Cool Times Podcast

Nick Strube, Vice President at FoodTech, sits down with Vince Free to discuss the unsexy-but-essential world of cold storage and food processing construction. But the real story is simpler: two Wisconsin guys who graduated from UWM the same year, played bags at Brewers games, and somehow never crossed paths until now. Nick's been in the industry for twenty years because someone gave him a foot-in-...

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...

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 burno...

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...

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 ri...

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 i...

Welcome back to Cool Times — where we talk all things cool in the cold storage construction world. And this week, we’re celebrating one of our favorite things: Women in Construction Month (yes, we’re claiming the whole month 🔥). In this episode, we’re joined by Brenttnie Smith, Business Development Lead at Reeves Young, who proves that the road into construction doesn’t have to be traditional to...

In this episode of Cool Times , Jenna and Vince sit down with David Sours, Senior Vice President at CBRE, for a deep dive into the evolution of cold storage real estate—and how one man’s obsession with buildings turned into a national platform. With 23 years at CBRE and a reputation for being famous for something , David unpacks how he became a go-to expert in refrigerated warehousing, why mentors...

In this heartfelt and unfiltered episode, Vince and Jenna Free close out Season 5 of The Cool Times Podcast with an honest recap of 2025 and their hopes for 2026. From industry lessons and personal growth to podcast highlights and burpee challenges, the dynamic duo reflects on the wins, the hard leadership moments, and what it really means to slow down. Plus, they announce a special Cold Storage N...

In this heartwarming and insightful episode, Vince and Jenna Free sit down with Matt Brower , VP of Development at BCCG, to talk about playing the long game in cold storage construction. Matt shares his journey from general construction into the cold space, how BCCG is growing as an ESOP-driven company, and why culture and trust are the cornerstones of their client relationships. From leadership l...

In this laid-back and info-packed episode, Vince and Jenna Free welcome Glen Oltmanns Vice President at Senneca Holdings at Senneca Holdings—and longtime friend of the show. Glen shares his decades of experience in cold storage construction and door solutions, unpacking how Senneca’s portfolio of brands has evolved and adapted with the industry. From traffic doors to high-performance insulated doo...

In this dynamic episode, Vince and Jenna Free sit down with Thomas Gubbins , Director of Business Development, and Sean Doherty , Senior Project Manager, of Layton Construction to talk about building more than just cold storage facilities. From Sean's journey from owner to GC, to Thomas’ sports agency beginnings with Green Bay legends, the episode blends industry insight with some serious laughs....

In this high-energy episode, Vince and Jenna Free dive into the fascinating world of cold storage automation with Alex Reed , Sales Director at Swisslog. From high-bay warehouses to software-powered solutions, Alex breaks down how Swisslog has been revolutionizing automation in the cold chain—especially in challenging environments like deep freeze. With 125 years of experience, Swisslog is no rook...

After over two years in the making, Brian Benson finally joins Vince and Jenna in the studio—and the wait was worth it. As Director of Solutions Engineering at Voxel, Brian brings a wealth of experience from his decades in cold storage, combined with cutting-edge AI technology designed to make warehouses safer and smarter. From managing one of the most dangerous warehouses in the western U.S. to p...

In this episode of the Cool Times Podcast, hosts Vince and Jenna Free sit down with Jeremy Bentley, Director of Architecture at Power Construction's Cold and Food Group. Jeremy shares his journey from Lincoln Logs to leading some of the industry’s most innovative cold storage designs. With nearly two decades of experience—starting with United Insulated Structures and now shaping the future at Powe...

In Part 2 of this Cool Times Podcast special, hosts Vince and Jenna Free dig deeper with Eric Finnerty , President and CEO of Vapor Armor , to get into the science, skepticism, and energy savings that make his system so revolutionary. Eric breaks down how Vapor Armor challenges conventional thermodynamics, why traditional frost ribbon details fall short, and how a properly designed perimeter seal...

In Part 1 of this two-part Cool Times Podcast special, Vince and Jenna sit down with Eric Finnerty , President and CEO of Vapor Armor , to unpack the origin story of one of the cold storage industry’s most impactful innovations. Known across the industry as “The Beard,” Eric shares how a roof failure and a bold idea launched Vapor Armor, a company now synonymous with ice-free cold storage and cutt...

Get ready for a masterclass in leadership, legacy, and loyalty in cold storage construction. Vince and Jenna welcome back industry legend and now author Bret Wedding , EVP at Fricks, to talk about his new book Not a Commodity: A True Story of Relational Leadership . With humor, heart, and honesty, Brett shares powerful lessons from the battlefield to the boardroom—reminding us that trust, care, an...

In this insightful and entertaining episode, Vince and Jenna sit down with Michael Cody, Director of Industrial Cold and Food at Ware Malcomb, to dig deep into the world of cold storage design. From industry collaboration and field-grown teams to next-gen detail innovation (like the soon-to-be-patented expansion joint lid detail), Michael shares what makes great architectural work in cold storage...

In this fun and insightful episode, Vince and Jenna sit down in-studio with Marko Dzeletovich, founder of ColdBox Builders, and his son Max to talk about legacy, leadership, and how ColdBox became one of the most respected names in cold storage construction. Marko shares the story of scaling the company through explosive growth, why culture always beats cash, and how to keep things cool—even throu...

In this fun and insightful episode, Vince and Jenna sit down with Sean Gilbert of Saxum Real Estate to talk about how Saxum went from boutique developments to becoming a national leader in cold storage and food processing facilities. Sean shares how strategic focus, smart partnerships (like with Arcadia Cold), and a commitment to team culture helped Saxum scale to over $3 billion in assets. From b...

In this episode of Cool Times Podcast , Vince and Jenna Free welcome back Brian Lynch for a deep dive into everything happening at CEBA (Controlled Environment Building Association) and the broader GCCA (Global Cold Chain Alliance). Brian shares key updates, insights into strategic growth, member benefits, upcoming events, and how CEBA is shaping the future of controlled environment building throu...

In this special episode of Cool Times Podcast , host Vince Free sits down with his wife, Jenna Free, COO of Freez Construction, to celebrate Women in Construction Week and discuss the evolving landscape for women in the industry. They share personal stories, insights into leadership and business growth, and the progress made in increasing female representation in construction. Jenna reflects on he...

Cold Storage is Going Higher—Literally! Automation, ASRS, and smart warehouse design are reshaping cold storage—and Steve Wilson of Slate River Systems (SRSI) is at the center of it all. Vince and Jenna Free sit down with Steve to break down how data-driven automation is making cold storage operations more efficient, cost-effective, and ready for the future. From pallet shuttles to warehouse manag...

In this episode of the Cool Times Podcast, hosts Vince and Jenna Free are joined by Josh Lewis, President of RL Cold, to discuss the evolving cold storage industry. They explore RL Cold's unique customer-centric approach to developing cold storage facilities, the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, and the importance of sustainability and automation. Josh shares insights on the challenges of growt...