Kate Houghton

Title: Vice President, Sales and Marketing

Company: Hudson Technologies

Educational Experience: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) Monash University, Australia; Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) Monash University, Australia; MBA, Boston University

Industry Work Experience: I started as an applications engineer for special hazards fire protection systems for Kidde Australia, working four days a week while I finished my undergrad degrees. I spent 16 years in total with Kidde, which became United Technologies, moving from Australia to the U.S. in 2000 and holding a number of positions over the years including product manager, marketing manager, and ultimately finishing my time at UTC as director of marketing, global suppression. After taking a one-year hiatus to finish my MBA, I spent a year working in a private equity owned cable and wire business and was then recruited by Hudson to join their fire suppression business. In 2014, I made the transition to Hudson’s HVAC business as director of marketing and have been fortunate to over the last nine years to take on additional roles and responsibilities with my current position being vice president, sales and marketing and a member of our executive leadership team.

What caused you to/when did you enter the HVACR industry?

I was recruited by Hudson to work in a joint venture fire suppression business. In 2014, the leadership team at Hudson asked if I would move to the HVAC business. I jumped at the opportunity. While the special hazards fire suppression industry has a lot of similarities to HVAC, there are a lot of differences, too. I gladly accepted the challenge to learn a new industry while bringing my skills to the table.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of working in HVACR?

Working in the HVACR industry has allowed me to use both my technical engineering skills and my commercial sales and marketing skills in equal proportion for the betterment of Hudson and our customers. Keeping up with technology advancements, regulation changes, and translating that to commercial opportunities is a real challenge, in the most positive way. Combining Hudson’s sustainable refrigerant management focus and being able to meaningfully deliver measurable contributions to our customers’ sustainability goals, it’s such a purpose-driven mission, which is incredibly rewarding.

Describe the proudest moment in your career.

My proudest moment has been the culmination of my and my team’s efforts in establishing Hudson as a thought leader and educational resource in the HVACR industry centered around refrigerant lifecycle management and the role of reclamation. Reaching the position of industry thought leader didn’t happen overnight — a lot of teamwork, collaboration with industry partners, and travelling to speak at conferences, trade shows, and to customers has taken place behind the scenes. 

What challenges do women face in this profession?

As with many technical industries, women still face challenges in HVACR being recognized for our technical skills and abilities. It takes courage and conviction to enter a male-dominated profession and be in a technical role. On more than one occasion, I’ve had customers ask to “speak to the person who knows how it works.” Overcoming this bias is critical to ensure our industry has well-rounded critical thinking and leadership.

How can we increase the number of women in HVACR?

Highlighting the opportunities in our industry is critical. There are so many roles — from field installation, system design, engineering, sales, marketing, and leadership — that are likely overlooked by women due to a lack of visibility about what HVACR is.

What does your day-to-day job entail?

No two days look the same; it’s part of what I love about my job. On a daily basis, I’m working with my team — sales, marketing, and customer service — to ensure we are meeting and exceeding our customers’ needs and expectations. Empowering my team to ask “why and why not,” and translating that customer relationship development, is a key driver for me.

On any given day, I could be anywhere in the U.S. at a customer site visiting their chiller plant and helping them plan a system conversion, at a conference speaking about refrigerant reclamation and its importance to our industry, or working with one of our customers to meet their sustainability goals.

What remains on your HVACR bucket list — what do you aspire to do that you haven’t accomplished yet?

The list is probably too long to be published, but close to the top is changing the way our industry thinks about refrigerant management, reclamation, and sustainability. It’s such an overlooked element of what our industry does, and often an afterthought, but is so vital to the future generations to come. No small task to change thinking on such a grand scale, but if you don’t shoot for the stars, then you won’t ever get there.

What words of advice do you have for females who are considering entering the HVACR field?

Go for it! HVACR is a critical industry with growing demand around the world and offers endless opportunity to make your mark and have a successful career. Look for a mentor — there many women in this industry who will lend a hand and support you in learning the ropes and making your mark in HVAC. And last but not least, be fearless.