Woman in HVACR.
How did Morrison move into installation management?
She began with office tasks including filing, inventory tracking, customer follow-up and inspection coordination. She later became an installation coordinator and took on responsibilities that led to her management role.
What barriers did Morrison say women still face in HVAC?
She cited limited awareness of the full range of jobs in HVAC and situations where women must establish their credibility before their expertise is recognized. She said visibility, mentorship and education can help address those barriers.
What does Morrison recommend companies do?
Morrison recommended equal access to development, mentorship, clear advancement pathways and open communication. She said employees should be evaluated on their performance and contributions, not assumptions or stereotypes.
Does the report describe a new company program?
No. The supplied interview contains Morrison’s views and career story, but it does not announce a new policy or program at Ace Hardware Home Services.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
