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March 2019 JAX Refrigeration just turned NINE and we're feeling fine!

JAX Refrigeration celebrates 9 years of business!

Looking Back Over Nine Years The date was March 1, 2010. Mark Lowery and Ed Trotzke leased a small Jacksonville Beach office, with just four employees on the payroll. This pivotal leap of faith officially marked the moment JAX Refrigeration opened for business. Nine years later, with President Lowery and Senior Vice President Trotzke still at the helm, JAX Refrigeration has become an industry leader with six departments and more than 200 employees. From its humble beginnings, JAX Refrigeration has grown into a nationwide organization with multiple departments and in-house fabrication shop, centered around an employee wellness-focused headquarters in Jacksonville Beach. JAX Refrigeration has amassed a long list of accomplishments and awards over the years, including annual top rankings for philanthropy, best workplace, company growth and multiple ABC honors for Excellence In Construction. In just nine years, JAX Refrigeration Inc. has established itself as a leading industrial refrigeration and mechanical services contractor, rapidly expanding through diverse departments and a leading team of 200-plus employees. Founded in 2010, JAX has managed to not only survive, but grow through one of the worst economic recessions in United States history. JAX started from scratch with no customer list – just a few previous customers that had worked with founders Mark Lowery, PE, president of JAX and Ed Trotzke, PE, senior vice president. “We started the company in the middle of the recession,” recounts Lowery. “When we started, Ed was the only other employee at the time. We’ve been fortunate to find the right people to add to our arsenal. In 2012, things started to pick up and in the last few years business has been really good.” With little to no advertising, just the trusted brands people recognize and a mascot named Fridgie, JAX’s business began to mount in 2010. JAX started lean and only took on viable projects. "The first two years were a struggle – as with any startup in its infancy – but JAX has sustained progressive growth by doing so in a sustainable manner." ...Read more

JAX Refrigeration, was recognized as #36 in the University of Florida's Gator 100

JAX Named #36 of the 100 Fastest-Growing, Gator-Owned or Gator-Led Businesses in the World JAX Refrigeration was named to the University of Florida’s 2019 Gator100 during a ceremony on Feb. 22. Sponsored by the UF Alumni Association, in partnership with the UF Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center, the Gator100 recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UF alumni. Ernst & Young calculated each company’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past three years to generate the ranking. “The Gator100 honors UF alumni from across the university who are founding and growing amazing companies around the country,” said Kent Fuchs, president of the University of Florida. “It’s an incredible affirmation of the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the Gator Nation.”

Pictured left to right: LeighAnn, Daniele, Polly, Domi, Haley and Crystal

JAX Refrigeration was honored at the Companies with Heart Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at WJCT Studios. Most non-profit organizations rely on a mix of individual gifts, grants and state and federal funds. The grants, state and federal funds receive a bulk of the headlines—but it’s the individual and corporate donations that do the most. Charitable giving is ingrained in many company cultures these days, and yet there are still a handful of businesses whose level of charity sets them apart from the pack. That’s the idea behind Jacksonville Magazine’s annual list of Companies With Heart. JAX Refrigeration is extremely proud to be recognized by Jacksonville Magazine in their annual list of Companies with Heart. One of our three company core values is “People Focused”. We highly value our families and our customer relationships with emphasis on helping our community. We appreciate our entire JAX Family for their donations and participation in our various charitable events.

Raymond Chin JAX Mechanical Director

Congratulations to JAX Mechanical Director, Raymond Chin, for being selected as a 40 Under 40 honoree by the Jacksonville Business Journal. To be selected as a 40 Under 40 honoree requires business success, leadership skills and a high level of community involvement. But those who were picked go beyond even that high bar: They also must be involved in shaping the community in which they live and work. These men and women got to where they are today through the support and guidance of those who went before them and are united in their belief that this requires them to give back — to mentor their colleagues, to help guide the next generation, to show by example how hard work, perseverance and dedication are important, impactful character traits. The honorees were picked in consultation with a range of Jacksonville's business leaders, a true sign of the impact they have had on the First Coast. Congratulations Raymond!

Welcome to the JAX Team!

“Being born and raised in Jacksonville, it's great to be a part of a successful and community-focused local company.”

Jamie Bickerstaff joined JAX Refrigeration on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, as a Refrigeration Project Coordinator, reporting to Ed Trotzke. Jamie comes to us from Florida State College where she has been working for the past 10 years. Her most recent position was Administrative Specialist for the Department of Athletics. Jamie will be assisting our Refrigeration project managers as well as interfacing with our accounting department to ensure increased project quality and efficiency. She will be counted on to manage project needs from top to bottom, including project setup forms, drawings, submittals and invoicing, among other crucial tasks. “We would like to welcome Jamie to the team. With her attention to detail and task-oriented approach, I’m sure she will be a great addition. We look forward to seeing how Jamie’s unique skill set can help elevate our refrigeration department, and JAX Refrigeration as a whole." - Ed Trotzke

