Category: Industry News

CoolSys™, the parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies nationwide, announced it has acquired Carolina Refrigeration Services Inc, a commercial HVAC and refrigeration company, which serves customers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. With this acquisition, CoolSys further expands its foothold into the southeast, establishing a thorough presence in the area.

 

“This is a very strategic acquisition for CoolSys. While we currently perform work in the states they cover, acquiring Carolina Refrigeration Services gives us the critical mass required to provide our current customers the support and resources they deserve and to offer our entire solutions portfolio to new customers,” comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys. “Carolina Refrigeration’s excellent service has earned them an outstanding reputation that will serve as a critical part of our growth strategy in the Carolinas and the southeast,” he adds.

 

Carolina Refrigeration services and installs commercial HVAC and refrigeration equipment in supermarket chains, industrial processing plants, convenience stores, wholesale clubs and restaurants. Headquartered in Lexington, South Carolina, it has one additional branch in South Carolina as well as one in Tennessee.

 

“Our business was founded on treating each employee and customer as if they were our only one. Our commitment to our people is the backbone of how we do business at Carolina Refrigeration,” comments Chris Hutnyak, founder of Carolina Refrigeration. “I am excited to become part of the CoolSys family of businesses, who share this same commitment to customers and employees.”

 

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 from engineering and design, to installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys has more than 3,000 employees nationwide, serving the daily needs of more than 45,000 customer locations across North America. For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

 

About Carolina Refrigeration

Based in Lexington, South Carolina, Carolina Refrigeration provides refrigeration and commercial and industrial HVAC services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to customers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, southern Virginia and Tennessee. Carolina Refrigeration serves customers ranging from industrial processing plants to wholesale shopping clubs and supermarket grocers to convenience stores.

Leaders in national brand implementation programs including signage,  site refresh & remodel, repair & maintenance, and energy solutions   

  

MC Group | Icon, one of the leading brand implementation companies in the United States, announced today that it has changed its name to Stratus.  The rebranding comes one year after MC Group and Icon joined forces to expand their services and become one of the largest players in the facility services industry.  

Trusted by some of the most well-known, blue chip companies in the country, Stratus builds better brands nationwide by offering signage, site refresh & remodel, repair & maintenance, and energy solutions such as lighting and electrical.  Their extensive program management experience maximizes efficiency for their customers while drastically reducing the day-to-day hassles of managing locations across large geographies.    

“Stratus conveys our commitment to take brands and people to the next level,” said Tim Eippert, Stratus’ Chief Executive Officer, who acquired MC Group more than 25 years ago.  

“In a world of infinite possibilities, we deliver ideal solutions,” he added. “Stratus represents how we bring clarity and vision to the complex challenges customers face, providing peace of mind that all their bases are covered. Yet we go further to take every interaction, solution and experience to the next level.”  

Stratus, a private-equity-owned company, employs over 700 people. The company has headquarters in Mentor, Ohio and Rolling Meadows, Illinois; operations centers in Ohio, Florida and New Jersey; and manufacturing facilities in Illinois, South Carolina and Virginia.    

“As Stratus, we are operating under one name, with aligned teams and product lines to better serve and assist customers,” said Kurt Ripkey, Stratus’ President and Chief Revenue Officer. “Our new name, and what it stands for, looks towards the future while also drawing from our past.  Stratus is committed to offering the most extensive brand management solutions nationwide, helping our customers to grow while also growing ourselves as a leader in our industry.  It is our mission to continue to offer the most extensive brand management solutions nationwide.”  

  

Eippert will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer, supported by Ripkey as President and Chief Revenue Officer and Dave Walters as President and Chief Operating Officer. The three executives bring with them nearly 100 years of combined industry leadership experience.  

  

 About Stratus

Stratus is a leading provider of brand implementation solutions including signage, site refresh/remodel, energy,  and repair & maintenance programs nationwide.

The owner and president of National Dispatch Services, Marissa Sidel, is proud to announce that the company has been officially certified as a Women Business Enterprise by WBE Canada.

