10 Scholarships Awarded at CFESA Annual Conference:
Region 1 - Diamond Refrigeration and Jenson Refrigeration Inc.
Region 2 - Coker Service Inc. and Vanco
Region 3 - R&B Commercial Service and Priority One
Region 4 - Camp Food Equipment and Auston Mealer's Restaurant Equipment Service
Region 5 - Gary’s East Coast Service and Valley Service Inc.
Blake Giarratani
Quality Commercial Services
I have been in the restaurant service industry for 21 years working for 2 other companies. I got in this field by chance while looking for work in the classified ads (yes that long ago). I enjoy this line of work because I help my customers to keep their operation running and know that when I am called upon, I can truly help people with their needs. My goals are to expand my company to offer refrigeration service; currently I only offer hot side, facility maintenance and preventative maintenance."
Garrett Cross
McCarver Mechanical
I’ve been a technician for about a year and a half. I knew I wanted to work with my hands and serve the community in some way. That’s when I found the apprenticeship career opportunity with McCarver Mechanical. I can’t imagine a better field of work. I enjoy being a technician because of the challenges I face each day. I am always learning new skills and every day brings something new. I hope to obtain my mechanical license and continue to work as a technician.
John Gowing
Java247
I have lived in Colorado Springs for 50 years and was an owner/operator of restaurants and bars for 30 years. I’ve been a technician in the coffee industry for 7 years. I enjoy being able to service and maintain local customers, but with the training and scholarship money, I hope to expand to include the rest of the state.
Jeff Wheaton
Joe Warren and Sons
"I’ve been a tech for almost 3 years after spending over 20 years working in kitchens as a line cook and chef. The learning curve has been huge, but I work for a company that understands the value of training and education. I look forward to continuing to learn as much as possible."
Michael Bryan
TWC Services
I have been an HVAC/R technician for 9 years now in the Florida panhandle. The best part of being a tech is never being anywhere for long and the troubleshooting aspect. This award will help me to become a CFESA-certified dual technician. 90% of my experience is in HVAC and I would love to learn more about refrigeration and hot side equipment.
Jesse Builer
Dynamic Industries USA LLC
"I’ve been the owner of Dynamic Industries USA LLC in San Diego since 2015. I have earned associate degrees in Electromechanical Technology and Industrial Mechanics. The work I do is more than a job; it’s my PASSION. I always put quality and customer satisfaction above profits. My goals are to grow my clientele and add other qualified technicians to my team, so Dynamic Industries can continue to help companies deliver the highest quality products efficiently and affordably with minimal downtime."
10 Scholarships Awarded at CFESA Annual Conference:
Region 1 - Rox Services and Superior Service
Region 2 - Cones Solutions and Eichenauer Services Inc
Region 3 - Texas Restaurant Improvement and Hawkins Commercial
Region 4 - Norwood’s Commercial Appliances Inc and Jones-McLeod
Region 5 - EMR and Valley Service Inc
Grant Heidelberg
Commercial Gaskets of Minneapolis
"I found myself unemployed about 8 years ago and came across an opportunity in the commercial refrigeration field. I have been working as a tech since then and have gotten some great experience. The challenge of the day-to-day troubleshooting keeps me motivated to stay in this industry. I hope to further my education and someday start my own HVAC company."
Igor Krajnak
IJK Services
With over 15 years of experience under his belt, Igor's journey in the technical realm began with an unexpected turn of events when he had to close down his restaurant. Amidst this challenge, he discovered his true passion for fixing equipment and has never looked back. Every day brings something new and unpredictable, keeping him on his toes and constantly engaged.
Charles Martinez
A+ Commercial Kitchen Repair
"I am the co-owner of A+ Commercial Kitchen Repair alongside Moises Alvarez. I love to venture into entrepreneurial projects of any kind. Mr. Alvarez has a decorated career in the industry, so we decided to partner and start our own business. Our company is still in its infancy, as we're just under a year of being open. We love the freedom of scheduling and the flexibility that comes with a low-cost company. It allows us to serve our customers in the best way possible while maintaining a profit."
Jesus Canales
Windy City Equipment Service
"I'm Jesus Canales from Arizona. I started to do this job in 2018 after servicing garage doors. I needed something to support my family, and I love working with my hands. I saw the Refrigeration School, Inc. (RSI), and it's hot in Arizona, so I thought it would be an excellent career. Ever since I graduated, I never looked back. I love that I get to work with different pieces of equipment every day, learning something new. From kitchen equipment to cold side to HVAC, I've learned so much. Hopefully, years from now, I can become a lead technician and pass my knowledge on to the new techs entering the industry."