Our Story
Driven by the dream of business ownership and a desire to create opportunities for his family, Dean embraced the chance to join the management and ownership team of a Duluth-based residential construction firm. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Dean and his business partners successfully grew and diversified their portfolio before transitioning out of the partnership in the mid-2000s. With that chapter complete, the focus shifted to building a legacy of family-owned and operated companies for future generations. Inspired by Dean’s entrepreneurial spirit, and with both Nick and Mitch carrying that same drive, The Minardi Companies was founded.
Born and raised in Southern Wisconsin, Dean and Jane Minardi took a bold step in the spring of 1992, relocating their young family to Duluth, MN.
In 2015, the family acquired Brent's Heating and Cooling, a Carlton-based HVAC service and installation provider specializing in light commercial and residential service.
Over the past decade, the company has expanded to include MN Ductless Solutions, serving Carlton, Pine, Saint Louis, and Lake Counties, and has become one of the region’s premier, respected, and recognized Trane and Mitsubishi dealers. Specializing in conventional comfort systems, boilers, and ductless units, Brent's focuses on providing a high level of service with confidence in their products. With a team of professional, reliable, and knowledgeable technicians, Brent's Heating and Cooling prioritizes pairing the right solution with each homeowner’s unique needs.
In 2019, the family launched Minardi Lumber and Millwork in Duluth, MN, to serve both retail and contractor building material markets.
By emphasizing attention to detail, fostering strong partnerships with high-quality manufacturers and wholesalers, and investing time in every client relationship, Minardi Lumber quickly earned recognition in the building trades. Offering the nation's top names in building materials, Minardi Lumber distributes dimmensional lumber, sheetgoods, decking, windows, doors, millwork, cabinets, roofing and more! Through a unique collaboration with Pella Windows, the company expanded to include Minardi Window and Door, establishing a regional showroom and leadership role in Pella Window sales and installation throughout the Arrowhead Region.
In 2021, the Minardi family further expanded their portfolio by establishing Minardi Construction Management, offering project and owner representation throughout the construction process.
With over 80 years of combined experience, the team provides strategic growth planning, concept and design development, pre-construction and construction management services, and project close-out services for commercial, multi-family, educational, and non-profit clients. Minardi Construction Management has carved out a distinctive niche by supporting non-profit board-based organizations, guiding them through the complexities of construction while building relationships rooted in shared values, trust, and integrity.
In 2023, the family continued its tradition of multi-generational ownership by acquiring Hansen Refrigeration Machinery, a global leader in industrial fluid chillers.
Founded in the mid-1950s by Fred Hansen to meet the fluid temperature control needs of Giddings and Lewis Machine Tool Company, the company became a family enterprise when Nick and Mitch’s grandfather, Don Julka, joined and eventually became General Manager. Don purchased Hansen Refrigeration Machinery in the 1970s, growing it alongside his son into the premier chiller manufacturer for the machine tool industry worldwide. After Don’s passing, his son J.R. led and continued to grow the company until his retirement in 2023, when he entrusted Dean, Nick, and Mitch to continue the family legacy. Today, Nick and Mitch oversee operations, upholding the same American-made design principles, American craftsmanship, and American pride that have defined Hansen Refrigeration Machinery for generations.