Meet the Refrigerated Specialist Team:
Since 1978, Refrigerated Specialist Inc. has been family operated. We take pride in the fact that the Refrigerated Specialist team is made up of several multi-generational families, as well as many who have been with us for over 20 years.
Our Leadership:
Marvin Hester
CEO
Marvin graduated from Texas A&M Commerce in 1972 and took a temporary position with a refrigeration service company until he could decide what to do after college. As a result, he never left the trade. Later the company he worked for ran into financial difficulty in late 1977. So Marvin bought the inventory, a worn out service truck and the phone number and founded Refrigerated Specialist in January 1978.
From that meager beginning, Marvin and his team have built an organization that employs over 100 people today. During the late 70’s and all of the 80’s, it was the founding years of casual dining. Marvin was excited to serve that industry. He traveled nationally and internationally installing refrigeration and ice machines for chains such as TGI Fridays and Chili’s during their explosive growth period.
Jean Hester, Marvin’s wife, was an integral part of their success raising their two children, Shelly and David, all while maintaining the house and running the back of the house operations for RSI for many years. That included answering the phones and sending the calls to Marvin via the latest in technology…a pager. Not a digital pager but a tone only pager which required a call back to get the call. Jean later retired in 2003.
Marvin has dedicated his time to his family and his work family for 45 years. His outside interests include cycling and travel. Additionally, Marvin competed in Texas Mountain Bike Association Racing for five years ending as the over 60 Cat One State Champion in 2009.
Scott Hester
President
Scott Hester was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. His hobbies include racing motocross, enduro and motorsports as a spectator. Currently, he enjoys long distance motorcycle touring and all activities with family. He is married to Sharon Stone-Hester and has three children; Megan, Amanda, and Logan. Their home is in Rockwall, Texas.
In 1978, he joined his brother at RSI and began a career that has exceeded four decades in the food equipment service industry. Today he serves as the president. In 1985, he formed Refrigerated Equipment and Leasing L.L.C.(REALCO) providing leasing solutions for ice makers and frozen beverage equipment. In 2002, he also formed RSI’s sister company, Cooking Equipment Specialist, L.L.C (CES). CES, which is also CFESA certified, offers the industry complete installation, service, and parts for commercial cooking equipment.
Industry Participation
Scott’s industry participation has included over a decade of service to the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA) beginning on the education, business technology, finance, and NAFEM Liaison committees, developing and instructing refrigeration classes, serving as Regional Chair, Director, Treasurer, Vice-president, and President. Currently, he sits as Past President. He has also written and participated in many articles for trade publications, subject matter expert panels, and expert witness testimony.
In 2003, Scott was honored with the Top Achiever Award in the Service Agent category by Food Equipment & Supplies Magazine. The NAFEM Doctorate of Foodservice was awarded in 2010, in addition to recognitions by MAFSI and FEDA. Then in 2011, RSI and CES received Manitowoc’s STAR Service Network’s Rising Star award. Scott also received FER Mag’s Lifetime Achievement award for 2012-13.
He has found the greatest reward of his professional life in coaching and mentoring the success of others during the last 20 years in his multiple leadership roles.