Cool Times Podcast

Slowing Down, Leveling Up – 2025 Reflections & 2026 Goals

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 Nation challenge that gives back.Whether you're here for industry insights or relationship real talk, this one's for you.Cool Takeaways:❄️ 2025 in One Word – For Jenna, it was refined; for Vince, release. Growth comes from both sharpening and letting go.❄️ Leadership Lessons – Hard conversations matter. Vince and Jenna get candid about learning to lead better by addressing challenges head-on.❄️ Promoting from Within – Vince shares why Freeze Construction is doubling down on growing leaders internally instead of just hiring experience.❄️ Industry Trends – Faster schedules and stricter safety standards are top of mind heading into 2026.❄️ Podcast Highlights – From recording with Eric Finnerty to Josh Lewis' “world-class” mindset, Season 5 was packed with unforgettable guests.❄️ The Burpee Challenge – Join the Cold Storage Nation 1,000 Burpees in January Challenge! Proceeds benefit pediatric cancer research in honor of Matt Brower’s son.❄️ Reflections on Loss – After losing their longtime dog Sophie, Vince and Jenna talk about what it truly means to slow down and prioritize what matters most.❄️ Looking Ahead – Exciting plans for ICON Cold, CEBA, and GCCA conferences. Plus, new guests, new products, and even more thermal talk coming in Season 6.Don’t miss this final episode of the year — equal parts business, personal, and inspiring. Catch the Season 5 wrap-up now at:🎧 www.cooltimespodcast.com

Riding the Rapids with Matt Brower

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 lessons to launching a burpee challenge for charity, this episode proves that construction isn’t just about building buildings—it’s about building people, purpose, and partnerships.❄️ Cool Takeaways:From General Construction to Cold Chain – With 20+ years in construction, Matt found his cold storage calling in 2022 and has been scaling BCCG’s national presence ever since.BCCG’s Growth Strategy – As an employee-owned company, BCCG is expanding by focusing on culture, trust, and entering underserved regional markets.Culture-Driven Company – Matt shares how BCCG fosters a small-town, roll-up-your-sleeves vibe, prioritizing trust and teamwork over bureaucracy.Never Been to Court – A testament to BCCG’s integrity: they’ve never had a job go to litigation in company history.Rapid Response Payments – BCCG pays subcontractors within 48 hours of getting paid, building long-term loyalty and trust with partners.Field-First Mentality – Success is driven by the team on-site, and BCCG emphasizes investing in superintendents and project managers as the face of the company.Cold Storage Burpee Challenge – Matt and the Freeze team are launching a 1,000-burpee challenge in January to raise money for pediatric cancer. 💪Genuine Relationships > Flashy Sales – Matt’s mantra: lead with honesty, serve with humility, and prioritize long-term partnerships over short-term gains.Sponsored by:Vapor Armour🔗 www.vaporarmour.comVersi-Foam by RHH Foam Systems🔗 https://www.rhhfoamsystems.com

Doorway to Success

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 doors, Glen walks us through how Seneca became a one-stop-shop for the cold chain. You'll hear stories from job sites, bacon factories, and even a naval island—plus some laughs about California traffic, foam chemistry, and Glen’s secret life as the company historian.❄️ Cool Takeaways:What Is Senneca Holdings? – A holding company with 10+ brands, 17 locations, and 1,100+ employees, focused on specialty door solutions for cold storage, retail, fire stations, and data centers.Decades of Experience – Glen has seen it all—from selling bakery equipment to innovating door designs for cooler and freezer environments.Cold Storage Door Innovations – Senneca’s Gen II sliding door and CR1400 interior door show how the company is modernizing tried-and-true products.Understanding DOE Compliance – Glen breaks down how Department of Energy regulations impact walk-in coolers and freezer doors under 3,000 sq. ft.Traffic Doors & Sustainability – Rotationally molded polyethylene doors offer R-values, sanitation, and durability in food processing applications.Field-Driven Feedback – Glen emphasizes the importance of job site experience in improving product design and training future reps.Fun Fact – Glen once had to sleep on a remote island while inspecting cold storage doors for a military facility… dedication!People First – Whether it’s treating jobsite laborers with respect or mentoring future leaders, Glen lives by the lesson: “Show up, and do what you say you’re going to do.”🎧 Listen to the episode:👉 www.cooltimespodcast.com🎯 Sponsored By:Senneca HoldingsIndustry leader in specialty door solutions for cold storage and beyond.🔗 https://www.senneca.com

Laying it on the line with Layton

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.The Layton team opens up about how they broke into the cold market, what sets them apart from other national builders, and how they’re pushing toward $100M+ in cold storage projects this year—all while keeping company culture and team relationships at the center of it all.❄️ Cool Takeaways:Layton’s Cold Momentum – With over $100M in cold storage projects in 2025, Layton is quickly becoming a major national player.From NFL Players to RFPs – Thomas Gubbins’ unique background in sports marketing gives him a relationship-first edge in business development.Owner-Turned-Builder – Sean Dohorty brings a dual perspective from years at Cisco and a cold storage developer, now driving projects at Layton.Building with Intentionality – Layton’s cold storage success stems from building trust, hiring experienced teams, and focusing on predictable outcomes.National Reach, Local Feel – Though part of STO Group ($13B+), Layton offers a flat structure, flexible culture, and close access to leadership.Future-Focused Growth – Layton’s vision includes expanding across the Southeast and potentially opening a Texas office—driven by local demand and returning talent.Culture Over Everything – Whether it’s setting up camp in a trailer or celebrating team birthdays, Layton’s people-first mindset shows in everything they do.Don’t miss this architecture-meets-cold-storage deep dive with one of the most passionate leaders in the biz. Chill out with the full episode at🌐 www.cooltimespodcast.com🎯 Sponsored By:Vapor Armour 🔗 https://vaporarmour.com/Rytec High Performance Doors 🔗 https://www.rytecdoors.com

Good Vibes & Vibe Coding

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 rookie, and Alex shares stories that are both hilarious (think conveyor mishaps involving women’s underwear) and insightful (like the real challenges of retrofitting brownfield facilities).Whether you're a 3PL, operator, or just automation-curious, this episode will give you a front-row seat to what’s next in cold storage tech—and why it’s not just about robots anymore, but smarter, leaner, and greener systems.❄️ Cool Takeaways:Swisslog has over 250 automation systems in deep-freeze environments—and a long track record of figuring it out as they goVibe coding and AI-driven dashboards are cutting dashboard build time from six months to six secondsAutomation isn't one-size-fits-all—companies need to be cautious when retrofitting existing brownfield buildingsLabor shortages and lack of space are top drivers for automation; Swisslog helps clients densify without expandingEmerging tech is shifting from "automate everything" to focused solutions that do one thing extremely wellReal-world installs can take 12–18 months, with Swisslog working hand-in-hand with GCs and end users from day oneSoftware is king—Swisslog’s global single-platform approach ensures smoother integration and fewer headachesCold storage automation helps with sustainability by reducing energy use and building footprintCulture at Swisslog is all about ownership, trust, and excellence—and they plan to keep customers happy for the next 125 yearsDon’t miss this architecture-meets-cold-storage deep dive with one of the most passionate leaders in the biz. Chill out with the full episode at🌐 www.cooltimespodcast.com🚧 Sponsored by :Senneca Holdings 🔗 https://www.senneca.comApplied Fabricators (AFAB)  🔗 https://appliedfabricators.com