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EnglishAt our company, we take immense pride in the dedication and expertise of our long-standing team members. Over the years, our tenured employees have played a vital role in shaping the culture and success of our organization. These individuals, with their years of experience and commitment, have witnessed and contributed to Cold Jet's growth and innovation. To celebrate their commitment, we interviewed some of our employees who have been with us for ten, twenty, and even thirty years! Their stories offer valuable insights into the evolution of our company, the relationships they've built, and the growth they've experienced along the way. Below, you'll find their responses, sharing what has made their journey with us so meaningful.
Mike Henderson
30 years with Cold Jet
Mike Henderson, a true veteran of Cold Jet, has dedicated three decades of his career to the company. With an impressive 30-year tenure, Mike has been an integral part of Cold Jet's growth and success. His commitment and extensive knowledge have made him a valuable asset to the team. Here’s a quick look into Mike’s time at the company:
How did you first get started in your career, and what brought you to this company?
I started in direct sales right out of High School selling cookware and cutlery. That led to better and better sales jobs. I met Gene Cooke (CEO at Cold Jet) at a social event, and he asked me to interview for the "trade show" operator position, and I took that. A year later, I was given an RSM position.
What has kept you motivated and engaged throughout your career at this company?
I would say that the nature of the product was always such fun to use when talking with just about anyone as we touch so much of the world's products and services. In addition, the people that this company has collected over the years have always been really good to me and that goes a long way as this is a super fun place to be. Lastly, the compensation!
Looking back, what’s one of your proudest achievements during your career at this company?
Well, that's hard to pinpoint. There have been dozens of very lucrative deals that were very difficult to manage and close. I very much enjoyed the road training with new hires. Being celebrated for my tenure was super cool.
If you could sum up your experience here in one sentence, what would it be?
The difference between where you are and where you would like to be is what you are doing about it!
Ed Wu
20 years with Cold Jet
Ed Wu, a dedicated and experienced professional, has been a valuable member of the Cold Jet team for several years. As a Senior Staff Accountant, Ed plays a critical role in maintaining the company's financial health. His expertise in accounting and financial analysis has been instrumental in ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting. Ed’s commitment to excellence and attention to detail have made him an invaluable asset to the organization. Here’s an inside look at Ed’s time at Cold Jet.
Can you share a bit about your journey here at Cold Jet? What initially drew you to
this organization, and how have you seen it evolve over the years?
Overall my journey at Cold Jet has been a positive one. I have had the privilege to work with many great employees during my time who showed lots of compassion and patience and who didn’t get me fired whenever I made a mistake, and I have made a number of them during my time here. I have also had a chance to get to know some of our customers and have been invited to visit them. What drew me to Cold Jet was actually by chance. I was ready to leave my previous workplace and applied to Cold Jet, but I did not quite understand what the company did. Gene was one of the people who interviewed me, and I told him that I did not know what a dry ice blasting machine was. He said that I didn’t need to know since I was in Accounting. That lighthearted answer made me think Cold Jet would be a fun place to work, and I am glad to have been hired. When I first started at Cold Jet, we did not have nearly the number of locations we do today. One of the jobs I had when I first started included collections. I had to sometimes call customers in Europe to try to get them to pay. Once, I called a customer in France, and she would only speak French to me. When I asked if she spoke English, she said, “No!” and immediately hung up. Thankfully we now have people in the regions we sell to who can speak the languages needed. While working at Cold Jet, we did have great months, hitting our plan numbers, so there was profit sharing, and other times, it was tough, and people were laid off. However, each time Cold Jet went through lean times, the company always came out stronger because we have quality products and motivated people who want to see this company succeed.
What do you think is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your time here
that you try to pass down to others?
One lesson I learned is that we each have an important role here at Cold Jet. If we didn’t, we would not be here. Some days and seasons will be harder than others, and it just seems as though you are putting out fires or not doing any value-added work. But you and your work matter and you are important to this company.
What’s one memorable moment from your time at Cold Jet that stands out?
There was one year I, along with 3 other employees, represented Cold Jet in the Freestore Food Bank’s Quacky Duck Race. We dressed up in a duck-themed outfit and competed against other companies on Fountain Square. That year, Cold Jet won, and we got to wave a flag just before they dumped all the ducks down the Ohio River to see who would win a car.
Allen Simes
15 years with Cold Jet
Allen Sime has been instrumental in shaping the company's operational strategy and driving its success. As the Director of US Operations, Simes oversees a vast network of facilities and teams at our Global Headquarters office in Loveland, OH. With his extensive experience and deep understanding of the industry, Simes has played a crucial role in optimizing operations, improving efficiency, and ensuring customer satisfaction. His dedication and leadership have made him an invaluable asset to Cold Jet. Here is an inside look into Allen’s time at Cold Jet:
How has your role and responsibilities changed throughout your time at the company? What keeps you motivated to stay here long-term?
I started working for Dan Mallaley in 2007 at Remington Engineering and Machining. I was hired to manage projects, quote parts, and help in the shop with machining and fabricating. In 2008, Cold Jet purchased REM and we became Cold Jet employees. I was the Plant Manager at Milford for years until promoted to Director Of Operations in 2017. Cold Jet is a dynamic company that I have been able to grow with over the years.
What do you think is the most important lesson you’ve learned during your time here that you try to pass down to others?
Cold Jet promotes, supports, and rewards employees who are engaged and focused on personal development.
Are there any specific traditions or practices that you feel are unique to the company? How do these shape the way employees interact with each other?
The annual holiday parties and picnics are always a fun time for employees and their families to interact.
How do you envision the culture at Cold Jet evolving in the next 5-10 years? What role do you hope to play in that evolution?
I believe the Cold Jet culture will continue to be one of opportunity and growth. One of my roles will be to enable and encourage employees to expand their skills.
Emily Reder
10 years with Cold Jet
Emily Reder, a dynamic Territory Sales Manager at Cold Jet, has been with the company for 10 years. Throughout her time at Cold Jet, she has been a driving force behind Cold Jet's success. Reder is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with customers, identifying new opportunities, and driving sales growth. Her deep understanding of the industry and her passion for customer satisfaction have made her a valuable asset to the team. Here is an inside look into her experience at Cold Jet:
How do you think the company's values have influenced the culture over time?
When I first came into Cold Jet as a sales intern, it was very family-oriented across the sales team, where everyone was friends and everyone had been working with the company for many years. It was unusual across other sales programs I had shadowed, which made me excited to work for Cold Jet. As the company has grown, those relationships have remained close, but we are developing more into the corporate world.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to newer employees about maintaining the company's culture as they grow in their careers here?
Any new employee should an employee who has been here 8+ year to lunch. Talk to them about why they have chosen to stay with Cold Jet and what has helped their time here be successful, and better understand where we were as a company and how they have grown and changed over time.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a long-term employee, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was understanding where and how I wanted to see my career develop. I didn’t necessarily know the path I wanted to take. I knew staying in Cincinnati was important so waiting for the right opportunity was key.
What’s one memorable moment from your time at Cold Jet that stands out?
Any of the boat trips where we got to regroup mid-year and get our momentum up to finish the year strong.
These are just a few of the tenured employees at Cold Jet who make up the backbone of the company, driving innovation, fostering a positive culture, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Their dedication, experience, and commitment to excellence have been instrumental in shaping Cold Jet's success. Hearing their stories shows just how much they’ve influenced not only their teams but also our culture. Celebrating their journeys reminds us how much we appreciate their contributions and the impact they have made.
Want to join our team? Visit our careers page!
