Christopher Miehl is the Founder and President of Big Fogg, Inc., a pioneering company in climate control solutions, established in December 1999. With over two decades of entrepreneurial leadership, Mr. Miehl has guided Big Fogg from a bootstrapped startup to an industry leader, overseeing all aspects of finance, growth, payroll, and operations. The company, based in the Temecula/Murrieta region since 2003, achieved its most successful year to date in 2024, marked by significant sales to four NFL teams.
Mr. Miehl’s extensive experience in high-profile sports is unparalleled. He has been directly involved in or attended over five hundred football games, including 12 Super Bowls, 20 Pro Bowls, and 6 NCAA National Championship Games. He firmly believes that such accomplishments are the result of collaborative effort, stating, “No one person builds a company on their own. You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with daily.” This philosophy underscores his appreciation for the dedicated associates and friends who have contributed to Big Fogg’s sustained success.
A Foundation of Resilience and Adaptability
Born and raised in Hamburg, New York, a town south of Buffalo known for its strong community ties, Mr. Miehl’s upbringing was shaped by the region’s industrial heritage. His father worked at the Buffalo Evening News, and his mother was a receptionist at Hilbert College, where she earned her associate’s degree later in life, instilling a sense of perseverance.
A pivotal period during his high school years involved relocating to Calgary, Alberta, to live with his sister and brother-in-law. After attending an experimental Catholic high school, he gained early work experience as a “Jug Hound” on oil rigs in Northern Alberta and the Yukon. Enduring extreme conditions, including temperatures of forty degrees below zero, this challenging role provided profound life lessons and the motivation to pursue higher education as a pathway to a different future.
Mr. Miehl subsequently earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of San Diego and an MBA in Finance from San Diego State University.
Corporate Experience and Entrepreneurial Genesis
Mr. Miehl’s corporate career began as a financial analyst at a medical ultrasound division of North American Phillips. He then served as a Sales Analyst at IVAC, a high-tech medical company, and later at IMED. This period also included an 18-week backpacking journey through Australia and New Zealand, broadening his global perspective.
Upon returning to the U.S., he held positions as a Senior Financial Analyst at Geneva Capital Markets, a mergers and acquisitions firm, and as a Rollup Specialist for an alarm company. An initial entrepreneurial venture proved a valuable learning experience, leading to a role in telephone sales for Amplicon Leasing, where he honed his understanding of the critical role of sales and marketing in business success.
His entry into the misting industry came through a connection with “Cool Zone,” a fledgling company developing misting products. Mr. Miehl was brought on to assist with capital raising. During his tenure, he was instrumental in pioneering sideline cooling systems for football and managed significant projects, including setting up Inflatable Misters for Budweiser at World Cup USA and negotiating a multi-million dollar deal with Coca-Cola for the Atlanta Olympics.
However, challenges arose after an investment firm’s involvement led to mismanagement. Mr. Miehl observed firsthand how “greed and ego” can undermine a company, reinforcing his belief that “no one person is a company or does one person make a company successful; it takes a team of diligent workers pulling together.”
The Rise of Big Fogg
Drawing on his experience and industry contacts, Mr. Miehl founded Big Fogg. Despite initial challenges, including financial constraints and competitive tactics from his former company, he persevered. Within its first year, Big Fogg secured contracts with key NFL and NCAA football clients, establishing its reputation for reliability and performance.
Since its inception, Big Fogg has undertaken numerous significant projects. Notably, the company assisted Con Edison in restoring power to Manhattan post-9/11 by providing cooling for overloaded transformers. Its portfolio includes:
- Professional Sports: Extensive work with the NFL (Super Bowls, Pro Bowls, Playoff games, including a game at -20°F), MLB (All-Star games), NHL (Winter Classic heating benches), and FIFA World Cup (cooling solutions).
- Major Events: Provided cooling for the US Tennis Open, PGA Championship, and The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
- Commercial & Industrial: Sold and installed over 500 high-pressure misting systems in restaurants, resorts, hotels, warehouses, and industrial applications across Southern California and internationally (e.g., McDonald’s and Burger King in Kuwait City). Other international projects include humidity control for Masonite in Canada and dust control systems in Edmonton, Alberta.
- Strategic Growth: In 2016, Big Fogg acquired a controlling interest in the Cool Zone trademark, now operating as Cool Zone LLC (misting.net).
Big Fogg has been recognized with Medium Business of the Year awards in both Temecula and Murrieta. Mr. Miehl is deeply committed to the community, stating, “I am delighted to have become part of this wonderful community… I feel that even the smallest actions of a company in a community can change the world and make the community and world a better place to live.”
Vision and Future
Now in its 26th year, Big Fogg operates from two buildings behind the French Valley Airport, with additional offices in Austin, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Miehl’s entrepreneurial journey has been one of calculated risks, resilience, and a steadfast belief in his vision. His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to “believe in yourself, go after your dreams, don’t let anyone rain on your parade, and take calculated risks. If you cannot take risks, don’t be an entrepreneur.”
Christopher Miehl continues to lead Big Fogg with a focus on innovation, customer service, and community engagement, embracing the dynamic nature of business and looking forward to continued growth and success.
Contact Christopher at 951-587-2460