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Staff

Unmatched Industrial Refrigeration Services Tailored for Tomorrow's Needs

At Republic Refrigeration, we pioneer in advanced industrial refrigeration technologies, leveraging ammonia and CO2 as key refrigerants. Our scope spans from individual commercial cooling solutions to grand design-build projects tailored for vast cold storage warehouses, ensuring precision and efficiency at every step.

  • All Departments
  • Business Development
  • Electrical
  • Engineering and Design
  • Finance
  • Insulation
  • Refrigeration
  • Safety and PSM
  • Service
  • Thermal Construction
All Departments
  • All Departments
  • Business Development
  • Electrical
  • Engineering and Design
  • Finance
  • Insulation
  • Refrigeration
  • Safety and PSM
  • Service
  • Thermal Construction

Walter F. Teeter, P.E., BSME AND BSECON

CEO | Director | Treasurer

waltert@republicrefrigeration.com
Walter Teeter, P. E., was appointed CEO in February 2011. Walter is a graduate of North Carolina State University, where he obtained degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Economics. Walter has 33 years experience in HVAC and industrial refrigeration. Walter is also a licensed contractor in Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio, and is a member of IIAR.

Rodney L. Helms, P.E., BSME

President

rodneyh@republicrefrigeration.com
Rodney is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Rodney has 29 years of experience and is also a licensed contractor in New Mexico, West Virginia, Ohio, Nevada, Arizona, Connecticut, and Utah and is a member of IIAR.

Robert G. Belanger, BSE

Senior Vice President

bobb@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 1983 and was appointed Vice President in 1991. Robert is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban and Environmental Engineering. Robert has extensive experience in Poultry and Meat Processing plants, Cold Storage Distribution, Ice Production, Blast Freezing, Food Plant Sanitation and Pressurization. Robert is a licensed contractor in North and South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware and is a member of IIAR and IARW.

Jay W. Kell, P.E., BSME

Senior Vice President

jayk@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 2001 and was appointed Vice President in May 2006. Jay has 28 years of experience and has worked in both the consulting and contracting side of industrial refrigeration business. Jay is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jay is recognized as a Professional Engineer in eighteen states and is the Vice President of the local RETA Chapter.

Charles R. Taylor, P.E., BSME, MBA

Senior Vice President - Engineering

charles.taylor@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 2020 and has 39 years of experience in the refrigeration industry in both design and construction. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and acquired his Master’s in Business Administration from Jacksonville University. Charles has extensive experience with food and beverage, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries. He has designed CO2 systems for over 20 years with experience in both sub-critical and trans-critical applications. Charles is an expert in engineering low-charge ammonia systems. He is a member of ASHRAE, a former CO2 Committee Chairman, and currently sits on the Board of Directors at IIAR.

Craig McDonald, P.E., BSME

Vice President

craigm@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 2007 and was appointed Vice President in March 2012. Craig is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, with a degree in mechanical engineering; Craig has 30 years’ experience in industrial refrigeration design, installation and project management.

Michael Queen, P.E., BSME

Vice President

michaelq@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 2006 and was appointed Vice President in May 2010. Michael is a graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was a Commissioned Officer in the United States Navy. Michael is recognized as a Professional Engineer in four states; Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Florida and is a licensed contractor in Florida. He is a Member of IIAR and ASHRAE and has 24 years of experience.

Charles Pope

Vice President - Thermal Construction

charlesp@republicrefrigeration.com
Joined Republic in 2020 as head of the thermal construction department. He has 11 years of experience with thermal paneling construction. He has worked with food processing, distribution, bottling plants, and many more facilities. His expertise includes stainless steel, urethane, and fire-rated wall construction, in addition to ceiling installation.

Wayne Donaldson

Vice President - Business Development

wayned@republicrefrigeration.com
has worked for over 48 years in both consulting and contracting in the industrial mechanical and refrigeration field for food processing, cold storage, and food distribution. Wayne has a Georgia Class II unrestricted License and is a member of IARW, IACSC and IIAR where he has served on several committees for the past thirteen years.

Austin Lowe

Chief Financial Officer

austinl@republicrefrigeration.com
received his master’s degree in accounting from Wingate University, where he was on the Dean’s List and captain of the Wingate University football team. Austin joined Republic as assistant controller in 2012 and was promoted to controller in 2016. With 11 years of experience, Austin is a licensed CPA in the state of North Carolina and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Republic Refrigeration, The True Pioneers of Industrial Cooling Solutions

Our Services

IIAR-International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration logo
RETA-Refrigerating Engineers & Technicians Association logo
ASHRAE logo
Controlled Environment Building Association logo
Global Cold Chain Alliance logo
NRF-Natural Refrigeration Foundation logo