Rafael Castillo-Borelly, General Manager

• Master’s degree in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin; Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, Montana State University; graduate of GE’s Manufacturing Management Program.
• Over 20 years experience in Operations Management, Product Management and New Product Development, primarily in the HVAC industry.
• Seasoned program manager with proven track record directing complex projects such as managing a new foreign manufacturing plant start-up and launching a major new commercial A/C product platform globally.
• Extensive international experience managing global multi-cultural teams.
• Areas of expertise include product management, project management, total quality management, leading cross-functional teams, supply chain management and strategic planning.

Mark Linn, Director of Business Development

• MBA from Wright State; Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from the University of Dayton.
• More than 17 years of demonstrated product development, product platform management, business development, and marketing experience.
• Areas of expertise include project management, marketing, and business development.

J. Shain Breland, Technical Manager

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, University of Central Arkansas; Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering Technology, University of Southern Mississippi.
• More than 20 years experience in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration fields including commercial refrigeration, commercial air conditioning, food service, commercial appliances, and low temperature dairy industries.
• Worked with Frigidaire and Carrier Corporation many years in new product development as Engineer, Project Manager, and Global Product Manager.  Spent several years with SPX as Division Engineering Manager.  Strong international experience.
• Expertise in heat transfer, control systems, electronics, microprocessor system design, software and firmware development, electronics, manufacturing systems and LEAN implementation.  Strong capabilities in general engineering and mechanical applications.  Patents in programming logical circuit applications for defrost and controlling electron transfer over switching devices.

Robert V. Nash, Jr., Sr. Engineer

• Engineering Degree with Distinction in Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning from Ferris State University with minor in Business Administration.

• More than 30 years of experience in the refrigeration field, including environmental test chambers and the food service industry. Worked with Thermotron Industries as Chief Refrigeration Engineer, with ESPEC Industries as Engineering Manager, with Temprite as VP of Operations and Engineering, with Tyler Refrigeration Division of Carrier Corporation as Director of Advanced Engineering and Refrigeration Development, and have spent many years as an Engineering Consultant. 

• Received several patens in the HVACR field and have extensive international experience. Have worked in academia, with governmental agencies, and with regulatory/standards agencies. Have helped developed new and updated older standards/regulations.

• Areas of expertise include cascade refrigeration, system design (direct-expansion and secondary-coolant systems utilizing conventional and natural refrigerants and secondary coolants, including experience with cascaded and trans-critical CO2 systems), heat transfer, manufacturing, regulatory requirements (food safety regulations, energy regulations and safety standards), project management, electrical/controls design and business development.

Dan Rice, Quality Manager/Lab Supervisor

• Graduate of Gateway Technical Institute.  Obtained certificates on proper refrigerant usage, commercial and light commercial HVAC through ARI/GAMA.

• Nineteen years lab experience with Emerson.

• Area of expertise include manufacturing and quality management.

Sam Mikolajewski, Project Engineer

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ohio Northern University.
• Areas of expertise include project management, HVAC experience, ARI 210-240 testing, along with experience in ASHRAE and UL testing.

Dr. Georgi Kazachki, Sr. Consultant

• Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Czech Technical University in Prague.
• More than 35 years of national and international experience in refrigeration and air-conditioning, including contributions to the theory of vapor-compression cycles,  refrigerants, and secondary coolants; system and components design, application, performance and efficiency analysis; testing, test methods and standards development in applications from low-temperature cascade and auto-cascade to high-temperature heat pumps.
• Direct-expansion and secondary-coolant systems with conventional and natural refrigerants and secondary coolants, including CO2 secondary, cascade, and trans-critical for commercial and industrial applications.
• 20+ years of experience as Expert Consultant for industry, government, and academia on systems performance, energy efficiency and renewable energy, GHG emissions reduction, and sustainability, 15+ years of experience as Director of Research & Development.

Rudy C. Bussjager, Sr. Consultant

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Marquette University.
• Over 37 years in New Product Development with Carrier Corporation concentrating in Commercial products with emphasis in small roof tops 3 through 12.5 tons.
• Areas of expertise include product development, project management, product testing, agency certification, and design/selection of all components used in packaged air conditioning products.

Daniel C. Leaver, PE, MBA, Sr. Consultant

• Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin – Madison; Master’s of Business Administration, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
• 29 years of HVAC experience working for The Trane Company; 15 years of focus in developing new water chiller designs for the marketplace; 5 years of new product development experience in the food services industry.
• Expert in the cycle analysis and design of refrigeration systems using R22, R123, R134a, R404a, R407C, and R410A; experience in project management and the leadership of cross-functional teams in the new product development process; knowledgeable in the use of QFD, VOC, DFMEA, and 6-Sigma tools that lead to robust design solutions.
• Recipient of eight patents.

