Cool Times Podcast

Steve Chick, Director of Preconstruction at Greek Design Build, shares the unlikely path from porta-potty bathrooms to building pharmaceutical cold storage facilities. But this episode isn't just about construction — it's about the moment Steve realized his work saved his own family's lives. When his wife needed RhoGAM injections for both their daughters due to competing blood types, he discovered the drug came from a facility he'd built. Vince Free and Jenna Free explore how Greek's 90-year developer mindset shapes everything the company builds, why mentorship and relationships matter more than product specs, and what happens when an outsider becomes part of the cold storage community. The conversation moves from the challenges of bringing new contractors into the industry to the future of refrigeration innovation — with the thread running underneath: stewardship. Cold storage isn't a commodity. It's a craft practiced by people who carry the weight of what's inside the buildings they build. ❄️ Cool Takeaways:- The RhoGAM Revelation — Steve built the facility that produced the medication that saved both his daughters' lives. A moment where construction stops being a job and becomes sacred work.  From Bathroom Builder to Preconstruction Director — How a ZipRecruiter ad, mentorship from Sean Cunningham, and learning from John Gallagher's mistakes transformed an outsider into an insider in cold storage.  The Family Industry Advantage — Why cold storage contractors collaborate like family while dry industrial competitors stay separated — and what that means for quality and relationships.  One Chance Token Per Project — The hard-won philosophy: Steve wants to help newcomers, but high stakes mean he can only bring one inexperienced contractor per job. The real tension between mentorship and protection. Greek's Developer Mindset — Building for long-term ownership instead of quick profit. A 90-year legacy from Frank Reek Sr. that shapes every decision the company makes today.  The Preferred Freezer Blacklist — John Gallagher kept all his secrets locked down. Steve worked in isolation for years until CEBA opened the industry and he realized there was a whole community of builders.  Innovation on the Horizon — ASRS rigidity, ammonia regulation pricing, and AI applied to refrigeration data — the future of cold storage isn't flashy, it's practical and thoughtful.🎯 Sponsored By: Applied Fabricators (AFAB) https://www.appliedfabricators.com/ Iceberg Mechanical  https://www.icebergmechanical.com/

Kurt Madsen has been building cold storage for 21 years, but years ago, something shifted. What once drove him — the physical pride of finished buildings — gave way to something unexpected: caring more about the people he's helped grow than the projects he's completed. In this episode, Kurt (VP of Cold Storage and Distribution at Hanson Rice) walks through his journey from hotel construction burnout to discovering cold storage at a Walmart distribution center outside Reno, where a mentor named Harry Farrar grabbed hold of him and showed him the ropes. We talk about why Hanson Rice has stayed in business since 1983, how they've built over 30 million square feet, what's actually evolving in cold storage (spoiler: refrigeration systems, not design), and why Kurt — the 'gray hair at the table' — was blown away by AI on a weekend. But the real story is the confession that lands near the end: 'A number of years ago, that changed, and it became about the people.' A veteran builder's career isn't measured by square footage — it's measured by who he lifted up along the way. ❄️ Cool Takeaways:- The Hotel Burnout That Launched Cold Storage — Kurt left his father's construction company to build hotels, but by 2005, administrative work (collecting money, dealing with insurance, legal stuff) had replaced actual construction. A Walmart distribution center project in Reno changed everything.  Harry Farrar's Mentorship — The Real Origin Story — Kurt's general superintendent grabbed hold of him and showed him the behind-the-scenes details, the ropes, the fast pace. This mentor relationship became the soil from which everything else grew over 21 years.  Hanson Rice's 'Partner Over Subcontractor' Philosophy — With 85% repeat business and 30M+ square feet built, Hanson Rice doesn't view subcontractors as one-and-done. 'If they don't succeed, we don't succeed.' Mutual goals. Long-term relationships. It starts with prequalification (Compass) and honoring partnership.  Refrigeration Is the Only Real Evolution in 21 Years — Panels, concrete, vapor barriers — same details for decades. But refrigeration has exploded: ammonia to synthetics to glycol to CO2 cascading systems. Kurt predicts CO2 will become cost-competitive with ammonia in the next 5 years.  The Gray Hair Learning AI & Being Blown Away — Kurt resisted AI for years ('I'm old-fashioned, don't like change'). Then he threw a proposal into ChatGPT, gave it prompts, and 'it generated some stuff that just blew me away.' Weeks of work done in minutes. He admits: 'Why haven't I been doing this sooner?'  Five Projects, One RV, One Proud Year — Albertsons — Ten years ago, Kurt oversaw an Albertsons program: five simultaneous projects (Portland, two in Southern California, Arizona, Lubbock) all different scopes. He lived in an RV for a year, traveling between locations. 'It was really gratifying and stands out in my mind as a really good project.'  A Number of Years Ago, That Changed, and It Became About the People' — Kurt's confession: he used to need the physical satisfaction of seeing a finished building. Now, watching homegrown talent succeed — people he's mentored from entry level — is what actually keeps him in the chair. 'Knowing or hoping I had a little bit to do with that is really what it's about for me.'🎯 Sponsored By: Rytec High Performance Doors https://www.rytecdoors.com/

