Category: Industry News

Ferrandino and Son, Inc. continues to add employees to the ProFM ranks. Natalie Walchonski, Vice President of Business Development and Jessica Saile, Director of Program Management for Ferrandino have both earned the coveted ProFM credential.

 

Natalie has been in facility maintenance for almost nine years  and Jessica has more than a decade of FM experience. She chose to pursue the ProFM to further her career. “As my career has progressed I have realized the importance of continuing education. It has played a major role in my success and I knew achieving ProFM certification would be a challenge, informative and relevant,” she said.

 

Jessica wanted to test her existing knowledge, strengthen her existing skillset and add new knowledge and skills. “ProFM provides a great guide and network for continuing FM education that assists you in diversifying your industry knowledge. It also sets you and your company apart from the competition, ” she said.

 

Both cite the books provided by ProFM as great tools for preparing for the exam and expanding FM knowledge. “It made it easy to study anywhere, anytime and you could make notes and the books became a valuable resource you could use to solve daily FM challenges,” commented Walchonski.

“The ProFM course would be beneficial to all facility and construction professionals. It helps you better understand multiple aspects of facilities management, which generates respect for your peers and enables you to better serve your customers,” she concludes.

 

Kevin Smith, COO, Ferrandino & Son, also endorses the ProFM credential program. “We are extremely proud of Natalie and Jessica earning the ProFM credentials. It is easy to support high quality FM education programs that advance the FM profession in and help our teams excel. Plus, ProFM is recognized across a wide spectrum of experienced industry experts and proven educators,” Smith concluded.

CoolSys™, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC companies nationwide, announced it will be rebranding all of its operating businesses under the CoolSys name over the next 12 to 18 months. Its foundational brands, Source Refrigeration & HVAC (Source) and Service Refrigeration Company (SRC), have changed their names to CoolSys as the first step in a multi-phased brand transformation.  Other CoolSys companies, including CRM, Legacy Air and Ron’s Refrigeration, will gradually transition to one unified brand identity this year. Newly acquired companies, Tech Mechanical, BRR Refrigeration, Agape, ABC Refrigeration, Building Air Services and RSI will take the CoolSys name within 18 months. 

 

“Our rebranding represents a shared long-term vision for CoolSys – to improve the customer experience by providing a seamless, end-to-end solution for all HVACR, engineering, installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization needs,” comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys.  “It also addresses the needs of our commercial customers who increasingly rely on national brands with nationwide capabilities.  We are combining all of our business units under one CoolSys brand to strengthen our presence, convey a consistent message and increase our power in the market,” he adds.

 

The company’s rebranding of its operating units and subsidiaries has been part of its long-term vision that began when CoolSys first established its name over two years ago to bring together its growing family of businesses under one corporate umbrella.  CoolSys has recently identified a growing demand among its customers to have access to a unified national brand, and a preference to consolidate their service providers to fewer, larger companies.  Its customers span across national and regional grocery, retail, convenience store and restaurant chains, as well as telecom, healthcare, and education.  

 

“In any market where we operate, our goal is for the CoolSys name to signify the consistent level of service, skill and expertise that our customers can rely on,” comments Mike Ochoa, executive vice president, sales and marketing.  “As we undergo this rebranding process, we are communicating with our customers, vendors and suppliers to ensure they are informed and fully on board with the changes that are coming.”

Over the course of this year, CoolSys will be unveiling a new website and new branding guidelines for its business units.  All vehicles, building signage, uniforms, forms and other materials will gradually be converted to the CoolSys brand.  To acknowledge its heritage as a company formed from many different brands, CoolSys will honor all its current and future acquired brands in a “Heritage” section on its newly designed website.

About CoolSys 

CoolSys is the market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services company, specializing in a full spectrum of best-in-class service experiences and solutions for customers in the retail, foodservice, commercial and industrial market segments.  CoolSys and its operating businesses cover every stage of mission-critical systems through engineering and design, installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys currently has 14 operating companies, and over 2,500 employees, 1,700 of which are field-based service and installation experts serving the daily needs of more than 4,000 customers throughout North America.  For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

 

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Loeb Electric, an independent electrical distributor and service provider, recently rebranded and announced the launch of its new website focused around electrical and lighting services and supplies for both national account and contractor customers.

