Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc)

🎥 | This is our story Excerpt from our CEO, Josh Zolin 👇 "Alright LinkedIn, it's finally time to drop the first video in our "WCE ETHOS" series. 🙌 These videos are meant to portray the heart behind WCE - - Who we are. How we started. Why we do it. And where we're going. Our beginnings are a little unconventional compared to most, and both my dad and my previous lives contributed to our success more than we ever thought. Finally got the pops in front of the camera and I'm not sure it will happen again so tune in! Big thanks to everyone who continues to support WCE, Blue is the New White, and the people of the skilled trades. They are why we do what we do. Tagging some of those who have been influential to me and the development of our collective efforts. Thank you all 🙏 Also, a couple special shout outs: Ryan Englin for pushing me to produce this idea Christian Climer for directing, producing, and breathing life into it Our WCE team for buying in and being part of the dream. Enjoy Part 1. Stay Tuned for Part 2. And lets go to work!! 💪" #blueisthenewwhite #skilledtrades #bluecollar #careers #dirtyhandscleanmoney #hvac #foodequipment #ethos #servicetechnician #team

🔧 Tradespeople are the backbone of every building, yet we’re facing a talent drought. At WCE, we’re on a mission to breathe new life into this profession by empowering passionate technicians to grow, innovate, and lead. Turn your passion for problem‑solving into a thriving career 👉 https://lnkd.in/gE8hB4Q #HVACtech #refrigerationjobs #foodservicetech #tradecareers #AZjobs

Still think AI is just a buzzword? It’s already reshaping how technicians work, and it’s only getting started. As we all know, the skilled trades are changing fast, and the gap is growing. The solution can't just be more people. Smarter tools can play a big role in our industry. Enter: XOi In this episode of FM Corner, Tyler Salyer of XOi joins Danny Koontz to unpack how modern service companies are using tech like AI, field data, and video diagnostics to improve uptime, simplify communication, and close the skilled trades gap. Whether you're in the field, managing a facility, or overseeing service delivery, this is a masterclass in how innovation is making frontline work easier, faster, and better for everyone. 👉 Learn how to: 🔸Use AI and automation to support (not replace) your techs 🔸Build trust and transparency through jobsite visibility 🔸Turn field data into actionable insights for better planning 🔸Embrace continuous learning and internal feedback loops It’s not about replacing people... it’s about empowering them. Catch the FULL episode here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gaX_NkSe #xoi #fmcorner #ai #facilitymanager #fieldservice #skilledtrades

🚨 Vendors are easy to find. Great vendor relationships? That’s rare. In the latest episode of FM Corner, Danny sits down with John Edwards and Shawn Black, CRFP from JDE Construction & Facilities Solutions to reveal what separates top-tier vendors from transactional service providers, and why the key to sustainable partnerships is more than just performance metrics. Whether you're managing 50 sites or 500, here's what really matters: 🔸 How vendors adapt to your systems and structure 🔸 Why trust is built slowly, through results (not promises) 🔸 The role of culture and communication in avoiding burnout 🔸 When not to take on a new client, even if the money looks good Facility managers: If you're tired of rinse-and-repeat vendor pitches, this one’s for you. Catch the FULL episode here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gRVKHFXF #facilitymanagement #vendorrelationships #FMCorner #leadership #facilities #restaurantindustry #retailfacilities

🎯 “Just give me the chance to earn your trust.” That’s not a sales pitch, it’s how long-term vendor relationships begin. In the latest episode of FM Corner, Stacy Williams, President of CarePro National Painting, sits down with Danny Koontz to talk about what separates good vendors from great partners and why being a true professional still matters more than ever. Whether it’s showing up when you say you will or being honest about your capabilities, Stacy lays out the mindset that facility managers actually look for in their service providers. This one’s for every vendor, FM, and business leader who believes in doing it the right way. 🛠️ Real talk. Real relationships. Real results. Catch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/g7s629Jy #FMCorner #facilitiesmanagement #vendorrelationships #leadership #bluecollarexcellence #facilityservices #CareProPainting #trustisearned

