<p>Welcome back to <strong>Commercial Kitchen Chronicles — The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast</strong>.</p><p>This episode is our <strong>official Year in Review</strong>, and it’s one of the most real conversations we’ve had all year. Pat Finley is joined by co-hosts Jason Latimer and Rich Ortega as we sit down to reflect on everything that went right, everything that went wrong, and everything we learned along the way.</p><p>With no guest and no script, we dig into the reality of life in the commercial kitchen equipment repair and HVACR world — from running service companies and managing technicians, to burnout, growth, family, customers, and the hard decisions that shape a career in the trades.</p><p>In this episode, we talk about:<br>• Wins, losses, and lessons from the past year<br>• Growing a service business and managing technicians<br>• Customers, expectations, and when to fire accounts<br>• Overtime, on-call life, and holiday service realities<br>• Training the next generation of techs<br>• CFESA, Top Tech Throwdown, and industry competitions<br>• Trade shows, AHR Expo, and networking in the trades<br>• Family life, work-life balance, and long-term goals<br>• Why relationships matter more than revenue<br>• What we’re changing — and what we’re doubling down on — next year</p><p>This is a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to survive and thrive in the skilled trades. If you’re a commercial kitchen technician, HVACR tech, service manager, business owner, or someone thinking about getting into the industry, this episode will hit home.</p><p>Whether you’re running calls, running a business, or just trying to figure out what’s next — you’re not alone.</p><p>🐍 <strong>Episode Sponsor: Viper / Refrigeration Technologies</strong></p><p>This episode is brought to you by <strong>Viper / Refrigeration Technologies</strong> — the tech-trusted brand behind industry staples like <strong>Nylog</strong>, <strong>Big Blu leak detector</strong>, <strong>Viper wet rags</strong>, and the chemicals and tools technicians rely on every single day.</p><p>Built by techs, for techs, Viper products help you work cleaner, faster, and smarter in the field. If it’s on our trucks, there’s a reason.</p><p>Learn more at Refrigeration Technologies and see why Viper continues to support the skilled trades and the technicians who keep kitchens running. 🐍</p><p>🎧 <strong>Commercial Kitchen Chronicles</strong><br>Real conversations. Real technicians. Real life in the trades.</p><p><br></p><p>Refrigeration Technologies</p><p><a href="https://www.refrigtech.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.refrigtech.com/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Commercial Kitchen Chronicles</p><p><a href="https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/</a></p><p><br></p><p>#CommercialKitchenChronicles<br>#FoodserviceEquipmentRepair<br>#HVACR<br>#CommercialKitchen<br>#KitchenEquipmentRepair<br>#ServiceTechnician<br>#SkilledTrades<br>#BlueCollar<br>#TradeLife<br>#TechnicianLife<br>#FieldService<br>#ServiceIndustry<br>#RefrigerationTech<br>#HVACTech<br>#HotSideColdSide<br>#CFESA<br>#TopTechThrowdown<br>#TradeShows<br>#AHRExpo<br>#TechLife<br>#WorkLifeBalance<br>#YearInReview<br>#TradesPodcast<br>#IndustryTalk<br>#SupportTheTrades<br>#ViperTools<br>#RefrigerationTechnologies 🐍</p>