The new branding includes a modern aesthetic with a nod to their history and industry expertise. While blues and grays are the backbone of the brand, a secondary palette including ‘amped aqua,’ ‘power yellow,’ and ‘charged orange’ have been added to complement. Current conductor lines have also been added as a design element with an homage to the electrical industry.

The newly launched website features customer case studies and testimonials, detailed service and industry pages, and defines the ‘Loeb Difference,’ allowing prospective customers to understand the value that Loeb can offer to their business. Current customers can access their account for product, order, and account management, in addition to searching electrical and lighting supply inventory and integrating e-procurement.

“To ensure we built the new site around our customers’ needs, we invested in a customer research study, completed competitive analysis, and utilized third-party industry research from Channel Marketing Group. Customer focus is at the heart of everything we do, and we work every day to be essential to their success. We’re excited to now demonstrate this on a digital platform.” – Charles Loeb, President, Loeb Electric.

Loeb Electric is the destination for all your electrical and lighting needs, across every stage of your project. They offer an expansive line card with access to the brands and products you trust, all competitively procured. Starting with understanding your needs, they’ll build a custom solution through their service portfolio: professional project management; lighting and energy solutions; inventory management and logistics; wire and strut services; and electrical maintenance through their partner network.

For more information, visit loebelectric.com.

About Loeb Electric

Loeb Electric (loebelectric.com) is the innovative electrical distributor of quality materials and an expert service provider, committed to be the partner you can trust. You can connect with them on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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DAVACO, the North American leader in project management for high-volume remodels for global brands, announces ON Demand project management and execution services for multi-site owners with multi- construction trade services. Utilizing a development collaboration partnership with ServiceDemand, DAVACO utilizes field service management software, to offer real-time technology to its multi-site client base.

 

Managing and scheduling field service work presents numerous challenges for project management teams, including identifying suitable skilled technicians, arranging availability of local work forces, and effective time management. DAVACO’s client solution resolves these issues, dispatching skilled and trained technicians when and where they are needed. Recognizing these challenges, DAVACO is deploying the latest technology to optimize its scheduling capabilities using the most up-to-date SaaS technology.

 

DAVACO’s solution is a cloud-hosted platform enabling end-to-end management of service requirements. It offers intelligent management of all projects, from one-time requests to large, complex multiphase/multisite rollouts. From its mobile application, project managers are able to more effectively manage their workforce by allowing them to more efficiently schedule assignments based on site location, the current location of available and qualified technicians, and required travel time. This benefits all stakeholders, by closely integrating them into the work execution workflow. The mobile application also enables payment of third-party service providers and real-time automated communication between internal and external recipients directly from the application.

 

“In addition to its automated work force management, our solution provides business intelligence features that provide insight into asset utilization,” adds Keith Winters, CEO of DAVACO.

 

“This cutting-edge technology allows us to record an asset, why it required repair and how the issue was resolved, in real time. In this way, we can provide a clear picture of any reoccurring issues that our clients may be facing at their businesses.” he adds.

 

Licenses for the SaaS software are now available to DAVACO’s clients, who also oversee complex field management services, in both the SaaS model and through systems integrations via an application programming interface (API).

 

“Having implemented the technology successfully, we are now extending its value to DAVACO’s clients,” adds Paul Hamer, Executive Vice President Business Development of DAVACO. “Many of DAVACO’s clients manage complex programs utilizing multiple vendors and would see great benefit from on-demand technology, consolidating vendors and efficiently scheduling their field workforce. Its asset management capabilities would also provide further insight into identifying the root cause of any break/fix issues.”

 

“Automated, real time technology with a user-friendly interface is the way forward for many industries, if you are struggling to understand labor costs and travel times, skillsets and technician availability,
ServiceDemand will provide you with an automated solution to optimize your performance and bring significant cost reduction as a result,”  he adds.            

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

About DAVACO:
DAVACO is a leading total solutions provider of high-volume remodel, reset and rollout programs for global brands throughout Northern America. Services include: program and project management, fixture equipment and graphic installations, digital signage and technology upgrade, hard and soft-line merchandising, site, marketing and pre-constructions survey, logistics and consolidation, design coordination, facilities maintenance programs and ADA, safety and quality audits and remediation. Founded in 1990, DAVACO is headquartered in Dallas, TX.  https://www.davacoinc.com/

[BOHEMIA, NEW YORK, January 17, 2020] FrontStreet Facilities Solutions, Inc., a leading national provider of facilities services, announces expansion into the recurring services market. Rounding out the full scope of maintenance offerings, FrontStreet has created the Recurring Services Division.

