Attic Queen Azarelo Builds Insulation Empire After Career-Altering Injury

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After a life-altering injury ended her time working in attics, Jessica Azarelo, founder of Attic Queen LLC, rebuilt her role and grew the company into a powerful advocate for the home performance industry. Azarelo started in the insulation trade as a sales recruit, but quickly moved into hands-on field work, gaining confidence and impressing customers with her willingness to take on physically demanding tasks. That experience shaped the foundation of Attic Queen, where Azarelo emphasizes diagnosing the full scope of a home's performance issues. When a job-site accident left her with a broken back and unable to work in attics, Azarelo redirected her energy toward operations, leadership, and industry advocacy, becoming an influential voice on contractor issues and home energy rebate programs.

Why it matters

Azarelo's story reflects a broader shift within the insulation and home performance industry, where leadership extends beyond physical labor to advocacy, education, and long-term vision. Her ability to adapt and find new ways to contribute after a career-altering injury highlights the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit needed to succeed in this male-dominated field.

The details

After 16 years in sales and management roles in the mortgage and banking sectors, Azarelo was recruited by a Tampa-area insulation company for a sales position. Though initially intimidated by the physically demanding work and male-dominated industry, she quickly gained confidence by volunteering for field work, vacuuming attics and filling hoppers alongside the crew. That hands-on experience shaped the foundation of Attic Queen LLC, which Azarelo founded with a bold, recognizable brand and an emphasis on diagnosing the full scope of a home's performance issues. In November 2022, a job-site accident left Azarelo with a broken back, permanently limiting her physical abilities and forcing her to shift her focus to operations, leadership, and industry advocacy. She became increasingly active in efforts tied to home performance and energy efficiency, including speaking at the National Home Performance Conference about contractor advocacy and the Inflation Reduction Act's home energy rebate programs.

• In November 2022, Azarelo suffered a job-site accident that left her with a broken back.
• In early 2023, Azarelo underwent surgery that permanently limited her physical abilities.
• On April 10, 2024, Azarelo spoke at the National Home Performance Conference in Minneapolis about contractor advocacy and the Inflation Reduction Act's home energy rebate programs.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Azarelo continues to lead Attic Queen with a focus on sustainable growth, operational strength, and industry collaboration, including opportunities to bring the Attic Queen brand to other markets.