Kayla Addison
Kayla Addison is a dedicated HVAC industry leader and business operator with more than 15 years of experience in commercial and multifamily heating and ventilation services. Based in Harrison Township, she began her career as a young mother seeking an office position at a small HVAC company, where she quickly became immersed in every aspect of the business. Through years of hands-on learning, Kayla developed expertise in accounting, payroll, scheduling, customer relations, and operational management. Her commitment, adaptability, and strong work ethic earned the trust of the company’s original owner, who ultimately prepared her and her business partner to assume leadership of the organization.
Today, Kayla serves as Vice President and co-owner/operator of Versatile HVAC, overseeing daily operations, financial strategy, equipment coordination, technician scheduling, and client communications. Her company specializes in multifamily and commercial HVAC services, maintaining long-standing relationships with apartment complexes and commercial clients that have remained loyal for more than 15 years. Known for her responsive leadership style and emphasis on honest, personalized service, Kayla has helped build a business model centered on trust, accessibility, and long-term customer retention. She is also currently pursuing her Mechanical Contractor licensing to further strengthen her professional expertise and expand the company’s future capabilities.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kayla is passionate about community service and supporting women entering skilled trades industries. Drawing from her own experience overcoming barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field, she advocates for resilience, confidence, and persistence among women pursuing nontraditional career paths. She is currently developing a charitable initiative aimed at providing free HVAC and mechanical services, including furnace replacements, to families in need within her community. Outside of work, Kayla enjoys homesteading, gardening, and baking—interests that reflect her grounded personality, nurturing spirit, and strong commitment to family and home life.
• QuickBooks Certification
• Macomb Community College - ABA
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a well-built, trustworthy team. I would love to say it was just me, but no, it's a well-built, trustful team. Building strong relationships with our clients has been crucial - we've maintained contracts for the entire 15 years because our clients know they can reach out to me or my business partner directly and get a response. We lead with honesty, integrity, and heart in everything we do. I've also learned so much through experience, through sink or swim situations where the knowledge is there, you just have to grab it. Even during the difficult transition when the original owner passed away, we stayed committed to the roles he had been preparing us for, and that dedication has been a major part of our success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best career lessons I’ve received is the importance of treating people fairly, remaining dependable, and building relationships that extend beyond individual transactions. I believe that long-term trust, consistency, and genuine connections create far greater value and success than focusing solely on short-term gains.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let the guys make you feel like you're not worth it. In the trades world, even with all the talk about equal opportunity and women being just like men, you've got to keep pushing. You have to make yourself known and show that it doesn't matter that you're not a guy. I live this every day - especially with the older generation of men in our clientele base who don't want to have certain conversations with me. I have to intervene and remind them that they can have this conversation with me, they don't have to speak to the technician. In this field, it's sink or swim, and if you can't grow some thick skin and understand that people aren't going to respect you at the level that you want to be respected, you have to keep pushing for it. Things are starting to change, and we're seeing more women come into the field wanting to be technicians rather than sit in the office, and I love seeing that.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field right now is honestly the big box companies. When we go quote a job, people think that we're going to do it differently or not correctly because our price tag is normally $5,000 to $10,000 less than theirs. That competition from the large companies makes it difficult for smaller businesses like ours to be taken seriously. On the flip side, the opportunities are endless - the sky is the limit, you just have to get somebody to listen. In our field, you can go into anybody's home and sell anything, but to build the relationship, the opportunities are endless. It's out there, you just have to put yourself out there. We're also looking to expand into the residential market, which is a huge future goal for us since we currently do well with multifamily and commercial work.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values I maintain throughout both my work and personal life are honesty, integrity, and leading with my heart. I believe in being correct in what I do and treating people fairly. Building trustworthy relationships is fundamental to everything I do - whether that's with my team, my clients, or my family. I also value hard work, persistence, and staying dependable. Compassion and loyalty are important to me, especially when it comes to giving back to families in need through our charitable work. At the end of the day, it's about doing the right thing and maintaining authentic connections with people.