BrandPoint Services, a leading provider of facility services and solutions to multi-site commercial clients across North America, proudly announces its inclusion in the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.

Inc. magazine revealed that Branded Group is No. 1054 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. 

 

“Branded Group is honored to be named to the 2020 Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies,” Michael Kurland, Branded Group CEO, said. “We are grateful to our valued team, loyal customers, and long-standing vendor partners, all of whom have made possible our inclusion on this esteemed list.”  

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year average growth of over 500 percent, and a median rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.   

 

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are also being featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 12. 

 

“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “From health and software to media and hospitality, the 2020 list proves that no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.” 

 

The annual Inc. 5000 event honoring the companies on the list will be held virtually from October 23 to 27, 2020. As always, speakers will include some of the greatest innovators and business leaders of our generation. 

 

About Branded Group 

Branded Group is an award-winning facility maintenance and construction management company servicing multi-site commercial properties. Through its “Be Better” experience, Branded Group provides clients with peace of mind and preserves their brand standards. Services include on-demand facility maintenance, construction management, and special project implementation for retail locations, restaurants, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, among other industry verticals. With its One-for-One Program, each completed service call is transformed into volunteer time with local non-profit organizations. The company is a certified Great Place to Work and has ranked on the Inc. 5000 for two consecutive years. https://www.branded-group.com 

 

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 

 

Methodology 

The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. 

 

About Inc. Media 

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com. For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference, visit http://conference.inc.com/.  

 

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Security Services Holdings, LLC (dba Protos Security), the leading tech-enabled security services company in North America, announced that it has hired Nathaniel Shaw as Chief Executive Officer.

AQUALIS, a portfolio company of DFW Capital Partners and the leading national provider in comprehensive water management services, today announced it has acquired the assets of Innovative Vacuum Services (Innovac), an experienced stormwater and emergency response organization offering vactor and jetting, CCTV inspections and commercial HVAC air duct cleaning.

 

The acquisition of Innovac strengthens AQUALIS’ strategy to provide comprehensive water management services nationwide, furthering its geographic support across the United States. AQUALIS currently services the entire continental United States and Puerto Rico. This acquirement deepens AQUALIS’ service delivery assets of vactor, jetting and CCTV inspections.

 

Richard Matero, CEO of AQUALIS, said, “This acquisition was an ideal fit for AQUALIS. Innovac is a steadfast and innovative organization providing focused services in the stormwater and construction industries. We have a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest, and the Innovac acquisition allows AQUALIS to further expand our services and capabilities in the market.”

 

“Through this acquisition, we are positioning Innovac on a broader growth path for years to come,” said Larry Prein, President of Innovac. “Innovac brings a deep level of operating expertise and a successful track record of customer satisfaction. AQUALIS is the ideal partner to enable us to best serve our customers and accelerate growth of the business.”

 

“We are excited about this acquisition for AQUALIS,” DeVer Warner of DFW Capital Partners stated. “Our growth over the last year has greatly deepened our reach and we remain focused on broadening AQUALIS’ services in critical watershed areas throughout the U.S.”

 

About AQUALIS

AQUALIS is a leading nationwide provider of commercial, retail, industrial and governmental post-construction stormwater management and lift station services through consulting, inspection, maintenance and repair. AQUALIS caters to national retailers, logistics providers, engineering firms, hospitals, military and industrial facilities, real estate management companies, distribution centers, national and multi-state organizations, individual and commercial property owners, airports and universities. For more information, visit www.aqualisco.com.

BREA, Calif., June 29, 2020 – CoolSys™, a parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies nationwide, has acquired Richmond Refrigeration Service, an established commercial refrigeration and air conditioning business serving Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia.  This is the second acquisition made by CoolSys in the Mid-Atlantic region in the past seven months, and the second acquisition the company has made during the month of June as it continues its M&A growth strategy backed by its private equity investor, Ares Management.  