Announcements

You've probably already heard about how much we believe in our JAX Family, in the quality of our people, their values and hard work that help make our company great. But you don't have to take our word for it, check in here for the latest on what people are saying about us. We work hard here at JAX Refrigeration, but from time to time we like to mix in a little fun and games. Our yearly calendar featured a “Find Fridgie” contest, where readers were asked to count all hidden Fridgies within. We held a drawing among all those who submitted the correct response on February 1, 2019. Amy Hewis, of The Austin Company was our WINNER . Check out what she had to say about JAX:

“F rom the creativity with their marketing promotions, to the high quality of their workmanship, JAX is an all-around excellent company to do business with. We at Austin appreciate the relationship we have with JAX and look forward to working together more in 2019 ” - Amy Hewis, Preconstruction Coordinator, The Austin Company

JAX Around Town

Appreciating Teachers

On February 23rd, 2019, JAX Refrigeration presented a high school mascot broom ball game during intermission at the Jacksonville Icemen teacher appreciation night. All teachers were invited onto the ice following the game to take a shot on the net. They were also given a commemorative JAX drawstring bag. Thank you to all the teachers who have and continue to make a difference in our lives!

“On behalf of the teachers and administration of Kings Trail Elementary, I would like to thank you for your generosity! We all had a wonderful time at the Icemen game. What a special treat that was for each of us! Thank you for your continued dedication and support for our students, faculty and staff." - Bridget Coyne, Wellness Ambassador “ Thank you so much!! This is a very generous gift!” - Hannah Pacholl, Kings Trail Elementary School - 2nd Grade Teacher “Oh my gosh! Absolutely. Thank you for thinking of me!!!” - Rachel A. Pinholster, Duval County Teacher “Thanks again for this awesome opportunity.” - Amy Bright, Kings Trail Elementary School

Come and see Fridgie play live during the Jacksonville Icemen Mascot Broomball Classic presented by JAX Refrigeration on Sunday - March 10, 2019 at 3 pm in the Veteran's Memorial Arena. He'll be joined in the rink by both professional and amateur mascots. Tickets are available at: jaxicemen.com/fridgie Proceeds from each ticket sold will benefit Dreams Come True of Jacksonville, Inc. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for more details about our 9th year celebration party being held before the match!

JAX Refrigeration has seen impressive results with the Sage Service Operations platform, which was implemented last year. These enhancements have encouraged a stronger commitment to service, and a push to further implement all of the updates and innovations which have recently been rolled out within the platform. Here at JAX, we are constantly searching for the best internal and external solutions which allow us to offer industry-leading service, communication, operational efficiency and overall performance.

Department Updates

A little rain can't stop our JAX Refrigeration team! JAX Refrigeration welders continue their hard work even in inclement weather. No rain-outs on our watch! It is always a good day for a pipefitter, when our JAX welders have their hoods down. JAX Refrigeration takes a great deal of pride in the timeliness and quality of our work. We are not afraid to boast about our top-notch field crew. Where others see problems, JAX recognizes opportunities. Great work, Justin Lipscomb, Andrew Bell and Charles Pritchett. Keep up the good work.

JAX Mechanical has been increasing our presence in hospitality construction, with multiple hotel and senior living projects in recent months. Our reputation has grown dramatically within the space, due to our ability to add value engineering services and our expertise in variable refrigerant flow (VRF) cooling systems, dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS), VTAC, PTAC and of course traditional split systems. We pride ourselves on our ability to offer industry leading performance and customer service on every job we have the privilege to perform. Current JAX Mechanical Hospitality Projects: Candlewood Suites Towneplace Suites Holiday Inn Express Grand Living – Lakewood Ranch Home2 Suites

Janson Smith Regional Manager - Tampa John Stevens Regional Manager - North Florida

JAX Mechanical Services is proud to announce two recent promotions: Jansen Smith has been promoted from Account Manager to Regional Manager - Tampa. He has relocated to our Tampa office full time. John Stevens has been promoted from Lead Service Technician - North Florida and will become the Regional Manager for North Florida. Congratulations Jansen and John! “We promote from within, because of the JAX culture that is instilled in us. Our continued growth has allowed us to attract and select some of the best people in our industry, and we plan to keep them around.” - Mark Rassano, Mechanical Services Manager

One of the many services MEAS offers is providing Ammonia Safety Relief Vent System reports to customers, thoroughly analyzing existing ammonia relief pipe systems. In doing this, a determination is made as to the ability of the existing pressure relief system to protect against the over-pressurization of the equipment and vessels it serves. So what exactly does this mean to a facility manager?

To elaborate, within a closed-circuit ammonia refrigeration system employed at a manufacturing plant or refrigerated warehouse, there are vessels and equipment that can accumulate a volume of refrigerant in order to serve their intended function. Any such accumulation of ammonia runs the risk of over-pressurization due to fire or other abnormal conditions leading to a possible rupture of the containment medium. Pressure relief devices are therefore provided for the purpose of quickly and safely relieving any excess build in pressure to the outside atmosphere, a discharge tank, or flaring system via a network of relief piping, thus maintaining the safe working pressure of the closed refrigeration loop. In summary, a pressure relief system protects both the integrity of a refrigeration systems’ equipment and ensures the continued safety of all who work around it.

