REFRIGIWEAR CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF AWARDING INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES IN COLD STORAGE
DAHLONEGA, GA (December 2, 2024) – RefrigiWear proudly marks a quarter century of honoring the unsung heroes of the cold storage industry with the 25th Annual Warehouse Heroes of the Year Award. Since its inception, this award has recognized the exceptional dedication and hard work of cold storage workers who keep the food supply chain running, no matter the conditions.
Twenty-eight new Warehouse Heroes reign supreme over cold storage warehouses nationwide. These men and women continuously surpass their productivity goals and look for ways to improve warehouse operations and innovate procedures so their teams can succeed in cold storage and ultimately create a positive impact on their companies. Their dedication to helping others, motivation to learn and uncanny ability to tackle the toughest jobs earned them high praise from their managers and peers.
"Our Warehouse Heroes don’t just work in the cold—they thrive in it," says RefrigiWear CEO Ryan Silberman. "These men and women push boundaries every day with grit and ingenuity. To call them hard-working doesn’t capture the whole story; they’re problem-solvers, innovators, and relentless in their commitment to excellence. It’s an honor to recognize their dedication and celebrate a quarter century of extraordinary accomplishments in the cold storage industry."
After 25 years, the Warehouse Heroes of the Year program is more than just an annual award. It is now a compilation of thousands of nominations made by supervisors who felt their crew members deserved acknowledgement, praise, and thanks for being the top performing workers in the industry. That is something which the staff at RefrigiWear continue to feel honored to celebrate each year.
Every winner chosen for the 2024 Warehouse Heroes of the Year employee recognition program earned a spot in RefrigiWear’s 2025 Warehouse Heroes of the Year Calendar that highlights the top achievements of each person. All 28 winners received a personalized award package, including a custom embroidered jacket and commemorative plaque to express the utmost gratitude for their commitment to working through the cold to keep food on America’s tables.
2024 Warehouse Heroes of the Year Winners
Cesar Ibarra from Windigo Logistics, Tolleson, AZ
Winiban Irigoyen from Dot Foods, Mt. Sterling, IL
Eder Castillo from Interstate Warehousing, Joliet, IL
Andrew Loxtercamp from Hendry’s Foods, Inc., Alexandria, MN
Nick Coddington from Martin Brothers Distributing Co., Cedar Falls, IA
Adam Carter from Wells Enterprises, Henderson, NV
Ricky Gonzalez from Quality Refrigerated Services, Omaha, NE
William Edwards from MR Williams, Henderson, NC
Marcus Rowe from Lineage Logistics, Albany, GA
Frankie Alexander from SYGMA, Orlando, FL
Myroslav Kuznyuk from NewCold Advanced Frozen Logistics, Tacoma, WA
Nancy Eseh from F&S Fresh Foods, Conley, GA
Leah Beduhn from Gourmet Foods International, Concord, NC
John Flynn from Envision Cold, Blaine, WA
Virgininia “Rocky” Taylor from United States Cold Storage, McDonough, GA
Travis Crow from Tyson Foods, Enid, OK
Rodolfo Garcia from Americold Logistics, Springdale AR
Don Carroll from Ziegenfelder Corporation, Wheeling, WV
Jose Rodriguez from C&S Wholesale Grocers, Brattleboro, VT
Ricardo Monroy Cortes from BJ’s Wholesale Club, Elkton, MD
Laura Gutierrez from Mission Produce, Oxnard, CA
Israel Domingo from St. Clair Foods, Memphis TN
Bryan Santiago from Nortera Foods, Lebanon, PA
Gerard Connerson from Associated Grocers, Inc., Baton Rouge, LA
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Scott Fuchs from SpartanNash, St. Cloud, MN
David Woelk from Americold Logistics, Johnson, AR
Miguel Fonseca from Toughkenamon, PA
Steve Otto from Sysco, Indianapolis, IN
Today’s announcement highlights RefrigiWear's unwavering commitment to those who brave the cold every day. It’s not just about designing insulated gear; it’s about honoring the true champions who rely on it to get the job done.
For more information about RefrigiWear’s National Accounts Program for employee recognition in the food service and cold storage industries visit pro.refrigiwear.com/employee-recognition.
For more information on insulated workwear and personal protective equipment (PPE) for all workers facing cold, harsh conditions, please visit pro.refrigiwear.com or call 800-645-3744.
About RefrigiWear
Founded in 1954 by Myron Breakstone, RefrigiWear celebrates its 70th year as a pioneer in creating the toughest workwear for the toughest workers. With a long history rooted in real-world experience, RefrigiWear understands the challenges of working in extreme cold, helping the company deliver high-quality insulated workwear that stands up to the coldest, dirtiest, harshest conditions imaginable. The RefrigiWear brand portfolio also includes: Avaska, best known for its European-style freezer gear and outerwear; Samco, recognized for its value-oriented selection of cooler- and freezerwear basics; and FlexiTog, a premium brand based in the UK and serving cold-chain customers across Europe. RefrigiWear is based in Dahlonega, GA.
Company Information
RefrigiWear, LLC
54 Breakstone Drive
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: 800-645-3744
E-mail: keepmewarm@refrigiwear.com
Website: pro.refrigiwear.com
Media Contact:
Sarina Caicedo,
RefrigiWear, LLC
54 Breakstone Drive,
Dahlonega, GA 30533