From Farming to Freon: The Refrigeration Journey of Jeremiah Johnson 🚛❄️

In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat Finley sits down with Montana-based refrigeration pro Jeremiah Johnson, who shares his inspiring journey from residential HVAC and construction framing to running his own refrigeration business in rural Montana. 🇺🇸

🔥 Jeremiah talks about:

• How the 2009 housing crash led him to HVAC school at 30

• Making the leap from residential HVAC to commercial refrigeration

• Life in the trades: working 7 days a week and loving it

• Supporting small-town grocery stores, restaurants, and dairies

• Tackling walk-in freezers, ice machines, mini splits, and even R290 refrigeration

• The independence (and challenges) of being a one-man operation

• Getting his daughters involved in the trades 👧🛠️

• His love for hunting, BBQ, and quality tools (Testo, Fieldpiece, and more)

Whether you're a seasoned tech, an apprentice, or just curious about starting your own refrigeration business, this is a must-listen!

Brought to you by Viper 🐍 from Refrigeration Technologies

🔥 Pro Tip for Commercial Kitchen Pros! 🔥
Brought to you by our friends at Viper HVAC Cleaners — when it comes to keeping your commercial kitchen equipment running at peak performance, clean coils and evaporators are non-negotiable.
That’s where Viper’s NSF-registered cleaning products come in! 🧼
They're safe, powerful, and specifically designed to tackle the grease and grime found in busy foodservice environments. Keep your refrigeration and HVAC systems efficient, extend equipment life, and avoid costly downtime.
👉 Trust Viper — the name the industry relies on for professional-grade kitchen system maintenance.

https://www.refrigtech.com

Check out all things Commercial Kitchen Chronicles related.

https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com

#commercialrefrigeration #HVACpodcast #foodserviceequipmentrepair #R290refrigeration #refrigerationtechnician #commercialkitchenequipment #icemachinemaintenance #walkinfreezerrepair #HVACtools #Testo550s #Fieldpieceprobes #onemanHVACbusiness #commercialkitchenpodcast #technicianstories #HVACstartup #smallbusinessHVAC #Montanatradesman #refrigerationjourney

In this icy-cool episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, Pat sits down with Stephanie Wall from True Refrigerationto dive into the cutting-edge world of True Ice Machines. From R290 refrigerant and antimicrobial plastics to advanced Time-of-Flight sensors and near-instant harvest cycles, Stephanie reveals how True has engineered a smarter, more efficient, and technician-friendly ice machine that’s ready to dominate the market.

We cover:
🧊 Why ice is food — and how True keeps it clean
⚙️ Service-friendly features that techs will love
🌡️ Performance in extreme ambient temps (35°F–110°F)
⚡ Up to 37% better than Energy Star standards
📉 How some chains could save $2.3M/year in energy bills
🔧 Real-world install results — including surviving 118°F Vegas heat!

Plus, we talk TrueZone ozone sanitation, built-in filtration tracking, warranty coverage, and how True is investing in hands-on technician training across the country.

🎧 Whether you’re in service, sales, or just an ice nerd like Pat, this episode delivers.

Huge shout out to https://trutechtools.com/ for partnering with us.

Looking for top-quality HVAC/R tools? TruTech Tools is here to help! From instruments to hand tools, in-stock and shipped fast, they have you covered to get the job done right. Visit TruTechTools.com - Quality Tools - Essential Support!

https://www.truemfg.com/true-ice/

Commercial Kitchen Chronicles

https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/

#TrueIce #TrueRefrigeration #CommercialIceMachine #CommercialKitchenRepair #IceMachineTech #FoodserviceEquipment #R290Refrigerant #HVACRPodcast #KitchenInnovation #TechnicianTools #SmartIceMachine #IceIsFood #CommercialKitchenChronicles

🎙️ Episode Title: "20 Years, 2 Countries, 1 Tech: Aidan Lucey's Journey Through the Trades"

In this episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, we sit down with refrigeration pro Aidan Lucey, whose 20-year journey in the trade spans two continents. From humble beginnings in Ireland installing 80 mini splits, to chasing down leaks in Canadian grocery stores, Aidan shares how a twist of fate steered him into the trades—and how that decision shaped his life and career.

We talk shop on everything from chillers, beer lines, and Taylor ice cream machines to CO₂ rack systems and critical grocery store service calls in -55°C temps (yes, you read that right ❄️). Aidan opens up about the challenges of immigrating and recertifying as a tech in Canada, his passion for the trade, and even how a frozen yogurt machine led him to his future wife.

Whether you're a seasoned tech or just considering the trades, Aidan’s story is a reminder that opportunity is everywhere—and that sometimes the best careers start by accident.

🛠️ Tune in for:

• Racking systems and CO₂ insights

• Field stories from rural service calls

• Advice for aspiring techs and international workers

• A whole lot of laughs and real-world wisdom

🚨 Don’t miss this one—hit play and let’s get into it!

🎙️ This episode is powered by Viper from Refrigeration Technologies! 🐍

Here’s a pro tip from our friends at Viper:
In commercial kitchens, clean coils and evaporators aren’t optional — they’re essential. That’s why the pros reach for Viper’s NSF-registered cleaners. 💪

✅ Safe
✅ Effective
✅ Formulated specifically for foodservice environments

Keep your systems running cool, clean, and compliant — Viper’s got your back!

https://www.refrigtech.com/

Find out more from Aidan Lucey here.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-l-7ba6b1275/

Commercial kitchen Chronicles

https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/

https://linktr.ee/commercialkitchenchronicles?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

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