Andrew James: From 12-Year-Old Shop Helper to Million Dollar Jobs

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

The story of @HVACSavier

Join us on the Kings of Cold Podcast as we dive into the world of HVAC with Savion Williams, also known as HVAC Savier! Discover how Savion transitioned from a young technician to a social media sensation, sharing his journey, challenges, and the importance of a positive mindset in the trade. Key takeaways: * The value of learning from mistakes and embracing failure. * How to effectively communicate with customers and build trust. * The significance of having a mentor in the HVAC field. * Tips for creating engaging content on social media. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:57 Savion's journey into HVAC 02:40 The importance of mindset 05:15 Learning through mistakes 10:00 Communicating with customers 15:30 Creating content for social media 20:00 Advice for new technicians 25:00 The future of HVAC What's your biggest challenge in the HVAC trade? Drop it in the comments! Subscribe for more insights and stories from the HVAC world! #HVAC #HVACSavior #KingsOfColdPodcast

Camping with the crew!

From Industrial Plants to Mastering the Trade: Insights from the Kings of Cold. Get ready for an episode packed with raw, real talk from seasoned pros and eager newbies alike. Whether you're grinding in the trenches or just starting out, this episode is loaded with stories, lessons, and a whole lot of honesty straight from the tradesmen who live it every day.In this episode: * The journey of a young industrial refrigeration technician and what it takes to grow in the trade * Crazy stories from the field—liquid in the vessel, plant shutdowns, and freezer nightmares * Tips for rookies: patience, humility, and the importance of customer relationships * How technology is changing the game—computer controls and the evolution of HVAC and refrigeration * The importance of mentorship, respect, and a little tough love in climbing the ranks * OG wisdom—lessons from a 36-year veteran who’s seen it all and still keeps it real Remember, rookies—patience, humility, and a little hustle will take you far in this trade. * And for the love of all that’s holy, pick up your trash, leave the job better than you found it, and stay hungry. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Kings of Cold: Campfire chat with old boys and young guns 02:52 - Justin Mix’s journey: From rookie to industrial refrigeration pro 17:41 - The value of seasoned mentorship and dropping the tough love 23:45 - Dane Wilcher’s advice for young bucks: start early, be patient, and stop leaving your trash behind 36:09 - Celebrating the OGs: Dennis Pyle’s 36 years of hard knocks and tough lessons 41:07 - The evolution of tech: from manual controls to computer-based systems 42:23 - Final words: Keep grinding, stay hungry, and respect the tradeResources & Links:Connect with our young pros:Special shoutout:This show is made by tradesmen, for tradesmen. No fluff, just real talk. Thanks for listening, and keep those beers cold and the refrigerants colder.

Rudy Vargas: Part 1. From Leap of Faith to Legendary.

(This episode was cut short by a glitch in my recording program, so we decided to post the short version and do a follow up with Rudy at the end of Summer to see how much has changed with him and his team.) In this episode, Rudy Vargas shares his journey from HVAC apprentice to business owner and social media influencer. He discusses building a community, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of sharing knowledge in the trades. HVAC, social media, entrepreneurship, HVAC education, trade community, business growth, HVACGoon, Legendary Air, HVAC tips Social media's impact on HVAC trades Building a trade community and recruiting platform Transition from technician to business owner The importance of education and sharing knowledge Overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship Rudy Vargas "Social media became a recruiting platform." "Word of mouth and online presence are key." "The sign was the sign I needed to leap." Legendary Air Heating and Air Conditioning - https://legendaryair.com HVACGoon TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@hvacgoon Legendary Air Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/legendaryair/

Queens of Cold: An Inside look at life behind the trade

In this heartfelt interview, Alexis Mix shares her experiences as a refrigeration wife, the challenges and rewards of supporting her husband's career, and insights into the industry’s dangers and camaraderie. Discover the realities behind the trade, the importance of strong partnerships, and the future of refrigeration careers. keywords refrigeration, refrigeration wife, industry safety, work-life balance, refrigeration careers, industry camaraderie key topics Life as a refrigeration wife Industry safety and emergencies Career growth and industry camaraderie guest name Alexis Mix sound bites "The work ethic in this trade is insane" "Mike's passion for refrigeration is what drives him" "Support your partner and stay strong in this trade" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Queens of Cold Podcast 01:08 The Journey of Refrigeration Wives 03:05 The Challenges of Being a Refrigeration Partner 05:57 Reflections on Growth and Change 07:43 Understanding the Trade: Knowledge and Safety 09:29 The Emotional Toll of the Trade 11:46 Pride in the Refrigeration Trade 15:17 The Benefits of Refrigeration Work 17:49 Family Dynamics in the Refrigeration Industry 19:11 Funny and Crazy Moments in Refrigeration 21:37 Transitioning Roles in Refrigeration 23:10 The Importance of Work Ethic 25:36 Building Relationships in the Trade 26:21 Support Systems Behind the Technicians 27:29 Social Life in the Refrigeration Community 28:19 Generational Changes in the Trade 29:53 Reflections on Career Choices 33:17 Challenges for Women in Refrigeration 34:54 Safety Concerns in the Field 36:58 Future Aspirations in Refrigeration