Commercial Kitchen Chronicles

This week on Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we’re joined by Thomas Lisaula, better known as OEM Junkie, to break down the REAL world of supermarket refrigeration—and why rack systems will humble you fast. If you think refrigeration is just “bigger HVAC”… this episode is going to reset your expectations. Thomas works in high-demand environments where uptime is critical, specializing in rack systems...

In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, I sit down with Sally Ray, VP of Marketing at Hoshizaki America, to talk about where the foodservice equipment industry is headed and what it means for technicians in the field. We dive into the Hoshizaki Alliance and how it’s bringing together multiple brands to create more complete solutions for operators, while also opening the door for better i...

What happens when a technician with zero formal training, 27 years in the field, and a passion for helping others decides to just… start sharing? You get  Johnny Hall  — the voice behind  Let’s Be Techs . In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we sit down with Johnny to break down how a simple idea —  “let us be techs… let’s learn together”  — turned into one of the most authentic, no-B...

What if the kid who barely made it through high school… ended up working on  rack refrigeration systems, cascade units, and even equipment supporting F-15 fighter jets ? Yeah… that’s this episode. On this episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , I sit down with  Mike Folta —a technician with 16 years of real-world experience in commercial HVACR and foodservice equipment repair who proves you do...

In this special  in-person episode of the Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , recorded at the headquarters of Parts Town, I finally caught up with  John Warpinski , the  Senior Director of Customer Partnerships – HVAC  at Parts Town. John brings a deep background in the  HVAC industry , and in this conversation we dive into his journey through the trades before stepping into his leadership role at Par...

In this episode of the Commercial Kitchen Chronicles podcast, Pat Finley and Rich Ortega sit down with Matt Golden and Megan McIntosh from Mechanical Environments to talk about one of the most specialized corners of the mechanical industry — HVAC systems for cannabis cultivation facilities. Grow operations are a completely different animal when it comes to mechanical systems. Temperature, humidity...

What does it really mean to become who you’re meant to be? In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we sit down with Josh Zolin — CEO of Windy City Equipment, author of  Blue is the New White , and a powerful voice for leadership, responsibility, and purpose in the skilled trades. Josh started as a technician working alongside his dad, building a service company from the ground up. Today...

What happens when a second-generation HVAC technician refuses to follow the “sales first” model and instead builds a company around education, integrity, and preventative maintenance done right? In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat Finley sits down live with Dominic Furnback of Elite Service Group to break down what it really means to build a service business the right way in toda...

In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we’re coming to you live from the AHR Expo Podcast Pavilion with a deep dive into one of the most talked-about topics in HVAC and refrigeration right now — ACR press fittings. I sat down with Jessica Slaughter from RLS Rapid Locking Systems to talk about how copper press technology is changing the way contractors approach commercial HVAC installs,...

Betting on Yourself: Kenny Postlewait on Building Postlewait Refrigeration & HVAC In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat Finley and Rich Ortega sit down with Kenny Postlewait, also known as RefrigerationMan1988 on TikTok, to talk about what it really takes to leave a steady job and launch your own HVAC and refrigeration business. Kenny shares the raw, unfiltered truth about star...

In this episode,  Pat Finley  sits down with  Olivia Smith ,  Jimmy Miller , and  Ben Neal  for a deep dive into the  Young Professionals Committee (YPC)  of  CFESA  and the upcoming  YPC Symposium . Together, the group breaks down what the YPC is, who it’s for, and why it has become one of the most impactful ways for young professionals in the commercial foodservice equipment industry to grow, co...

Recorded live from AHR Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, this episode brings you inside the Viper booth with special guests Becca Stamey and Ashley Lynds from Refrigeration Technologies. We talk all things Viper and Refrigeration Technologies, including the products technicians rely on every day in HVACR and commercial foodservice, new releases like EZ Dose created by Robert Kraft, and what the expanded boo...

