Carrier Corporation has always been the home of pioneers. Its most famous pioneer, of course, is Willis Carrier, the inventor of modern air conditioning. Carrier’s history also includes Margaret Ingels, the first woman to receive a professional degree in mechanical engineering and only the second woman engineering graduate in the United States. In 2023, Carrier added another pioneer to its ranks, this time one of Scouting America’s pioneers, Katherine Beuchel, a member of the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts.
Katherine’s scouting journey is a powerful example of why Scouting America has made recent changes to meet the evolving needs of today’s society. Like many girls, Katherine tagged along to Den and Pack meetings with her older sibling. Although she was not permitted to participate in Cub Scouts, she was allowed to attend meetings and enjoyed the various activities. As she grew older and her sibling crossed over into a Boy Scout troop, however, her participation became less welcome. Still drawn to the scouting experience, Katherine joined a Venturing Crew in eighth grade – one of the three Scouting America programs available to young women at the time. She thrived in the program, serving as Crew President, earning the Summit Award (the highest honor in Venturing), and, most importantly, having a great time.
Her scouting experience did not end there. In 2017, while attending VenturingFest with her Crew, Katherine and several other young women – many of whom also had siblings in what was then called Boy Scouts – were approached by two well-established Scouting professionals and asked, “If you were allowed to join Boy Scouts, would you?” The answer was an immediate and unanimous: “Yes!”
That opportunity arrived in 2018. Katherine and a group of girls from other Venturing Crews, along with their siblings, recruited he father to serve as their Scoutmaster. At midnight on February 8, 2018 – the first moment Scouting America opened the doors of Boy Scouts to girls – they held their first troop meeting. And from those humble beginnings, her troop grew to over 50 girls across five patrols.
Today, Katherine designs rooftop and packaged air conditioners for Carrier’s Light Commercial business. She credits much of her professional success and leadership style to the lessons she learned through Scouting. “Keeping engineering, projects organized requires the same skills I used as President of my Crew to plan and execute trips and activities,” she said. “Organization is the key. It starts with making a plan, trusting your team, delegating responsibilities, and motivating people with competing priorities to stay on task and achieve the goal.”
Being part of Scouting America’s first class of Eagle Scouts in what was formerly Scouting America’s all-male program has also helped Katherine navigate the male-dominated HVAC industry. Reflecting on her Eagle Scout project, Katherine explained, “I knew that as one of the first girls to break this barrier, I would be under tremendous scrutiny as I was representing all the girls that would come after me. When I take on projects at work, although it isn’t necessary anymore, I still hold myself to the same standard.”