Steve Pfister, MBA, PE, Sr. Consultant

• BSME Purdue University, MBA Georgia State University, PE license in Georgia
• Over 20 years experience design, analysis, and test of cooling systems for space, military, telecommunications, consumer, and commercial refrigeration applications. (Harris Corp., L3 Communications, Manager - General Dynamics, Director - Arris International, The Coca-Cola Co.)
• Experience designing FPSC (Stirling Engines), R134a, and CO2 Refrigeration Systems; with heat transfer design, transient thermal system analysis, structural and acoustic loading, stress, & fatigue assessment.
• Completed TQM & ISO 9000 process development, certification, and auditing at various companies. International experience establishing new India operations, managing OEM compliance in China, Taiwan, Europe, and Latin America. Certified Six Sigma Green Belt.
• Associations ASHRAE, SAE, ARI

David A. Barkley, Consultant

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Syracuse University. Associates in Applied Science in field of Air Conditioning/Heating/Refrigeration from Hudson Valley Community College.
• Over 41 years in engineering with Carrier Corporation concentrating on commercial products with emphasis on split system condensing units from 6 tons through 130 tons, and fan coils from 6 to 30 tons.
• Service Engineering experience with product from small duct-free split systems to screw chillers.
• Areas of expertise include new product development, product testing, agency certification, and design/selection of components used in split system air conditioning products.

Michael Hughes, Consultant

• BAgrE, Cornell University (Class Rank – 1)

• Over 35 years experience in Air Conditioning equipment design including small and large unitary equipment at Carrier, Modine and John Zink (Aaon).  Other equipment included water source heat pumps and packaged terminal units.  Experience also included engineering management with responsibilities over project engineers, drafting, laboratories and model shop at Modine, John Zink and Climate Master.

• Primary coordinator of early development of R-410A as the best alternative to R-22.  Directed computer performance simulations, component and system testing and cost modeling at AlliedSignal (Honeywell).

• Three patents including dual source (air/water) heat pump and a new alternative refrigerant for centrifugal compressors

• Authored many technical papers for ASHRAE, EPRI conferences and Oak Ridge conferences.  Also contributed to both ASHRAE and McGraw Hill handbooks.

• Participated in preparation of ARI and ASHRAE standards; served as Chair of ARI General Standards Committee for 4 years.

Brian Buynacek, PE, Sr. Engineer & Marketing Consultant

• Master's degree in Business Administration, University of Dayton; Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering Cornell University; Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton.
• Worked with Emerson for 15 years as an advanced manufacturing engineer, application engineer for Asia and product manager. Also worked in the telecom industry with Lucent Technologies before becoming a consultant.
• As an affiliate of Design Services Network, Brian has driven more than 75 key projects in the past 8 years.

Robert Topper, PE, Sr. Engineer, Consultant

• BSE in Aerospace Engineering, MSE in Applied Physics; Catholic University, Washington DC
• 32 Years experience at OEMs including Carrier, Electrolux, and NASA, plus 6 years experience as independent engineering consultant.
• Areas of expertise include heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and commercial refrigerator and freezer design, plus strong general engineering ability.

Bob Utter, Sr. Consultant

• BSME, University of Nebraska
• Thirty years experience developing new mechanical and heat transfer technology, new products, and new systems in complex engineering environments.
• Seventeen years in progressive engineering management positions with industry leading companies such as Trane Company, Tecumseh Products Company and Brazeway.
• Strategic thinker with vision and innovative solutions to complex technical and managerial problems.
• Inventor with over 25 patents on mechanical and heat transfer technology.

Ted Tinsler, Sr. Consultant

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University; Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Ohio State University.
• More than 35 years of experience in the refrigeration field, including time in military and commercial refrigeration and air conditioning, consumer air conditioning, condensing units, refrigerant recovery and the commercial food service markets. Background in engineering, management, manufacturing, quality control and sales.
• Areas of expertise include refrigeration system analysis and design, refrigerants, heat transfer, fluid flow, plastic component design and project management.

Benjamin D. Miller, PE, Sr. Engineer, Consultant

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology.
• More than 30 years of experience in the refrigeration field, including ice makers, ice and beverage dispensers, water chillers, custom fractional-horsepower systems, and industrial ammonia equipment.
• Background in engineering, management, manufacturing, and quality control.
• Expertise includes refrigeration system design, appliance manufacturing, controls and sensors, product testing, and agency approvals.
• Other capabilities include industrial power system design and troubleshooting, power quality analysis, process controls, PLC programming, and electrical training.

Dwight S. Musgrave, Sr. Consultant

• Master’s degree Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology.
• Thirteen years experience as an engineer and manager in new product development for major corporations including manager of Exploratory Research.
• More than 14 years new product development consulting experience from concept through production for products ranging from biomedical blood analyzers to consumer appliance and recreation products to military and scientific applications. Expertise includes building and managing consulting teams involving industrial designers, engineers, chemists, and other scientists to meet the requirements of consulting projects (VP Engineering, Product Design Center, Inc.).
• Extensive personal experience in computer Finite Element Analysis (FEA): steady-state and transient thermal analysis, linear and non-linear structural analysis, coupled physics such as combined structural/thermal analysis, etc.
• Expertise includes the manufacturing and application of high performance vacuum insulation.

