Our Team

MATT GARDNER

Executive Vice President

Matt graduated from St. Cloud State University with his MBA in 2023. He has had the opportunity to serve the mechanical and automation industry in many roles over the past 15 years building relationships with owners, contractors, and consultants, even serving on business advisory boards, and leading entire organizations. His experience has helped build a great appreciation for the impact our people in the trades make on our lives. Matt is married to his beautiful and intelligent wife Bethany, and together with their 4 young children enjoy the outdoors including camping, gardening, fishing, hunting and generally existing in nature to recharge and find peace. 



LORI BAUER

Founder, Executive VP Service

With 40 years of industry experience, Lori’s career moved from field technician, commercial sales, service manager, project manager, owner and finally serving her passion of service & small project sales.



Lori’s education credentials include trade school certificate, MBA and Master license for gas, oil, steam & hot water and refrigeration.

Lori also manages husband, Mike, three grown sons and three granddaughters. Her hobbies are anything on the lake, anything on the snow, and riding bike – both peddle and motor driven.

JEFF LEFTO

Field Support Leader

Jeff has served in many roles in the HVAC industry as a proud Union Pipefitter for over 30 years. With his prior experience at several local and global firms, he currently serves Climate Makers as the Field Support Leader. The role includes supporting Pipefitters, Plumbers, and Sheet Metal workers with Union, technical, and safety concerns, while promoting high installation and service standards. Jeff is a dedicated husband of 33+ years and father of 3 adult children and 2 grandchildren. He enjoys family time, fishing, golfing, and Sanibel Island. 

KEITH SMITH

Operations Leader

After starting his career serving in the United States Marine Corps, Keith found that he had a passion for the construction industry, where he has spent the last 6 years. He loves working with this team because they have a passion for quality workmanship and building relationships.

Keith enjoys doing just about anything outdoors, especially with his wife and three children. He appreciates spending time working on home improvement and woodworking projects.

Gunnar Nelson

Construction Operations Leader

Gunnar has been actively engaged in the construction industry since 2017. He has been blessed with many experiences, primarily on large healthcare projects. He has had the opportunity to work side by side with expert trades people and customers to develop processes that exemplify project execution. He takes great pride in “doing what we say we are going to do”.

Gunnar, his wife Savannah, and their baby on the way enjoy shared passions of Alpine Ski Racing, Golf, Pheasant Hunting, and time with their 3 dogs.

EMILY SMITH, PE

Vice President of Healthcare and Design

Emily graduated from Villanova University with a degree in mechanical engineering and discovered her interest for the construction industry, where she has worked for the past 10 years. In that time, she has worked on some of the largest healthcare projects in the upper Midwest, where she became passionate about healthcare construction and making sure the mechanical and plumbing systems that serve patients are safe and efficient. She became a licensed professional engineer and a certified healthcare constructor (CHC) in 2019. 

Emily and her husband Kyle enjoy working on projects at their 100+ year old home, golfing, traveling, and spending time with family & friends.

LUKE LEHNER

Vice President Construction Field

Luke’s career in the mechanical industry spans over 25 years. He holds a Master Warm Air and Ventilation license for Minneapolis and St. Paul, and he is a Local 10 sheet metal worker by trade. Most of his career has been spent as a General Foreman and Mechanical superintendent on large projects. He has also held operational roles aligned between Field and Project managers. His wife Jessalyn, son Oakley and daughter Hazel enjoy anything outdoors from fishing to camping and hunting.