“We have strived to provide excellent customer service to our clients in the trades typically offered by facilities management firms”, stated CEO Thomas Hutzel. “Increasingly, clients have requested FS to offer a more comprehensive package, whereas they work with one team to provide seamless service across all possible maintenance services.”

Recurring services covers the routine needs of a facility, usually planned and scheduled in advance. As part of the new service line, FrontStreet will offer Landscaping, Floorcare, High Dusting, Fire and Life Safety, Pest Control, Snow Removal, Window Washing, and Lot Maintenance. These services will be offered in conjunction with the existing Reactive, Preventative, and Project related service offerings. The combination of all of these service lines, managed via an ever-evolving Technology Platform, will continue to position FrontStreet as the “One Stop Shop” solution that so many customers are looking for.

“Creating a standalone Recurring Services Division within FrontStreet was a natural progression of the existing suite of services we currently provide our customers. As we build relationships and get to know our individual clients’ needs, it only made sense to expand the partnership in order to deliver an all-in-one type of solution” related Skip Warner, FrontStreet Chief Operating Officer.

Skip noted “In order to better serve the FS client portfolio, we needed to round out our facilities services offerings.”

Joining the FS team as the Director of Recurring Services division, Troy Walsh brings 25 years of facilities operations experience. Mr. Walsh explained that he has a singular focus: to make the everyday routine simple for FS clients, reiterating “There isn’t much magic in Recurring Services. The services offered are very routine. However, for a facilities team that has to manage hundreds of locations, constantly dealing with emergencies and the unexpected, it is reassuring to know that the routine is off their plate.”

FrontStreet FS currently provides maintenance to 25,000+ locations, serving the retail, c-store, financial services, logistics, restaurant, and commercial office sectors. FrontStreet is headquartered on Long Island, in Bohemia, New York.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Margaret Hutzel at 631.244.8474 or email mhutzel@frontstreetfs.com.

Oceanside, CA – January 13, 2020 – Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (“KBS”), a leading provider of technology-enabled, integrated facility management services, today announced its acquisition of Hospitality Staffing Solutions, LLC (“HSS”). HSS was previously owned by Littlejohn Capital in partnership with Caymus Equity Partners.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, HSS is a leading provider of outsourced housekeeping and related services to the hospitality sector in the United States. With operations in 38 states and Puerto Rico, HSS provides a comprehensive suite of services, including housekeeping, food service, laundry, and groundskeeping, as well as outsourcing solutions for day-to-day management responsibilities, including hiring, training, and payroll. Founded in 1990, the company currently supports more than 1,000 properties in 75 markets.

“This combination represents a significant step forward for both KBS and HSS,” said Mark Minasian, Chief Executive Officer of KBS. “HSS is already the market leader in hospitality services, and joining forces with KBS further enhances its service offering, scale, and technology capabilities. Together, KBS and HSS can offer hospitality customers an unparalleled suite of high-quality, tech-enabled solutions tailored to their business needs.”

Tim McPherson, President and Chief Executive Officer of HSS, added: “We are excited to begin this next phase of growth with KBS. Today, HSS is a trusted partner to hotel, casino, and resort operators, providing the highest quality of staffing and related managed services. With KBS’s differentiated technology and national reach, we will be able to further build on our industry-leading platform to the benefit of our customers nationwide.”

KBS was acquired by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (“Cerberus”), a global leader in alternative investing, in November 2019. This transaction represents its first strategic acquisition completed in partnership with Cerberus.

Robert Warden, Co-Head of Private Equity at Cerberus, commented: “Major operators in the hospitality industry want to work with large, compliant, tech-enabled providers that can provide a suite of essential services at scale. Together, we believe KBS and HSS will be a clear partner of choice for existing and new customers. We look forward to supporting the future growth and success of the combined platform and selectively identify additional acquisitions that can further enhance the company’s success.”

