While in Atlanta for the 2019 AHR Expo, I had the opportunity to attend an inspiring press event hosted by ASHRAE, which holds its winter conference simultaneously during the expo. On January 14, the 2018-2019 ASHRAE President Sheila J. Hayter, P.E., invited press to enjoy coffee and join the discussion of her new publication, “Building Our New Energy Future.” One of the key impressions that Sheila made on me was accountability for the built environment as a plumbing engineer. Her belief in industry professionals being stewards of the world around us was palpable.

I plan to follow Sheila throughout the remainder of her presidency and highlight her outlook as well as the society's contributions to and considerations of energy as it relates to building. But, more immediately, I want to spotlight some of her work as our featured January 2019 Woman In PHCP.

Sheila earned her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kansas State University. She has a lineage in ASHRAE, as her father, Richard Hayter, served as ASHRAE President from 1995-1996. She previously served on the society's Board of Directors - as treasurer, vice president and director-at-large - and as chair of the Finance and President-Elect Advisory committees. She has also received ASHRAE's Distinguished Service, Exceptional Service and Technology awards, in addition to serving as an ASHRAE fellow and lecturer.

Professionally, Sheila is a group manager with the Integrated Applications Center at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. She leads a team of experts who support international, federal, state, and local entities with the goal of significantly reducing nonrenewable energy consumption through optimized use of energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy technologies as well as addressing challenges to increase resiliency in the built environment.

Learn more about Sheila through her official leadership page on the ASHRAE website.