 

“The acquisition of Richmond Refrigeration complements our acquisition of BRR Refrigeration seven months ago, giving us coverage across the entire state of Virginia while strengthening our presence in Maryland, West Virginia and North Carolina as well,” comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys.  “The Richmond Refrigeration team has a long history and excellent reputation in their region and we are excited to welcome them into the CoolSys family. This is another key step in becoming a true national solutions provider.”  

 

Based in Ashland, Virginia, Richmond Refrigeration Services specializes in the service and installation of a wide range of supermarket refrigeration systems and applications.  Its convenience store division provides a full-service team of plumbers, electricians, food service technicians, HVAC/R technicians and maintenance personnel.  Both of its service divisions are highly ranked by their major customers who use scoring systems with top key performance indicators (KPIs) that rank them among the highest-performing contractors across the United States.  

 

“We know some of the folks at CoolSys and some of their recent acquisitions, and are very excited to join their growing team,” comments John Lollar, president of Richmond Refrigeration Service. “The combination of Richmond’s heritage and reputation with CoolSys’ broad spectrum of solutions will allow us to bring even greater value to our customers and growth opportunities for our employees.”

 

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, food service, commercial and industrial market segments. CoolSys and its operating businesses cover every stage of mission-critical systems from engineering and design, to installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys has more than 1,900 highly trained, field-based service and installation experts serving the daily needs of more than 4,000 customers across North America. For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

 

About Richmond Refrigeration Service

Established in 1954, Richmond Refrigeration Service is one of Virginia’s oldest commercial refrigeration, air conditioning service, and installation companies.  The company provides routine service and maintenance, 24/7 emergency service, and installation work in supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, cafes, and distribution centers across the state of Virginia as well as parts of Maryland, North Carolina, and West Virginia. 

BREA, Calif., June 22, 2020 – CoolSys™, the parent of market-leading refrigeration and HVAC services companies nationwide, announced that it has acquired Eastern Refrigeration, a leading commercial refrigeration and HVAC solutions provider serving Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  With this acquisition, CoolSys further expands its growing market presence in the Northeast region and resumes its nationwide expansion in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic with the backing of its private equity investor, Ares Management.  

 

“CoolSys is excited to relaunch our M&A growth strategy with the acquisition of Eastern Refrigeration.  This acquisition is another key step in fulfilling our vision of becoming a national service provider that offers a full-spectrum of best-in-class solutions for mission-critical refrigeration and HVAC systems in light commercial, commercial and industrial markets,” comments Adam Coffey, CEO of CoolSys. “This strategic acquisition strengthens our market position in the Northeast by providing density in some existing markets and opening up new states for CoolSys.”

 

Founded in 1975 by company president Pierre “Pete” Belisle, Eastern Refrigeration has expanded over the past four decades to install and service commercial refrigeration and HVAC equipment throughout its region. It specializes in all aspects of supermarket refrigeration, including direct expansion, carbon dioxide and glycol systems, as well as HVAC.  Eastern’s comprehensive installation capabilities range from ground-up construction and remodels to control systems and energy management systems.   

 

“We are very excited to become the newest members of the CoolSys family,” comments Stan Shumbo, Vice President of Eastern Refrigeration.  “The employee-focused culture of CoolSys is a great fit for the Eastern team, and we look forward to providing our customers with expanded solutions to help them manage their businesses even better.”

 

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, food service, commercial and industrial market segments. CoolSys and its operating businesses cover every stage of mission-critical systems from engineering and design, to installation, service and maintenance, and energy optimization. Headquartered in Southern California, CoolSys has more than 1,900 highly trained, field-based service and installation experts serving the daily needs of more than 4,000 customers across North America. For additional information, please visit www.coolsys.com.

 

About Eastern Refrigeration

Based in Colchester, Connecticut, Eastern Refrigeration provides commercial refrigeration services 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  Its technicians are trained in every aspect of commercial refrigeration and HVAC.  They focus on addressing sales, service and installation needs as efficiently as possible while identifying measures that can be taken to prevent future maintenance issues.   Eastern Refrigeration serves customers ranging from local markets to big box stores, including Sam’s Club, Costco, Walmart and Whole Foods among many others.