Brandon Reeve and his new Chief Innovation Officer, Karan Patel, sit down with Vince Free and Jenna Free to pull back the curtain on what AFAB — Applied Fabricators — is actually building. The conversation covers a complete shop floor redesign using a paper doll exercise, Purdue engineering students driving lean manufacturing improvements, and a serious push for ISO compliance and FM testing. But the episode's real payload is cultural: Brandon walks through AFAB's values live and without notes — 'we not me,' gratitude on rush orders, owning mistakes, acting in good faith, rapid responsive reliable — before landing the company's unofficial slogan: 'Go grab a beer, AFAB's got it from here.' Karan's story adds weight to all of it: a corporate-world veteran who watched AFAB grow from the outside and chose it over red tape. The episode closes with a steel and aluminum market update that's equal parts alarming and actionable — aluminum on the London Metal Exchange has nearly doubled year-over-year — and a rapid-fire round that ends with a pilot's license reveal nobody saw coming. ❄️ Cool Takeaways:  • Shop Floor Redesign — AFAB is rebuilding its entire manufacturing floor using a paper doll exercise — cardboard cutouts of every machine laid out in the parking lot — with Purdue industrial engineering students leading lean manufacturing and Kaizen optimization.  • Why Karan Patel Chose AFAB — After years at Firestone Building Products, Elevate, Wholesome, and AmRise, Karan Patel left corporate life because the red tape cost more than it was worth. He had been watching AFAB grow from the outside before Brandon Reeve made the call.  • ISO Compliance in Plain Language — Karan explains AFAB's ISO and FM documentation push with one concrete image: 'If you're bending a three by three inside corner trim, it's three by three on the nose — not three and a hair.' Precision as a documented system, not just an intention.  • The Values Wall — Brandon Reeve walks through AFAB's core values without notes — 'we not me,' positive grateful and enthusiastic, owning mistakes, acting in good faith, rapid responsive reliable — and lands the brand promise: 'Go grab a beer, AFAB's got it from here.'  • Growing Right, Not Just Growing — Brandon's thesis for the entire company: 'We wanna grow, but we wanna grow right.' AFAB hires for culture fit and trains from there — and the arrival of Karan Patel is the structural proof that the strategy is working.  • Steel and Aluminum Market Update — Karan delivers a non-alarmist but clear-eyed read: steel and aluminum are both rising, $200 per ton increase in the last quarter, and the London Metal Exchange aluminum price has nearly doubled year-over-year. AFAB bought early. The recommendation for everyone else: act now.  • Pilot's License Reveal — In the rapid-fire closing round, Karan casually mentions he just passed his single-engine pilot's license — the episode's best human moment, delivered with the same understated confidence he brings to market data. 🎯 Sponsored By: Applied Fabricators (AFAB) https://www.appliedfabricators.com/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW  Subscribe to Cool Times Podcast for new episodes every week. #CoolTimesPodcast #ColdStorage #Construction #Podcast