👉 Vendor relationships aren't built on price, they're built on trust. And in this market, trust is the real currency. This week on FM Corner, Bill Schaphorst, VP of Business Development at MaintenX, joins Danny Koontz to break down what’s really changing in the facilities industry and why the strongest partnerships are the ones evolving together. From shifting customer expectations to the role of transparency in vendor negotiations, the conversation dives into: ✅ The future of vendor management ✅ What FMs really need from providers ✅ The trends shaping facilities operations in 2025 The takeaway? Don’t just find vendors, build relationships. Catch the full episode now 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghP4855y #FMCorner #FacilitiesManagement #VendorRelations #Leadership #CommercialFacilities #BusinessDevelopment #FMStrategy

Cutting Preventive Maintenance to Save Money? Read This First. 🚨 When budgets tighten, preventive maintenance (PM) is often the first thing on the chopping block. The logic? If you’re not spending on maintenance, you’re saving money. Today on FM Corner, Danny Koontz breaks down the reality: You’re not saving... you’re just setting up for bigger expenses later. 🔧 No PM = More Breakdowns Without regular maintenance, equipment gets clogged, overheats, and fails. And when it does, emergency repairs cost way more than routine upkeep. 📊 Track the Data If your PM gets cut, track your repair costs. Over time, the numbers will speak for themselves. You’ll see breakdowns increase, downtime skyrocket, and repair costs outpace what you would’ve spent on PM. 💡 Compromise Instead of Cutting Rather than eliminating PM, reduce frequency, not quality. ✅ If you service HVAC quarterly, cut back to 3x per year. ✅ If you clean refrigeration units 3x per year, drop to 2x. ✅ If you inspect hot-side equipment twice annually, go to once. 🚀 PM isn’t an expense, it’s an investment. Fight for it, document the impact, and when the time comes, you’ll have the proof to bring it back. Have you ever seen the true cost of cutting PM? Drop your thoughts below. ⬇️ #facilitymanagement #preventivemaintenance #costsavings #equipmentreliability #businessstrategy #FMCorner

🔎 Are You a Telling Manager or a Teaching Manager? 📖 Every leader wants their team to succeed. But ask yourself this... are you setting them up for growth or just giving them orders? Today on FM Corner, Danny Koontz breaks down why leaders need to stop just telling their team what to do and start teaching them how to solve problems on their own. 👇 A teaching manager guides their team to think critically, problem solve, and develop confidence in their decisions. They don’t just hand out solutions, they ask “What do you think?” and steer the conversation toward a resolution. 💡 When leaders teach, teams grow. They make better decisions, take ownership, and become less dependent on constant direction. So, what kind of manager are you? 🤔 #Leadership #Management #GrowthMindset #Coaching #FacilityManagement

👉 The Overpromising Trap Many companies talk about great customer service, but are they really delivering it? In this week's FM Corner, Danny Koontz talks all things Customer Service. Here’s what real customer service ISN’T: ❌ Telling the customer what they want to hear just to keep them happy. ❌ Overpromising timelines you can’t meet. ❌ Avoiding tough conversations because you don’t have good news yet. 🔸 Real customer service means: ✅ Telling the truth, even when it’s not what they want to hear. ✅ Setting clear, realistic expectations from the start. ✅ Following up and staying accountable. If your goal is to keep a customer long-term, trust matters more than quick fixes. When customers know you’re honest (even when things go wrong), that’s when real partnerships are built. 💬 What’s one example of real customer service that stuck with you? #facilitiescanagement #customerservice #trust #businessgrowth #FMCorner #serviceexcellence #honestymatters

I get it. Budgets are tight. But cutting your restaurant’s preventative maintenance budget to save money is like skipping oil changes to save on car repairs — it never works out in your favor. While PM contracts feel like an easy expense to cut, here’s the reality: - Emergency repairs cost much more than routine maintenance - Downtime during peak hours drains revenue faster than you think - Neglected equipment wears out sooner, leading to costly replacements Don’t react to costly breakdowns. Instead, restaurant facilities managers should invest in maintenance strategies that actually reduce costs. We spoke with Danny Koontz of Windy City Equipment (WCE, Inc) to learn from his decades of experience in restaurant facilities management and equipment repair. He shared a ton of helpful tips for avoiding costly repairs. In OpenWrench’s latest guide, we cover: ✅ The key preventative maintenance tasks you should never skip ✅ How to structure PM contracts for maximum ROI ✅ When to repair vs. replace to avoid unnecessary costs Tired of surprise repair bills? Read our full guide on reducing restaurant maintenance costs. Link in the comments 🔗 #RestaurantManagement #FacilitiesManagement #PreventativeMaintenance