The Cooling Center Member Spotlight
For The Cooling Center’s Brian Goltz, every day is about finding solutions. “I love the radiator industry because it’s about solving real problems—keeping trucks, equipment, and running smoothly. I enjoy solving complex repair challenges and delivering reliable solutions. The best part? Seeing a customer’s equipment back in action, knowing we nailed it, is incredibly rewarding.”
Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Cooling Center specializes in industrial radiator repair and cooling system services for heavy-duty equipment. Those services include radiator repair, rebuilding, and recoring, as well as for oil coolers, charge air coolers, EGR coolers, heat exchangers, fuel tanks, and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF). The Cooling Center also offers welding and some fabrication services. The primary industries are those reliant on diesel engines and heavy-duty equipment, including construction, trucking, fire apparatus, agriculture, mining, marine, and power generation sectors.
Back in the 1940s, the business was originally called Clawson Radiator. Then it was renamed The Cooling Center around 1998. Brian Goltz’s father-in-law, Randy Gunter, acquired the company in 2000, and Goltz joined the business in 2008. Just a year after leaving the US Marine Corps, Goltz took a job as the shop foreman with an opportunity to take over the business after Gunter’s retirement.
“With no prior experience in the radiator industry, I immersed myself in learning every role, from shop operations like welding and radiator repair to all office tasks,” said Goltz. “To build my skills, I completed a Business Administration certificate and welding courses at a local community college at night, which equipped me to manage both technical and administrative aspects of the business.”
After four years as shop foreman and welder, Goltz took on greater responsibility when his father-in-law was diagnosed with kidney disease. During this time, the company grew significantly.
From 2012 to 2020, I managed The Cooling Center, overseeing operations, expanding our customer base, and improving efficiency,” said Goltz. When Goltz’s father, my father-in-law Randy Gunter, recovered, the business was thriving, so he chose to step back, assisting only when needed. Eventually, Gunter retired in October 2024.
The Cooling Center is in an 11,000 square foot facility and currently has 10 employees. Goltz believes his role as a business owner is multifaceted. “I oversee daily operations, supported by an excellent shop foreman who handles most shop activities,” said Goltz. “I personally measure and quote on-site generator set (genset) radiator records. I also address customer needs, resolve concerns, and step in where needed—whether welding, repairing, cleaning radiators, and with pickups and deliveries. My focus is excellent customer service and maintaining high-quality service while fostering a collaborative team environment.”
Goltz was first introduced to NARSA more than 15 years ago when a colleague shared The Cooling Center, sparking his interest in the association’s resources. He attended the inaugural Heavy Duty Conference in Knoxville back in 2010. “I stay engaged by reading NARSA’s website, listening to the Solder & Soot podcast, and chatting with a few NARSA members,” said Goltz. “NARSA’s knowledge supports our company’s goal to grow our customer base with top-quality service. Recently, I spoke with Bryan Braswell of Rocky Mount Radiator, a NARSA member, who shared valuable advice on competitive wages and a performance-based bonus program to retain talent. Inspired by his insights, we’re exploring a similar bonus system at The Cooling Center.”
Of course, running a business has its own set of challenges. Goltz describes finding talented and qualified technicians as “a constant hurdle.” Another challenge is inconsistent quality from manufacturers. “Products arrive with defects, such as header leaks, misaligned bolt hole patterns, or improper sizing, which delay repairs and increase rework costs. This adds time and expense but is essential for maintaining customer trust and delivering reliable service.”
In order to grow the business, Goltz is utilizing targeted digital marketing, a relatively new resource for the cooling systems industry. “We haven’t done digital marketing in the past, so I’m willing to try something different,” said Goltz. “I’m also looking into automated cleaning technology for better precision and to address future labor shortages. We’re committed to delivering reliable, innovative solutions. I’m excited to drive innovation and keep our clients’ equipment running smoothly.”
When it comes to success in the radiator industry, Goltz believes it’s all about leveraging your technical expertise and adapting to new technology.
“Shops must find a way to utilize and integrate all the new technology available into the shop operations to address and counter labor shortages,” said Goltz. “Focus on quality service and superior customer service.”
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