Going forward, Mr. McPherson will serve as President of HSS and continue to operate the business under KBS’s proven model for integrating successful businesses. “I very much look forward to working closely with Tim and the best-in-class team at HSS,” concluded Mr. Minasian. “As a division of KBS, Tim and his team will benefit from alignment with KBS while also enjoying operating flexibility and autonomy to continue to do exactly what has made them so successful – delivering superior, reliable services to the hospitality industry.”

About KBS
Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, LLC (“KBS”) is a leading North American provider of technology-enabled, integrated facility management services to the industrial, commercial, logistics, retail, and hospitality sectors. With more than 64,000 active customer locations in all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico, KBS sets the industry standard for delivering consistently high-quality and cost-effective facility service solutions. For more information on Kellermeyer Bergensons Services, please visit www.kbs-services.com.

About Hospitality Staffing Solutions
Founded in 1990 in Atlanta, Hospitality Staffing Solutions, LLC (“HSS”) proudly claims a leading market share at the world’s leading hotel brands and management companies, and looks to continue its expansion into new geographies through organic expansion of its branch office network, strategic acquisitions, and further development of its service capabilities. Hospitality Staffing Solutions earned the 2019 Best of Staffing Client Award for service excellence based on client ratings. Learn more about Hospitality Staffing Solutions at www.hssstaffing.com.

About Cerberus
Founded in 1992, Cerberus is a global leader in alternative investing with over $40 billion in assets across complementary credit, private equity, and real estate strategies. We invest across the capital structure where our integrated investment platforms and proprietary operating capabilities create an edge to improve performance and drive long-term value. Our tenured teams have experience working collaboratively across asset classes, sectors, and geographies to seek strong risk-adjusted returns for our investors. For more information about our people and platforms, visit us at www.cerberus.com.

BREA, Calif., Dec. 19, 2019 – CoolSys™, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC companies nationwide, announced it has acquired BRR Refrigeration, a commercial refrigeration and HVAC services company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  This acquisition is the company’s first step into the Mid-Atlantic region, where it plans to further expand its market presence. As part of an active M&A strategy, BRR Refrigeration is the second acquisition CoolSys has closed this week.

 

“The acquisition of BRR Refrigeration will establish for the first time a CoolSys presence in the Mid-Atlantic region where we look forward to continued growth and success,” comments CoolSys CEO Adam Coffey.  “We welcome the BRR team to the CoolSys family and are looking forward to supporting and complementing the services they offer to their customers.”

 

For more than 20 years, BRR Refrigeration has been a leading commercial refrigeration and HVAC contractor serving the supermarket, convenience store and cold storage sectors in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware.  BRR Refrigeration serves the full spectrum of its clients’ needs with commercial HVAC and refrigeration services, installation services, remodeling services and a full-service electrical department.  

 

“The BRR Refrigeration team is excited about becoming a CoolSys company and sharing our wealth of knowledge and experience in the refrigeration and HVAC field,” comments Joe Roomsburg, owner of BRR Refrigeration.  “Like CoolSys, we are committed to delivering the highest quality services and equipment to our customers, and we look forward to enhancing our services with the expanded resources and capabilities they can offer.” 

Connex, formerly PRSM, the authority on Retail and Multi-site Facilities Management is cooking up something very different for the CONNEX2020 National Conference keynote address.

Johnny Cupcakes – aka Johnny Earle, the king of cult-like brand loyalty, and founder of the world-renowned tee-shirt brand Johnny Cupcakes will be the keynote speaker at the CONNEX2020 National Conference, April 21, 2020 at the Gaylord Palms, Orlando, FL.

Earle lauded in Forbes, WIRED, the New York Times and other major media launched 16 businesses before he was 16 years old. His “T-shirt bakery” tee-shirt shop started in the trunk of a 1989 Toyota Camry, when he was only 19, has crazed customers camping out for weeks before a new store opens. 

Named “America’s No. 1 Young Entrepreneur” by Business Week, “Top Innovator in Retail” by The Boston Globe and featured in INC magazine as CEO of one of the world’s fastest-growing independent businesses, Earle now shares his creative consulting and strategies with clients including Apple, L’Oreal, Disney, IBM, Audi, Harvard University, Wieden+Kennedy, Marriott and P&G.

“CONNEX2020 will be a very special event,” commented Bill Yanek, CEO Connex. “Johnny Cupcakes will take our General Session over the top and inspire attendees to look at how they do business in a very different way!”