Harry Gray, Kelvin Group CEO: “When you choose to partner with us, you become part of our family. A family rooted in innovation, dedicated to safety, and committed to expanding resources”

Kelvin Group was established based on an investment thesis aimed at consolidating the American industrial refrigeration services industry. The company’s motivation stemmed from recognizing the critical need for specialized services in managing large and complex climate systems essential for the production of food products, pharmaceuticals, and the efficient operation of numerous facilities in other sectors. By bringing together expertise in this essential market, Kelvin Group sought to become a leader in ensuring productivity and compliance within these industries. Today, Kelvin Group stands as a national leader, offering a comprehensive range of industrial services. Their offerings include industrial refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, non-destructive testing, industrial HVAC, and compliance services. These services are crucial for maintaining the American cold chain, the system responsible for keeping food, pharmaceuticals, and other domains safe from production to consumption.

Kelvin Group’s role is vital in ensuring that essential products reach homes, pharmacies, and grocery stores across the nation. By providing these specialized services, Kelvin Group helps maintain the integrity and reliability of critical supply chains, reinforcing its mission of supporting the infrastructure necessary for modern life.

In conversation with Harry Gray, CEO of Kelvin Group

Q. What sets Kelvin Group apart in terms of its approach to providing turnkey solutions for mission-critical mechanical services, particularly in industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare?

At Kelvin Group, we prioritize differentiation by focusing on three key pillars: People, Service, and Innovation.

Our commitment to PEOPLE is evident in our dedicated efforts to excel in the “People Game.” We foster a culture of field engagement, uphold shared values, and provide compelling employee offerings. Additionally, initiatives like Kelvin University and the Kelvin Leaders programs empower our team to thrive and grow within the organization.

SERVICE is ingrained in our company ethos, characterized by our responsiveness and unwavering support for our clients. We stand as true partners, ready to resolve any issues, even if it means completing emergency repairs before the customer can get purchase orders created. Our recent launch of “The Kelvin Way” employee pledge underscores our dedication to maintaining high standards of craftsmanship and service in the systems we maintain.

INNOVATION drives us forward, with the Kelvin Knowledge Center serving as the epicenter of our creative endeavors. Here, our committee spearheads thought leadership, facilitates training, and promotes knowledge sharing across teams. Through our innovation process, we continuously offer fresh perspectives to clients, addressing concerns such as energy efficiency, cleaner processes, and extended asset life. This holistic approach ensures that Kelvin Group remains at the forefront of industry innovation, delivering exceptional value to our customers.

Q. With offices in multiple regions across the U.S., how does Kelvin Group maintain consistency and quality in its service delivery while catering to diverse client needs and regulatory requirements?

We pride ourselves on being a fully integrated company, boasting super-regional brands unified by a national framework of cadence, controls, processes, systems, and culture. Our approach revolves around implementing various value creation mechanisms, sales incentives, and aligning management objectives. Our strategy extends to expanding wallet share through cross-selling initiatives, incentivizing on-site technicians, prioritizing accounts within reach, maintaining regular follow-ups, conducting comprehensive training, enforcing controls, and upholding standards. Our aim is to elevate the ordinary to excellence across all facets of our operations, whether it’s minimizing employee turnover, fostering innovation dissemination, enhancing field engagement, and beyond. We remain agile, readily incorporating best practices from our core operations and integrating innovative ideas from newly acquired partners. Furthermore, we’ve made significant investments in pivotal roadmaps, concentrating on our technology infrastructure, bolstering cybersecurity measures, optimizing human resources, leveraging marketing technology and CRM solutions, refining pricing tools, among others.

Our acquisitions seamlessly merge into numerous national initiatives, including the Kelvin Leaders program, Kelvin University, Voice of the Field Program, National Project Management Excellence Committee, National Service Excellence Committee, and “The Kelvin Way” Pledge, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and cohesion across the organization.

Q. How does Kelvin Group approach talent acquisition and development to ensure it has the necessary expertise to deliver on its promise of world-class mechanical services?

At Kelvin Group, we’ve established Kelvin Learning and Development, offering a comprehensive curriculum aimed at enriching the skills and knowledge of our workforce. Our strategy for retaining skilled technicians revolves around prioritizing their voices and needs, which is central to our “Voice of the Field” program. This initiative includes recurring National and Regional Field Focus Groups with rotating technician participation, along with thorough and anonymous technician survey cycles. We ensure transparency by openly sharing feedback and insights across the organization. Management actively engages with technicians by visiting job sites, fostering direct understanding of their challenges and aspirations. Our ultimate objective is to become the leading employer of skilled technicians in our industry, a mission passionately embraced by all senior managers and field leaders who are deeply involved in the recruitment process.

We offer platinum-grade benefits and tailor educational programs to support technician development, nurturing their career growth and job satisfaction. Our core belief is in reciprocity: by prioritizing the well-being of our technicians, they reciprocate by delivering exceptional service to our customers. Through a consistent focus on technician welfare, promoting open communication, and investing in their professional advancement, we cultivate an environment where technicians feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute to our collective success.

Q. Do you have any new services ready to be launched?

We are newly established in the non-destructive testing channel thanks to an acquisition. This is capability is high synergistic with our other offerings.

Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

Expanding our national presence will solidify Kelvin Group as a vital player in every super-region. By intensifying our footprint, we’re poised to become the go-to mission-critical provider. Our focus on cross-training, cross-selling and, leveraging national resources further cements our standing in the sector. This strategy ensures that we not only grow but also strengthen our position as a leader, offering unparalleled solutions and support across the board.

Meet the leader behind the success of Kelvin Group
Harry Gray is the CEO of Kelvin Group, bringing over two decades of executive leadership experience to the helm. With a background as a former military officer, coupled with training in investment banking and strategy consulting, Gray has honed his expertise in leading operating companies to success. His strategic vision and commitment to the team and company excellence drive Kelvin Group’s growth and innovation, positioning the company as a leader in its industry.

“We talk, we share, we collaborate, and we fortify all our brands by tapping the full force of Kelvin Group.”