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Kristin Dietzel focuses on business growth, access in run for Dubuque County supervisor
Watch KCRG-TV9's full interview with Democratic candidate for Dubuque County supervisor Kristin Dietzel from October 2026.
New business gets ‘knotty’ in downtown Selma
Local pretzel business Knotty Chix has planted its roots in downtown Selma, located just across from Lincoln Park at 1920 High street.
Suspect in fatal Mason business shooting not competent for trial
He is accused of shooting and killing 29-year-old Vincent "Vinny" Stoetzel.
N. Syracuse Manufacturer Marks Milestone, Plans for the Future
Air Innovations has grown from a small local manufacturer into a global business, selling its products in 74 countries organizations. Some of its clients include NASA, Blue Origin and SpaceX. By Stefan Yablonski [caption id=attachment_11117 align=alignright width=450] Michael Wetzel, president and CEO, and his father, Larry, who currently is an adviser to the board of directors. Larry served as the chairman of the board until 2024, when the company was acquired by Altus Capital Partners, a private equity firm.[/caption] Air Innovations in North Syracuse hopes to add more employees and possibly even expand its facility in the near future. The company is a global leader in designing and building environmental process control systems for applications that can’t be addressed with standard HVAC equipment, according to Michael Wetzel, president and CEO. “We customize solutions for temperature, humidity, filtration and pressurization, with additional capabilities in direct-expansion, chilled-water and thermoelectric technologies. Our business now is entirely focused on specialty or niche markets.” Air Innovations celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sept. 18, marking four decades of doing business, manufacturing products and growing in Central New York. In the beginning [caption id=attachment_11138 align=alignright width=451] A worker, Ezzy Salehi, tests a Wine Guardian condenser unit at Air Innovations.[/caption] “A guy by the name of Jim Kelley started the business [known as Floratech] in 1986. It was focused on refrigerated display cases for supermarket fresh flowers,” Wetzel said. “My father [Larry] started Clean Room Technology in the early 1980s, then sold that to a French company called Clestra Cleanroom. “My father and I bought Floratech in 1996 — 30 years ago, 10 years after it was started. Then in 1999, Floratech bought a portion of Clestra and their building. At that point everything was still called Floratech. But, as that was not reflective of the diversity of the business, we rebranded as Air Innovations in 2001.” The company rebranded to pursue a strategy of diversification in specialty HVAC systems. Wetzel explained that since then, it has become a trusted global partner, earning the President’s “E” Award for Exports and securing contracts in the most demanding fields, including aerospace, defense and semiconductor manufacturing. Air Innovations has grown from a small local manufacturer into a global business, selling nearly 70,000 units in 74 countries and territories and developing custom environmental control systems for companies and organizations including NASA, Blue Origin and SpaceX. “We work with all the big names you ever heard of and some you never heard of,” Wetzel added. The Wetzels sold the business two years ago to Altus Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on control investments in lower middle-market, niche manufacturing companies in North America. Founded in 2003, Altus Capital Partners’ headquarters is in Wilton, Connecticut, with an additional office in Lincolnshire, Illinois. “They are an equity firm. Both my father and I both maintain a small minority share. I am going to continue to be involved. I call myself a part-time CEO. I will continue that role for the foreseeable future; I don’t see any change there.” Building to the future “We are at 58 employees right now, which is a little bit down. We had a high of 70. That moves along with the activity we have,” Wetzel said. “We’ll start ramping up here in the fourth quarter into next year. More than 20% of our employees have been with the company for more than a decade. “I am fairly certain that sometime in the next several years we are going to have to enlarge the footprint of our facility and for sure we are going to have to add employees. We already are. We are probably going to have to add five or six people next year. We are always in the market for HVAC technicians; we always need those.” Air Innovations will remain in Central New York, with its current workforce staying in place, he added. “I believe the primary driver of our success over time is the diversity of our business which is a direct result of our willingness to tackle new challenges,” Wetzel said.
Business Notes: Virginia Beach police, fire departments reaccredited; pretzel shop opens in Kill Devil Hills
View which organizations are giving back and which ones are celebrating milestones.
CEO SUNDAY: Tropical Smoothie Cafe CEO says 'listening and learning' are keys to success
Max Wetzel said that staying close to franchisees, employees and customers has helped guide decisions as Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown to nearly 1,800 locations.
Suzanne Foley, 2026 Outstanding Women in Business Recipient
Suzanne is the founder and president of Port City Pretzels, a Portsmouth-based specialty snack food company she launched in 2015 after a long career in finance, business operations and healthcare administration.
Wetzel: WNBA apology unlikely to calm the gathering political storm
Columnist Dan Wetzel says the WNBA should stop trying to police what players and fans think.
Coroner IDs worker shot 22 times, killed at Mason lumber business
Vincent Stoetzel was 29 years old, according to Warren County's coroner
Wetzel: Brendan Sorsby is done with college sports. Can local judges be next?
Can any good come from the Brendan Sorsby saga? Dan Wetzel would like to see local judges and their temporary injunctions sidelined.
Wetzel: Brendan Sorsby is done with college sports. Can local judges be next?
Can any good come from the Brendan Sorsby saga? Dan Wetzel would like to see local judges and their temporary injunctions sidelined.
Are pretzels a healthy snack? Here's what dietitians say
Pretzels are a classic snack food, but are they good for you? Dietitians break down the nutrition content of pretzels and share the healthiest types.
Are Pretzels Healthy? Dietitians Explain the Pros and Cons
Pretzels are a classic snack food, but are they good for you? Dietitians break down the nutrition content of pretzels and share the healthiest types.
Supreme Court’s tariff ruling means good news for Pretzel Pete in Hatboro
Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who previously supported the tariffs, joined Democrats in applauding the decision.
Mass. fun factory offers Boston-themed laser tag, the biggest pretzel you’ll ever see
Apex in Marlborough is way more than just another entertainment center. I mean, have you seen this pretzel?
After 99 years, longtime central Pa. pretzel business closes
The family-operated business announced the closure Friday, with the future of the brand uncertain.
Funeral mass for University of Portland sports legend Joe Etzel to be held Monday
Etzel, who retired from the Catholic university in 2004, was “the most influential person in UP athletic history.”
Wetzel: Beware, college sports, private equity has arrived
The University of Utah approved a groundbreaking private equity deal. Dan Wetzel writes that big changes could follow.