The JAX Cool crew - installation process

Recently, a major food and beverage corporation approached JAX Cool to assist with moving a processing facility from Colorado to Texas. They knew JAX Cool could be counted on to get the job done right, and on schedule. This month, JAX Cool will be wrapping up work on the dairy product processing facility in Dallas, TX. The complex scope of this particular project showcases the wide range of services JAX Cool is able to provide. In addition to the insulated metal panel walls and ceilings, a wide assortment of specialty doors and windows were also installed.

RHVACS recently finished HVAC installation for a new Culver's Restuarant in Orlando, Florida, which included rooftop units, ductwork, hood fans, controls and diffusers. This project was completed on time and passed final inspections less than two weeks ago. RHVACS General Manager, Bobby Yoho is able to put his Professional Engineer’s license to good use by sharing valuable insight for a projects such as this. It is just one example of the many value-added capabilities that have made RHVACS an industry leader. Another successful project in the books for RHVACS!

Pictured above: Rooftop Units / Kitchen Equipment Installed - Culver’s - Orlando, FL

Advantage JAX Ind is a turnkey engineering procurement and manufacturing department underneath the JAX Refrigeration umbrella and is focused on manufacturing new and existing skid solutions for the power, fuel and gas industries. JAX Ind operates at our 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and carries D1.1 and ASME Section IX welding qualifications. All material and equipment is thoroughly inspected and inventoried upon receipt as it moves through our production/manufacturing facility. As we continue to move toward certification, JAX Ind still operates with inspection and test plans in line with ISO 9001. We perform full QA/QC and FAT prior to shipment to validate acceptance and final approval.  Our Focus JAX Ind is focused on providing integrated skid solutions, with a focus on safety, quality and design efficiency. Our team’s core, from inner management to the fitters and welders in the shop, operates in unity with a similar process flow as ISO compliance, in order to ensure product satisfaction is provided.

March 2019 - Upcoming Events

March 1 JAX Celebrates 9 Years in Business!

March 3-6 IIAR Expo Phoenix, AZ International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo JAX will be set up in Booth #1007

March 8 Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Wine Tasting Gala The Gala is a fun, creative way to help the courageous local families tackling childhood cancer

March 10 JAX hosts mascot game Join us as we keep the party going - we invite our JAX families and friends to take advantage of our discounted tickets to watch the Jacksonville Icemen face off against the Atlanta Gladiators, @3:00pm. Fridgie will be making an appearance during intermission, as JAX Refrigeration proudly presents a friendly game of “Broomball” with other local corporate mascots!

March 10 & 11 Furyk & Friends Golf Classic Furyk & Friends Celebrity Golf Classic supports project-specific partnerships with local charities. This year, a portion of the money raised will aid the Jacksonville Humane Society in the effort to provide books, field trips and an educational curriculum to Title 1 schools in Duval County.

March 12-17 TPC Sawgrass March 21 & 23 NCAA March Madness - Jacksonville The Road to the Final Four® stops at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena when Jacksonville University hosts the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA ® March Madness ® Tournament!

March 29-30 Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic The annual Tim Tebow Foundation Celebrity Gala and Golf Classic is an opportunity for Tim to host his celebrity friends for a weekend of fun and entertainment.

Kick of spring with Vida de Louie & JAX Refrigeration April 5-7, 2019 Springing the Blues Festival The newest tequila in town, Vida de Louie, has partnered with an iconic community event, Springing the Blues. Vida de Louie Springing the Blues Festival will be held at the Seawalk Pavilion on April 5-7 and is also sponsored by JAX Refrigeration. “We are excited to partner with a major event like Springing the Blues as we launch Vida de Louie. Our brand is all about fun in the sun and this event captures the essence of that. We are proud to have our company based in Jacksonville Beach and partnerships in our backyard are important to JAX Refrigeration and Vida de Louie.” -Mark Lowery - President

Happy March Work Anniversary! Nine Years Mark Lowery Ed Trotzke Five Years Gerald Timm Four Years John Waters Cole Washburn Three Years Randy Jukes Douglas Hendrickson Joshua Whitchurch Two Years Brian Jobe Joseph Moceyunas Miguel Ruiz Angela Tennant One Year Marlin Arrieta Leigh Ann Austin Michael Dallas Richard Morris Keenan Stephens Happy March Birthday! Scott Cribbs - 3/6 Israel Santiago - 3/7 Matthew Arkin - 3/8 Crystal Keeler - 3/8 Michael Carroll - 3/12 Angel Roman - 3/12 Ronald Maxwell - 3/13 Jason Ledford - 3/16 Robert McJunkins, II - 3/16 George Lang - 3/17 Shannon Vessel - 3/19 Derrick Fenner - 3/21 Tony Peyton - 3/24 Brannen Youngblood - 3/28 William DiMarzo - 3/30

Each month, JAX offers a new list of refrigeration HVAC and mechanical parts at a discounted rate for a limited time. Remember, parts purchases always count toward our Customer Rewards Program for eligible clients. Learn more HERE! Click Here to View This Month's Specials!