Mike Pastorello: Building a Culture of Quality & Innovation
In this episode, Brad Gates sits down with a true industry leader: Mike Pastorello, President of Refrigeration Technologies.
Mike shares his journey growing up as a second-generation tradesman, starting out sweeping floors and driving forklifts before eventually paving his own path as a master automotive mechanic. He eventually returned to the family business in 2003, taking over operations in 2018 and launching a massive rebrand that catalyzed unprecedented growth. Brad and Mike dive deep into what it really takes to scale a trade-focused business, the unique challenges and strategies of leading a family enterprise, and why Refrigeration Technologies prioritizes creating "safe chemicals that do the job right." They also discuss the vital importance of listening to technician feedback from the field, how to foster an authentic and engaging company culture, and why maintaining extreme ownership is essential when you're the top dog. Whether you are a seasoned HVAC/R contractor, an aspiring trade entrepreneur, or a technician out there breaking your back in the field, this conversation is packed with invaluable lessons on leadership, business growth, and staying true to the community.
Show Notes & Key Takeaways –
Brad introduces Mike Pastorello, President of Refrigeration Technologies. – Growing Up in a Family Trade Business Mike shares his background as a second-generation business leader, learning to drive a forklift at age 11 and spending his early years tinkering in the garage. The reality of starting from the bottom—sweeping floors, fixing toilets, and grinding it out in the warehouse.
– Rebranding and stepping into Leadership Taking over operations in 2018 and navigating the low success rate often faced by second-generation family businesses. Implementing a complete brand overhaul, introducing vibrant packaging, and creating the iconic "Viper" logo.
– By Techs, For Techs: The "Bloody Knuckles" Philosophy How Mike’s background as a master automotive mechanic and his father's history as a professional HVAC technician shape their "by techs, for techs" corporate identity. The strategy behind engaging authentically with the technician community on social media.
– The History of Innovation: Big Blue Leak Detector The story of Mike's father inventing Big Blue in the late 1980s as a sprayable leak detector that wouldn’t trigger false readings on electronic devices. The evolution of their product line into coil cleaners, sealants, Nylog, and the Wet Rag line.
– Safe Chemicals That Do the Job Right Why trade professionals shouldn't have to compromise their health or safety to get a high-quality result on the job. Shifting the industry standard toward safer chemical alternatives.
– The Product Development & Field Vetting Process How Refrigeration Technologies uses a multiphase vetting process, placing prototype samples into the hands of respected field technicians for honest feedback before a mass launch.
Teaser: A sneak peek at a highly anticipated product release slated for late June.
– The Realities of Scaling & Leadership Challenges Managing the massive scaling shift from doing a certain volume per year to achieving that same volume in a single month. The critical importance of role separation in a family business to avoid internal conflict and fumbling tasks. Finding the right people who care about the business culture and company health as much as the founders do. – Extreme Ownership & Taking Care of Your People Bridging corporate growth with workplace culture, including unique incentives like tying additional warehouse vacation hours and quarterly bonuses directly to monthly company growth
The stress of high-level leadership and adopting a "captain goes down with the ship" mindset to ensure your employees and their families are fully supported
