The Legend of Ed Kurtz: The Man, The Myth, The Radiant Machine
Introduction
Well folks, the day has come. After decades of heating up the Midwest, Ed Kurtz is officially hanging up his trailer hitch and retiring from selling radiant heat.
Born in 1947—yes, that’s 7 presidential administrations ago—Ed is proof that age really is just a number. If you’ve ever seen a man with the professional appearance of a friendly grandpa and the raw strength of an Olympic Powerlifter, you’ve met Ed.
From Cardboard Boxes to Radiant Royalty
Ed’s journey into the heating world started in the ’90s, back when people still used landlines and the internet made funny noises. He sold cardboard boxes by day and dabbled in infrared heat by night, like a very niche superhero. Somewhere along the way, he charmed the notoriously prickly owner of EER Products, Gerry Martin, and then carved out a radiant path of his own.
He launched Soltec in 2001, and eventually opened Energywise Radiant—his own radiant heating company that would solidify his place as the Chuck Norris of the HVAC world.
By October 2018, Ed joined Great Lakes Radiant, where we thought he’d stay for maybe a year or two. But seven years later, Ed is still out here delivering heaters, showing customers how to install them in incredible detail, and somehow managing his orders with a combination of handwritten order forms and sticky notes.
Ed: The Customer Service Jedi
Let’s talk about Ed’s customer service skills. Some salespeople deliver products. Ed delivers experiences. He’ll drive his Ford Escape, hauling a trailer packed with industrial heaters, hand-delivered to your site, and then walk you through every nut, bolt, bracket, and hose until you know how to install it better than most HVAC techs.
The Ford Escape That Could
Let’s take a moment to salute Ed’s ride: the legendary Ford Escape. Most people use this vehicle for trips to the grocery store. Ed uses his to tow what is essentially a mobile factory. Some say the miles he’s put on that Escape are enough to circle the globe several times. Ford Motor Company, if you’re reading this: give the man a check. And maybe a new transmission.
Pickleball & Coffee: Ed’s Retirement Plan
When he’s not hand-hauling heaters or delivering radiant wisdom across the Midwest, Ed’s at Kwik Trip, fueling up on coffee like it’s rocket fuel. And then—pickleball. Lots and lots of pickleball. The man is competitive on and off the court.
And if you’re ever trying to find him in the summer, head to Northern Minnesota, where he makes an annual pilgrimage with his family to fish, relax, and tell a few war stories from his radiant heating adventures.
A Toast to the Legend
Ed, you’ve built an incredible legacy—not just in the number of heaters sold or sticky notes written, but in the relationships you’ve formed, the customers you’ve helped, and the thousands of miles (and coffees) you’ve logged doing it all with heart and humor.
We’ll miss your strength, your stories, and most of all, your unwavering dedication to getting the job done right.
Enjoy retirement. Play pickleball. Drink all the Kwik Trip coffee. And know that the radiant energy you’ve brought to our customers—and our company—will never fade.
Happy retirement, Ed Kurtz. You’ve earned it.
— The Team at Great Lakes Radiant