2026 Top Women in HVAC: Mary Johnson

This is a profile of Mary Johnson, owner and CEO of AirBear Heating and Cooling SC, named one of the 2026 Top Women in HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration). She came into the trade after years working construction and watching customers get taken advantage of, and says her goal is to change the industry by educating homeowners rather than just selling them equipment.

Johnson describes running a young company — her business just launched this year — where she handles everything from answering phones and running estimates to training technicians and checking on installations. She talks about the difficulty women still face being taken seriously in the field, including an incident where an insurance adjuster refused her help in an attic and then fell through the ceiling. She wants to see more outreach to young women in middle and high schools to show them the trade is open to them.

For homeowners, this piece is less about a product or program and more a window into who's running the crews and companies that show up at your door. It's a reminder that HVAC businesses vary a lot in size and philosophy — some, like Johnson describes hers, emphasize education and long-term relationships with customers over pushing sales. There's no rebate, deadline, or technology news here that affects your house directly; it's a personal profile tied to an industry recognition list.