HRAI Board Profile: Tara Smith
Years of industry leadership and advocacy have made Tara Smith a familiar name in the HVACR community. Today, after 30 years in the business, she continues to be a voice for advancement, innovation, and workforce empowerment, both as past chair of HRAI's Board and as the founder and General Manager of Mr. Furnace / Furnasman New Homes.
It’s fair to say Tara was born for this industry. Growing up, she learned the ropes across multiple roles at her father’s business, Great West Heating. “I always joked that I'm a second-generation HVAC person,” she tells HRAI. “Our family has been fortunate to be in this industry for a very long time.”
Tara spent several years with the family business until it was sold in the early 2000s. Shortly after, in 2004, she struck out on her own by launching Mr. Furnace with her uncle, Leo Klinkhammer. Then, in 2015, she formed a partnership with her parents' business to create Mr. Furnace / Furnasman New Homes, eventually buying the business outright alongside her brother, Jeff Sheldon. Today, the family-run company continues to thrive with Tara at the helm and her son, Carter, and nephew, Josh, making a name for themselves in the business.
Reflecting on the journey, Tara notes in a previous HRAI Insight Magazine article: “I’m happy to have gone out on my own, especially in an industry that can be a little hard as a young female coming in. It’s hard to find your place in this business, but I’m very comfortable where I am right now in my company and my industry, and I’m excited that I have many years left to do what I want to do.”
A consistent voice
Tara has dedicated much of her career to HRAI. Her father served as Chair of the local Manitoba Chapter for many years, and it was through him that she began to get involved. Over time, she worked her way up to the national level, serving on the HRAI Contractors Division Board of Directors and eventually becoming Chair of HRAI’s national board.
"I stepped into the Chair role coming out of COVID and during the transition to A2L refrigerants, so a lot was going on," she recalls. "Having HRAI in my corner gave me confidence in my business decisions. That backing, support, and knowledge made it so much easier to lead from a place of understanding."
Tara continues her involvement today as past chair of the HRAI Board and Contractor Division, where her focus is encouraging new members to get involved. "I want others to have the same experience I had," she says. "I'm always trying to convince people to join the Contractor Board, work their way to the national board, and go through the whole process."
Looking back, moving ahead
Reflecting on her career so far, Tara says she's proud to have grown her business and contributed to the evolution of HRAI. In particular, she's grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness about the industry among potential recruits and encourage more women to enter the field. "Twenty-five years ago, being a female in HVAC was a tough gig. I'm proud to be part of that change. The industry is evolving, and I'm glad to have played a small role in Manitoba and maybe nationally in encouraging other women to do the same."
“I don’t do it alone,” she adds, “but I’m proud to be someone that other women feel they can come to. I’m proud to be their cheerleader.”
Tara also shares that same leadership spirit outside the HVACR world. She sits on several community club boards, coaches baseball and hockey, and finds ways to stay active outdoors. “I love to volunteer and give back,” she adds. “Whether it’s giving back to HRAI, which helped keep me going in this industry, or giving back to the community through sports, where I’ve always been involved. Giving back just matters to me.”
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