Women in Business

Teresa Wardlaw and Cool Care’s mascot Ballou

Teresa Wardlaw is the president/co-owner of Cool Care Heating, Air, Plumbing & Refrigeration. She has more than 30 years of experience in the HVAC industry and is a founding member of Bryant Women in HVAC and a member of Women in HVACR. She was recognized as a Woman of Influence in 2018 by the Columbia Regional Business Report. She is a member of the Camden Rotary Club and loves helping those in need and serving her community. Her favorite Rotary fundraiser is the Wild Game Dinner and Auction, which raises college scholarships for high school students in need.

Having started Cool Care with her husband, Kenny Wardlaw, on Jan.1, 2001, they run the business with a mission to do things differently than other service companies and be the best at what they do. Being female-owned in a male dominated industry was very challenging in the beginning, but Teresa gracefully accepted that challenge. Today, Cool Care is South Carolina’s premier, locally owned company that takes a whole-home approach to its services.

She and Kenny believe in giving back to the community that supports them and are very generous with their time, talents, and monetary contributions. Cool Care enjoys a community partnership with Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, South Carolina State Museum, and the Columbia Museum of Art. Cool Care has consistently donated to a myriad of other groups as well.

In 2010, Teresa started the Give A Can, If You Can. Together We Can. Food Drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank because of the staggering hunger rates in South Carolina, especially among children. To date, with their clients’ help, Cool Care has donated more than 3,000 pounds of food equaling nearly 12,000 meals for those in need.   

As a child of the foster care system, Teresa understands the importance of love and support of the local community, so this will always be a tenet of Cool Care. In 2018, her greatest accomplishment was becoming a grandmother.