Category: Podcast

In this episode of "Solder & Soot," we sit down with cooling systems industry expert Pat O'Connor, Vice President of Sales at Johnson Manufacturing. Pat will be inducted into NARSA's Cooling Systems Hall of Fame in 2023. Without a doubt, NARSA would not be what it is today without Pat's influence. In addition to hearing about his successful career, we learn how Pat was instrumental within our association in bridging the gap between manufacturers and service shops.

Minnesota-based L&M Radiator is well-known in the cooling systems industry, but our listeners may not know the company's origins and how it can be traced back to WWII. In this episode of Solder & Soot, we sit down with David "Sully" Sullender to learn what sets MESABI® products apart.

In the cooling systems industry, the Roppel family of Kentucky is well known. In this episode of “Solder & Soot,” we sit down with father and son Tom and Corey Roppel to learn about the early days of the family business and how Roppel Industries has transformed over the past 75 years. This episode isn’t strictly all business, though. We also talk about Kentucky bourbon, learn about Tom’s best pranks, and hear why the Roppels refuse to wear socks.

We dive into the dynamics of running a family business with Bobby’s father Luis Duran in this episode of “Solder & Soot.” Learn how Luis first got involved in the cooling systems industry, his service in the Air Force, and how he ran two companies in New Jersey and Puerto Rico. You’ll also hear from Luis about how vital NARSA was to his success.

On this episode of “Solder & Soot,” we learn the ins and outs of on-site generator service with the Davis brothers of BGR Radiator in Connecticut. Hear how the business has changed over the years, where BGR really shines, and what Jamie and Nick Davis say is one of their biggest challenges in the cooling systems industry.

We learn all about Canada’s West End Radiators and the Feeleus family in this episode of “Solder & Soot.” Wayne Feeleus walks us through the company’s 60+ years of history as a cooling systems service shop and growth as a manufacturer. Hear what Feeleus says drives his success. Plus, we also find out more about West End Radiator’s most recent venture, the launching of its new aluminum manufacturing plant.

In this episode of "Solder & Soot," we sit down with Joel Christianson of American Radiator which is based in Iowa. As we all know, the only constant thing in life is change. And Joel's story is a great example of learning how to adapt in this industry and how to diversify. In addition to learning more about the history of American Radiator, we also discuss what makes business partnerships successful and what opportunities lie in DPF cleaning.

We couldn’t fit all of Frank Finger’s wisdom into one episode, so we continue the conversation with the legend himself in Part 2. Expanding your business can be tricky, and you need the right strategy. In this episode, we hear from Frank about his move into distribution and how he developed the sales business. Frank also talks about his own exit strategy when he sold his company. Plus, hear why Frank Finger says NARSA/IDEA members have to be brave when it comes to business in this episode of “Solder & Soot.”

We are kicking off Season 2 of "Solder & Soot: A NARSA/IDEA Podcast" with a pioneer in the cooling systems world: Frank Finger, whose career spans nearly 80 years. Mr. Frank is not only a dear friend to both Bobby Duran and Mark Taylor, but he's also a wealth of information to everyone in NARSA/IDEA. In Part 1 of this interview, we learn about the early days of NARSA/IDEA in the 1950s, how the radiator industry has changed over time, and the piece of business advice that Frank's father taught him that he will never forget.

In this latest episode of "Solder & Soot," we sit down with three generations of Schelkuns (Mike, Jim, and Andrew) who run Empire Radiator Service. We dive into the past, present, and future plans of the Rochester, New York-based company and dig into what it's really like working with your family.