Karin Maier: From the classroom to the boss in the smoke sweeper business!

Karin Maier: From the classroom to the boss in the smoke sweeper business!

Wolfsberg, Österreich - Karin Maier has carried out an impressive change: from the school director to the entrepreneur in the chimney sweep. Your path is characterized by personal blows of fate and the unconditional will to continue the family company Maier in Wolfsberg. In May 2025, she died in January after her husband Jürgen, an excellent smoke sweeper. After a serious illness that began in March 2024, Jürgen was in a coma and left Karin in a challenging situation.

In this difficult time, Karin took the challenge and visited Jürgen in the hospital for months while trying to keep the company running with five employees. Her professional past as a director, life and management consultant and lucky coach proved to be valuable. In order not to let her team down, she recorded night shifts to familiarize herself in the smoke -catchpatch industry. As reported [meinzirk.at] (https://www.meinbezirk.at/lavanttal/c-lokales/von-der-schuldirection-zum-rauchfängehrer company_a7351700), she did not want to make its employees unemployed and kept the company, which has been family-owned for four generations, during this critical phase.

a new beginning and fresh perspectives

After the difficult time of her life emerged after Jürgen's death, Karin decided to give the company a new structure. She hired Daniel Schöpfer, an experienced chimney sweeper from the Völkermarkt district, as a commercial manager. This not only received expertise, but it was also ensured that the previous services, such as cleaning of fireplaces and smoke catches, were preserved in the usual quality. The team now comprises a total of six people, including three journeyman and a teaching girl in the third year of apprenticeship. She is convinced that the company will continue to play an important role in the Wolfsberg district, such as Unterkaerntner.at emphasized.

In addition to the challenges, Karin also has personal goals in mind. She plans to become full -time in the school area again and thinks of obtaining the title "Smoke -catcher master". In her book "Help your luck on the jumps", she treats the topics of independence and personal development and would like to encourage other women to take the step into the corporate management. This is particularly important in an environment where women in the craft, such as from the figures of the Federal Ministry for Economy and Climate Protection, are often underrepresented.

In Austria as well as in Germany, the shares in start -ups from women increase steadily. Even if only every fourth craft business is founded by women, Karin Maier shows that commitment and determination are the key factors for success. Her story could be an inspiration for many women in similar situations, and their success in smoke -catchproof gives hope that many other women will take this step in the future.