In this powerful Young Guns episode of Commercial Kitchen Chronicles, host Pat Finley sits down with 26-year-old technician Jacob Caira, one of the brightest rising stars in the commercial kitchen and HVAC-R trade. Jacob’s story is a blueprint for what hard work, curiosity, and dedication can produce — even at a young age.

Born and raised in the countryside of Middle Tennessee, Jacob took the leap into HVAC-R early. During his senior year of high school, he enrolled in tech school at TCAT Clarksville, graduating from both programs in the same year. But while some students drift through their coursework, Jacob’s defining moment came when a teacher challenged him with one simple question: “Don’t you want more out of this?” That spark ignited a drive that still pushes him today. 

Jacob began his career in the deep end — performing HVAC and refrigeration work for gas stations. Within months, he found himself responsible for nearly 100 locations after two senior techs quit, forcing him to learn fast and troubleshoot even faster. Trial by fire became his norm. Those early years taught him discipline, patience, and the ability to stay calm when everything is going wrong — skills that would become core to his success. 

In 2022, Jacob transitioned into the commercial kitchen repair industry after discovering an entirely new world of equipment he never knew existed. Joining Whaley Foodservice was a turning point — he quickly gravitated toward Garland and UNOX equipment, falling in love with the complexity, logic, and challenge these systems bring. Today, he handles some of the busiest locations in the Nashville area, including Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s — thriving in the variety and unpredictability that comes with each call. 

Jacob didn’t stop there. In under a year, he completed three CFESA categories — Steam, Gas, and Electrical — earning his Master Technician certification. For Jacob, it wasn’t just a patch — it was a badge of pride, a symbol of commitment, and proof that investing in your education pays off. He’s now preparing for his mechanical contractor’s license with an eye on future leadership roles in the trade. 

Throughout the episode, Jacob and Pat dive into:
• The early lessons that shaped Jacob’s work ethic
• Why Garland became his go-to specialty and how he approaches troubleshooting
• The explosion of UNOX ovens across the country
• What older techs get wrong about the younger generation
• How sports mentality translates into technician success
• The value of staying calm, thinking clearly, and asking questions
• Why diversity in daily work keeps techs motivated
• Becoming a first-call problem-solver and achieving first-time fixes
• The future of A2L refrigerants and how younger techs can adapt
• The importance of mentors, even old-school beer-can-cold ones
• Why continuous learning is the real differentiator in this trade 

Jacob’s journey is proof that the next generation of techs is not only ready — they’re hungry, capable, and redefining what the future of our industry looks like.

Whether you’re a young apprentice, a seasoned tech, a shop manager, or someone curious about the real stories behind the tools, this episode delivers insight, motivation, and genuine technician-to-technician conversation.

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https://www.refrigtech.com/

Commercial Kitchen Chronicles

https://commercialkitchenchronicles.com/

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