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Pinnacle Climate Technologies
Pinnacle Climate Technologies was formed in 2015 when Pinnacle Products International acquired Schaefer Ventilation, a fan company founded in 1951 in...
Pinnacle Climate Technologies
Pinnacle Climate Technologies was formed in 2015 when Pinnacle Products International acquired Schaefer Ventilation, a fan company founded in 1951 in Benton County, MN. The combined entity operates as a multi-family office structure, overseen by CEO Ron Ten Berge, who joined with over 25 years of experience leading consumer products brands. The underlying wealth originates from the Pinnacle Products and Schaefer families, with Taglich Private Equity having invested earlier in Pinnacle in 2011 to support growth. The firm builds and sells heating (construction heaters, SilentDrive series), cooling (Barn Kooler fans), and ventilation systems for industrial, commercial, and agricultural markets. Brands include Master, Remington, Schaefer, and Americ, sold across more than 65 countries. Products are manufactured in Sauk Rapids, MN, where a 120,000 sq ft facility was occupied in 2019. The portfolio serves HVAC, green-energy, and confined-space ventilation niches, with engineering led by Mark Daniels (per firm website). Total AUM is undisclosed; the firm does not publicly report assets under management. The leadership team includes CFO Ryan Damask, VP of Sales Robert Schlagel (joined 2023), VP of Operations Russell Scheller, and Director of Engineering Mark Daniels. In 2020, the firm launched new air quality product lines under the Remington Airetrex 365 and Schaefer Defender brands. No additional office locations or philanthropic vehicles are disclosed. Pinnacle Climate Technologies distinguishes itself as a vertically integrated manufacturer under a family-office umbrella, controlling design, production, and global distribution of climate equipment. The 2011 partnership with Taglich Private Equity (a private equity firm now subsumed into Urbis) adds a PE lineage rare among family-office manufacturing platforms. The firm has perpetual ownership by the founding families, with no succession plan publicly detailed.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Sauk Rapids
Corporate office
Sauk Rapids, MN, United States
Principals
Ron Ten Berge
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Ryan Damask
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Robert Schlagel
Vice President of Sales
Russell Scheller
Vice President of Operations
David Osland
Director of Product Management
Mark Daniels
Director of Engineering
Rose Felix
Director of Human Resources
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Pinnacle Climate Technologies?
President and CEO Ron Ten Berge leads strategic and financial decisions, per the firm's website. He brings over 25 years of experience with consumer products brands, including a BS from Cal State Polytechnic University Pomona and an MBA from UC Irvine.
How does Pinnacle Climate Technologies source proprietary deal flow?
The firm does not disclose a formal sourcing strategy. Its growth since the 2015 merger of Pinnacle Products and Schaefer Ventilation has been organic, through new product lines and geographic expansion. The firm does not publicly report external acquisitions or investment vehicles.
Is Pinnacle Climate Technologies structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a manufacturing company?
The firm operates as a family-owned manufacturing company that functions as a multi-family office. It was formed by merging two family businesses (Pinnacle Products International and Schaefer Ventilation) and is run by a leadership group with backgrounds in industrial and consumer products, not financial services.
Does Pinnacle Climate Technologies participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The firm appears to operate solely through its own manufacturing operations, not through external fund commitments or direct private-equity-style investments. No public disclosures indicate it allocates capital to third-party funds or co-investment vehicles.
What investment stages does Pinnacle Climate Technologies typically target?
As a manufacturer, Pinnacle Climate Technologies focuses on product development, brand expansion, and geographic distribution rather than stages typical of investment firms. Its growth has involved organic product launches (e.g., SilentDrive heaters, Airetrex 365 air purifiers) rather than early-stage venture or growth equity.
Which sectors does Pinnacle Climate Technologies explicitly avoid?
The firm does not publicly state any avoided sectors. Its known activities are concentrated in heating, cooling, ventilation, and air quality products for industrial, commercial, and agricultural use.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The underlying wealth originates from the founders of Pinnacle Products International and the Schaefer family of Schaefer Ventilation, both established family businesses. The firm's 2011 partnership with Taglich Private Equity (Taglich Partners, now part of Urbis) provided growth capital, but the exact family wealth sources are not publicly itemized (per firm website).
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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