A longtime member of the foodservice industry F.T. Snowman is a service agent serving the far Northern region of the Western Hemisphere. During the course of his career, F.T. Snowman has held a variety of positions, all on the cold side of the business, with the exception of one ill-advised stint as a baker. A dangerously quick weight loss led him back to the realm of blast chillers and walk-ins, a spot that seems to come so naturally to him.

FE&S: Any interesting hobbies?

Frosty: I find a good snow ball fight pretty rejuvenating and good for the complexion, too.

FE&S: What foodservice equipment would make for a good Christmas list?

Frosty: Naturally, a good ice flaker. Perhaps a roomy walk-in so I had a nice place to take a nap. And a good thermometer so I can keep myself at a food-safe temperature.

FE&S: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in the foodservice industry?

Frosty: Not everyone is meant to work on the cookline. Some of us are better suited to work in refrigerated prep.

FE&S: Who was the person that influenced your career most?

Frosty: Without question, it’s Mother Nature. She’s helped guide me to the appropriate markets and really shaped my career. Without her, I would not even be a blip on the industry radar.

FE&S: What was your first job in foodservice?

Frosty: I worked in cold prep at a commissary, chopping vegetables and packing ice for frozen food displays.

FE&S: Who in the foodservice industry do you admire most?

Frosty: I really admire Twinkie the Kid and the way he handled his final roundup with such class. He never lost his smile. I also admire the Good Humor man. He’s one cool operator.

FE&S: What keeps you working in the foodservice industry?

Frosty: Just like no two snowflakes are the same, no two days are the same and that’s really appealing to me. Of course, I could do without the salty language one often hears on the golf course. But that’s for another day.

FE&S: Any guilty pleasures when traveling for business?

Frosty: Well, there’s really nothing like nibbling on a cup of refreshing chewable ice at the end of a long day.

FE&S: Would you encourage your children to work in this business?

Frosty: Absolutely. They would really have a ball. There’s a lot one person can pack into their career in this business. I would just encourage them to stay on the cold side of it. If you roll with the changes your career can really snowball.

FE&S: If you were not working in foodservice, what would you be doing?

Frosty: Probably vacationing at the South Pole. That’s a climate with real appeal to me.