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RESTalkAuthor: Bill Spohn
RESTalk, produced by RESNET.us is the best way to stay up-to-date on everything going on in the world of Home Energy Ratings (HERS), including initiatives, standards, marketing, and more. Hosted by building performance veteran Bill Spohn, the show features interviews with the RESNET team and prominent guests from throughout the rating and home building industries, discussing a wide range of topics, current events and new technologies. Language: en Genres: Business News, Education, News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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EP150 Women Building the Future: Voices from the RESNET® Community (March 2026)
Monday, 16 March, 2026
QUOTES from the episode: "You absolutely belong here. There are many paths into this industry, and there's room for everyone to thrive." - Cindy Zeis "Patience, facts, and science always win the day." - Sharla Riead "The future of women in building science is unlimited." - Nancy St. Hilaire In this milestone 150th episode of RESTalk, host Bill Spohn marks Women's History Month by highlighting the voices of women from across the RESNET® community. Through a series of short conversations, industry leaders share how they entered the world of building science, the mentors who influenced their careers, and how the industry has evolved over time. Their stories reveal that there is no single path into the home performance and HERS® ecosystem. Some entered through construction, the mechanical trades, and hands-on field work, while others came through sustainability planning, academic programs, or early energy-auditing efforts dating back to energy crises of past decades. What they share is a passion for solving complex problems in buildings and translating technical building science into practical solutions that improve comfort, efficiency, durability, and affordability. The conversation also explores the experience of working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Guests reflect on early moments of needing to prove their credibility, walking onto job sites where they were the only woman in the room, and overcoming stereotypes about fieldwork. At the same time, they highlight the strong mentorship, collaboration, and respect that characterize the RESNET® network. Many have seen meaningful progress over the years, with more women becoming HERS raters, modelers, quality assurance professionals, and industry leaders. Looking ahead, the guests point to one of the biggest remaining barriers: visibility. Many people simply do not realize that building science exists as a career path. Their advice to the next generation is to stay curious, seek hands-on experience, build strong communication skills, and ground their work in solid science and ethics. As building performance becomes increasingly interdisciplinary, blending field diagnostics, data, standards, and software, the opportunities for women to influence and lead the industry are expanding rapidly. Their closing reflections capture the spirit of the episode: the future of women in building science is impactful, influential, and ultimately unlimited. Guests this episode: Cindy Zeis, Technical Director with PSD https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyzeis/ Julie Christesen, Chief Administrative Officer/Building Scientist with ES Green & Co. https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-conn-christesen/ Nancy St. Hilaire, Co-owner of Builder i Group https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-st-hilaire-59161121/ Laurel Elam, Sr. Director Business and Standards Development for RESNET https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-elam-5404817/ Sharla Riead, Lead Instructor at the Energy Smart Institute https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharla-riead/ To the RESNET® community, we hear you and want to engage. Learn more at www.RESNET.us. For more info on this topic, contact RESNET at INFO@RESNET.US