Bill White, Sr. Consultant, Technical Marketing Specialist

• Thirty-five years in product development, sales, integrated marketing, technical writing and training
• Marketing liaison between R&D/engineering and marketing/sales.
• Familiar with scientific, commercial and industrial refrigeration, controls, monitoring and energy management.
• Experienced in brand development and management for products, systems, components and sub-systems to achieve unique selling value statements

• Integrated marketing development to include Web-centric communications, information mapping, white papers, technical literature and field sales and service support.

• Specialization includes ultra-low and cryogenic refrigeration products, cell culture bioreactors, fermentation systems, high-performance refrigeration systems, blast freezers, cold traps, chillers, inventory management systems and instrumentation for control, alarm, monitoring, compliance FDA 21CFR, American Association of Blood Banks, American National Red Cross.

Curt Slayton, PE, Sr. Consultant

• Bachelor of Physics and Master of Mechanical Engineering Management from the University of Louisville.  Graduated from the General Electric Advance Course in Engineering.
• More than 30 years experience with General Electric Appliance Division, including Manager of Refrigeration Design Engineering and Manager of Air Conditioning Design Engineering.
• More than 35 years experience in compressor development, design, application, and evaluation.
• More than 15 years consulting experience for domestic and international OEMs in refrigeration, air conditioning, and compressor technologies.
• Oversees accelerated life test facility with more than 100 test stands designed for system and compressor evaluation, durability, and reliability.

Max Farley, PE, Sr. Engineer, Consultant

• Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering - University of Cincinnati.
• Experience includes executive level engineering management for various companies including Queue Systems, Forma Scientific, and Revco Scientific.
• Engineering expertise in intelligent control systems, wireless applications, and microprocessor hardware / software.
• Directed numerous successful patent applications in environmental control, digital gas and liquid mixing, data communications.
• Experienced cross-functional project team leader.

Jay Parikh, PE, Sr. Consultant

• MBA, Roosevelt University; MME Illinois Institute of Technology; BME, SP University.
• More than thirty three years experience in R&D, manufacturing, consulting, product testing and certification, agency approvals, engineering management, standards & codes development, regulatory compliance, and international business.
• Twenty six years at UL working in the commercial kitchen ventilation, fire protection, and air movement and control industries assisting OEMs with related certification needs.
• Developed and maintained UL & ANSI standards, and participated in ASHRAE, NFPA, ICC, NAFEM, NRA, and AMCA activities and technical committees.
• International experience includes establishing of India operation, and supporting OEM compliance efforts in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Europe, and Latin America.

Charles Bemisderfer

• BSME Purdue University, MS Engineering from University of Connecticut
• More than 30 years applying thermal science to A/C products and developing commercially viable compact heat exchangers for aerospace, vehicular and A/C Markets. (York International Corp. as Engineering Manager, Modine Mfg. Co. as Engineering Manager, Sundstrand Heat Transfer as Senior Engineer)
• More than 20 years experience applying thermal science to products outside the A/C industry including glass-forming processes and aerospace R&D hardware.
• Areas of expertise: heat transfer and fluid flow analysis (CFD), computer programming for scientific applications, coil rating software, coil fin development, optimization analysis for best cost-to-benefit results and project management.

Duane Fry

• Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, Western Michigan University. Associate degree in HVAC, Ferris State University.
• More than 35 years of experience in the refrigeration field. 25 years at Tecumseh Products, that included taking the first rotary compressor from development phase to production. Manager of Hermetic Compressor Group. Four years at Thermotron Corp., specializing in low temp and special design test equipment. Test Manager of Federal Mogul Corp. Research Lab for three years.
• Expertise includes refrigeration system design, cascade design, refrigerants, lubrication engineering.

Scott Calvert, IDSA

• Bachelors Degree in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon University and member of the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA).
• Thirty years experience in product design and development. Ten years as Vice President of Design at the Product Design Center, Inc. Management of programs for Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Mack Truck, Ford Motor Company, Dow Chemical, and Reichhold Chemical.
• Corporate experience includes four years as project engineer at GE Appliance and 15 years developing new applications for fiber-reinforced plastics at Owens Corning Fiberglass.

Steve Region

• AASEE, WVU. Electronics/Avionics, USMC
• More than 30 years of experience in the electronics field. Worked on numerous design projects including automotive, avionics, audio, biomedical, computer, consumer products, food services, lighting, marine, machine control, microwave, power utilities, power equipment, power vehicles, photography, textile and x-ray.
• Patent for an Automated Voltage Control device for increasing or decreasing voltage to a compressor.
• Background in engineering, manufacturing, service and sales.

Lew Wayburn

• BSME, USC. 5 patents issued.
• More than 25 years experience in creative problem solving, management and engineering. Worked on Advanced Thermal Control for microprocessor testing equipment at the Big 3, thermally accelerated processors for end use mainframes & PC’s, miniature refrigeration and system design.
• Background in engineering, management and sales.

Steven Lowe

• BSME Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• More than 30 years experience designing, building, integrating and troubleshooting thermal systems. Including single, two stage, cascade refrigeration systems, cooling and heating systems for medical, food services, industrial, electronic and test applications.