A Career Built on Grit, Growth, and Integrity
After 53 Years, Manufacturing Leader Larry Nodine Reflects on a Career Built on Grit, Growth, and Integrity
After more than five decades in the manufacturing industry, Larry Nodine is stepping into retirement, closing a remarkable 53-year career defined by perseverance, leadership, and lasting relationships.
A 1973 graduate of Oswego High School in Oswego, Kansas, Nodine began his career shortly after graduation at TecTank in Parsons, Kansas, a manufacturer of storage tanks and silos. Starting in the shipping department loading trucks. Over the next 23 years, he steadily advanced through the organization while simultaneously pursuing higher education at Labette Community College and Pittsburg State University through night classes.
During his time at TecTank, Nodine helped establish a QA/QC program and steadily advanced through engineering, construction, and sales leadership roles, ultimately overseeing the Bulk Storage Division as Market Manager.
A Turning Point
In 1996, Nodine expanded his expertise by joining Chittom International in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Sales Manager. There, he was introduced to the air cooler and heat transfer industry, working with heat exchangers, fans, louvers, and actuators, an experience he credits as a turning point in his professional life.
Defining Chapter
A defining chapter of Nodine’s career began in 2002 when he joined Airtech Products under the ownership of the Miller family. Over the next several years, he developed not only his understanding of the business but also a deep appreciation for the Millers’ leadership style, which emphasized integrity, customer commitment, and perseverance.
Those lessons carried forward when Nodine and his wife, Pat, acquired Airtech Products on January 1, 2011. Under their ownership, the company thrived for more than a decade, built on strong relationships within the industry. Nodine often points to the people he worked with, employees, customers, and partners alike, as the most rewarding part of his career.
A pivotal relationship during this time was with Ken Jones and the team at AXH Air Coolers. Nodine recalls being connected to AXH from its earliest days and takes pride in Airtech’s role in supporting the company’s growth. In June 2025, Nodine and his wife sold Airtech Products to AXH Air Coolers.
Reflecting on His Journey
Reflecting on his journey, Nodine expresses deep gratitude—for the colleagues who became lifelong friends, for the lessons learned from mentors, and for the industry that shaped his life.
As Larry Nodine retires, he leaves behind not just a successful career, but a legacy of hard work, integrity, and relationships that will endure well beyond his years in manufacturing.