In this episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , host Pat Finley welcomes the one and only  Louise Kellar from UEi Test Instruments  for a jam packed conversation covering technician safety, new diagnostic tools, real world kitchen scenarios, and what to expect at  AHR Expo in Las Vegas . Louise introduces UEi’s newest product, the  UEiClip personal CO detector , and explains why every technici...

In this episode of the Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat sits down with Erick Kaseta from Ambro Controls for a wide-ranging, shop-talk-heavy conversation focused on real tools, real field experience, and doing the job the right way. Pat and Erick kick things off by talking about how they first connected at AHR and why Ambro Controls has become such a go-to brand for technicians who value portabil...

What do you do when you open a panel and roaches start crawling out like they pay rent? Or when grease has literally vacuum-sealed a fryer to the wall? Or when you realize the ice machine you’re working on should probably be condemned… and set on fire? In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat and Rich sit down together  in person  from South Carolina ahead of the CFESA Region 4 meetin...

n this episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , Pat Finley sits down with  Dan Reese from CFESA  to break down one of the biggest technician-focused initiatives our industry has ever launched —  CFESA’s Top Tech Throwdown . This isn’t about ego. This isn’t about social media hype. This is about  skill, process, safety, and pride in the craft . The  Top Tech Throwdown  is a skills-based competit...

Welcome back to  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles — The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast . This episode is our  official Year in Review , 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....

What does it really take to walk away from a 28-year corporate career and start over in the skilled trades? In this powerful episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles — The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast , host Pat Finley sits down with  Corrie Phillips , a commercial foodservice refrigeration technician who made the leap from the corporate world into HVACR and never looked back. Co...

Welcome back to Commercial Kitchen Chronicles — The Original Foodservice Equipment Repair Podcast! Today’s guest is DJ Coblentz, the Lead Technical Trainer at Viega’s brand-new state-of-the-art Ohio facility. If you’ve ever pressed a fitting, installed MegaPress, fought with threaded gas pipe, or wondered what it’s like behind the scenes at Viega’s manufacturing and training center — THIS is the e...

This week on Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat and Jason sit down with Rhydon Atzenhoffer — the  Voice of Distribution , host of the HVAC R&D Podcast, and a guy who has lived HVAC life from the trenches to the top. Born and raised in his dad’s heating and air business in the mountains of North Carolina, Rhydon worked his way up from rough-in crews to sales, project management, and eventually...

In this powerhouse episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat sits down with industry legend  John Bettiga —a man whose career spans automotive and marine mechanics, semi-hermetic compressor rebuilding, commercial/industrial/marine refrigeration, grocery rack systems, Whataburger facilities, building controls, kitchen design, and supporting 150+ technicians across 17 states. This is one of the...

In this powerful Young Guns episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, host Pat Finley sits down with 26-year-old technician  Jacob Caira , one of the brightest rising stars in the commercial kitchen and HVAC-R trade. Jacob’s story is a blueprint for what hard work, curiosity, and dedication can produce — even at a young age. Born and raised in the countryside of Middle Tennessee, Jacob took the le...

This week on Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we’re joined by Troy Duff—a Virginia-based tech who’s carved out his own lane in the foodservice repair world. Troy started out as an electrician before taking a leap into the industry with Hobart, working alongside his grandfather who inspired his path. From running installs across Richmond and Norfolk to handling service calls, Troy climbed through the...

In this episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , host Pat Finley and co-host Rich Ortega sit down with  John Faust , President & CEO of  Troubleshooter Mechanical Services  and  Electro Freeze of the Carolinas . John’s journey is one of grit, service, and leadership — from his days in the  U.S. Air Force avionics systems  to a career in  IT for Hilton Hotels , and eventually taking over the...

In this episode of  Commercial Kitchen Chronicles , Pat Finley is joined by returning guest  Loretta Mealor  from  Austin Mealor’s Restaurant Service Equipment Repair  — alongside cohost  Rich Ortega  of  On The Rock Services . The trio dives deep into the  CFESA Conference , Loretta’s first year serving on the  CFESA Board of Directors , her committee work with  CFESA Cares  and  Education &...