Despite the torrential downpours on Saturday, June 7th, family and friends of Cliff Roye turned out for the networking event and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of his company, Cool Tech Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, LLC.
The get-together was hosted by Kamla Millwood, president of Palatial Publishing LLC, and was held at the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (CACCI), located at 2121 Caton Avenue.
Dr. Jean Joseph, president of CACCI, welcomed and congratulated Roye on his achievement, stating, “Cliff, you have done a marvelous job. As a small business owner, I know it’s not easy. It’s okay to start, but to maintain for 25 years is a plus.” She then presented him with a gold medal, on behalf of CACCI.
Joseph credited her predecessor, the late Dr. Roy Hastick Jr., who founded CACCI in 1985, for creating a space where small businesses could be nurtured and supported.
Ken Marable, who represented the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce (BCC), also applauded Roye for his perseverance and leadership, noting that creating a thriving small business is no easy task. “I commend you for taking that step forward,” he said to Roye. “The small business is not easy to do,” he emphasized.
The BCC ambassador stated that the accomplishment was significant and deserved recognition. Turning to the guests, Marable added, “Today, we are going to celebrate Cliff Roye for his tenacity, for his vision and just for him being himself — working hard.”
Roye credits Cool Tech’s longevity and overall success mainly to his personal work ethic. After graduating from college, he worked with another HVAC company for three years before acknowledging, “I can do this myself. So, I just started my own company.”
He quipped that that was the beginning of his 16-hour workdays. And though the hours were arduous, Roye said he was determined to make things work. He shared with the Canarsie Courier that there were also times when the money did not come in as expected, because clients did not always pay on time. But he stated the quality of the service he provided was never compromised.
His self-discipline, great customer relations and his love for the job were also major factors that allowed him to grow Cool Tech to an M/BE-Certified company with five trucks, six employees and a number of capable subcontractors.
Roye thanked everyone as they surrounded him for a ribbon-cutting that marked the beginning of his next 25 years in business. “It is great to have family and friends come out and celebrate my 25th anniversary. Being in business for 25 years, as you’ve already heard, is no joke. It’s serious business,” he stated. He praised Hastick, with whom he had celebrated prior milestones, for his vision of business networking, explaining that that kind of support was crucial.
“And that’s what Dr. Hastick’s legacy is all about — bringing businesses together,” Millwood commented, before presenting Roye with a proclamation from State Senator Roxanne Persaud.
On behalf of BCC, Marable also gave the guest of honor a map of Brooklyn, which pinpointed 902 East 86th Street, the exact location of Cool Tech Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, LLC.
Contact Cool Tech for a free consultation at (718) 872-6833, email coolteckaclic@aol.com or visit www.cooltechny.com for more information.