In this high-energy and no-BS episode, Vince and Jenna Free sit down with Hector Castro, leader of the cold storage division at BELDON ROOFING, to talk about what it really takes to build cold storage facilities the right way. From his early days learning roofing on the job site to leading one of the most respected teams in the industry, Hector shares why integrity, mentorship, and doing things right the first time still matter—now more than ever.  The conversation dives deep into industry gaps, poor standards, and the growing pains of new players entering the space—while also highlighting the power of teamwork, communication, and being the “easy button” for your clients. This episode is a masterclass in experience, accountability, and raising the bar in cold storage construction.  ❄️ Cool Takeaways:  From the Roof Up – Hector’s success started in the field, learning hands-on from mentors and crews—proving real knowledge is built, not taught in a classroom.  Be the Easy Button – Winning work comes down to trust, consistency, and making your client’s life easier through communication and execution.  Details Matter More Than You Think – Small mistakes like improper panel cuts or missing butyl can lead to massive long-term failures like condensation, leaks, and ice buildup.  Industry Standards Are Lacking – With new players entering cold storage, there’s a growing need for education, alignment, and a unified standard across trades.  Teamwork Over Ego – The best projects happen when trades collaborate early, communicate clearly, and protect each other from costly mistakes.  Pre-Construction Is Everything – Getting the right people in the room early (IMP, roofing, refrigeration) prevents problems before they start.  Mentorship Changes Lives – Hector credits his success to mentors who took the time to teach him—and emphasizes passing that knowledge forward.  Do It Right the First Time – No shortcuts, no guessing—use the right tools, follow proven methods, and take pride in the work.  Boots on the Ground Wins – Real leadership happens in the field, not behind a desk—walk the job, check the work, and stay involved.  Attitude Determines Altitude – Success in this industry comes down to mindset, work ethic, and a willingness to learn. Sponsored by:  Applied Fabricators (AFAB)  Custom fabrication solutions built for performance in cold storage and industrial environments 👉 https://www.appliedfabricators.com/

David Aschenbrand from Newmark joins us for what starts as a standard industry conversation but transforms into something much more human. Dave's extensive cold storage background spans material handling systems, CH Robinson, Preferred Freezer Services, and Bridge Industrial before landing at Newmark's cold storage practice. But this episode really takes off when we discover Dave's been drumming in a band called The Ghost Rodents for decades and builds custom furniture in his spare time. We dive into war stories from measuring freezers with pencils, coordinating 25 containers a day during an egg crisis, and the philosophy of Zen Golf that guides his business approach. Dave also shares his market predictions, identifying 2027 as the recovery point and small bay buildings as the next opportunity. This conversation perfectly captures what makes our industry special — the fascinating humans behind the professional facades. ❄️ Cool Takeaways:- The Ghost Rodents Band Revelation — Dave reveals he's been drumming in a band for decades, completely transforming the conversation from professional to personal. Custom Furniture Craftsmanship — Beyond cold storage, Dave builds Adirondack chairs and massive China chests, showcasing his dedication to quality in everything he does. Epic Egg Crisis Management — During an avian flu outbreak, Dave coordinated importing French eggs through 25 containers daily without a single port penalty. Zen Golf Business Philosophy — Dave shares how mindfulness principles from golf translate to business problem-solving and professional resilience. Cold Storage Market Forecast — Analysis of the speculative building oversupply and prediction that normal market conditions return in 2027. Small Bay Building Opportunity — Identification of 15-25,000 square foot cold storage spaces as an underserved market for smaller food companies. First Freezer War Story — Dave's brutal initiation measuring a Winter Bread facility with pencils and tape measures in freezing conditions.Sponsored by: Vapor Armor Advanced vapor barrier systems designed to protect cold storage facilities from moisture and condensation. 🔗 www.vaporarmor.com Fastener Systems Inc. (FSI) High-performance fasteners and thermal solutions trusted across the cold storage industry. 👉 www.cooltimespodcast.com