At just 28 years old, Gary Tharaldson II is charting a bold new path in the tech world—one that blends entrepreneurial grit with the wisdom of generational experience. As the founder and CEO of TempLink, a fast-growing temperature monitoring startup, Gary is redefining what it means to lead with purpose and innovation.
A New Vision Built on Old Values
Raised between Las Vegas and Fargo, Gary grew up in two different worlds—one filled with sports and the other steeped in Midwestern business traditions. While his father, billionaire hotelier Gary Tharaldson Sr., made his name through real estate and hospitality, Gary II chose a different route: building something from the ground up.
Instead of stepping into an executive seat within the family’s hotel empire, he took the road less traveled—opting for hands-on work, self-discovery, and eventually founding a company that now serves clients nationwide.
The Birth of TempLink
TempLink was officially launched in late 2023, but its origin traces back to underutilized sensor technology developed by BWR, a hydrogen fuel cell company invested in by the Tharaldson family. Seeing untapped potential, Gary rebranded the tech into a standalone company and began the intense work of scaling it into a full-fledged solution.
What started as a basic sensor and gateway product has evolved into a powerful suite of IoT-driven monitoring devices, now used across industries like:
- Senior Living
- Meat Processing
- Education
Innovation at the Core
TempLink’s rapid growth is driven by Gary’s vision to go beyond cold storage. The team has since developed:
- Waterproof sensors
- Cook-cycle meat probes
- A first-of-its-kind food line probe that requires no external devices and uploads data directly to the cloud—ideal for hygiene-sensitive environments
By listening closely to customer needs and pushing technical boundaries, Gary has led TempLink into some of the most demanding sectors with confidence and creativity.
Learning to Focus, Growing to Scale
One of Gary’s key insights came early: trying to serve too many markets diluted TempLink’s effectiveness. A pivotal shift happened after a large senior living client required nearly 30 sensors for one building—far outpacing other verticals.
From there, Gary made a strategic pivot to focus on senior care and meat processing, TempLink’s two most scalable and sensor-heavy use cases.
The result? Explosive growth. From 2 to 12 employees in less than a year and a national sales footprint built on direct relationships and responsive tech.
Leadership Born From Experience
Gary’s leadership isn’t just technical—it’s deeply personal. From early jobs scouting hotel sites and inspecting renovations to working outside the family business entirely, he’s embraced the hard work behind real success.
While his father remains a trusted mentor, Gary has carved his own space as a founder, builder, and innovator. The father-son dynamic has shifted from coach and player to peer and advisor, rooted in mutual respect and a shared commitment to excellence.
“He doesn’t micromanage me,” Gary II says. “He leads by example. What I’ve picked up from him is the importance of urgency. If something needs doing, do it.”
Leading with Humility and Heart
At the heart of TempLink’s culture is a value passed down from father to son: humility.
As Gary Sr. puts it, “If you treat people right—especially your employees—they’ll build the company for you.”
That philosophy echoes through everything Gary does—from product design to customer care to internal culture. It’s no surprise TempLink has earned its reputation as a high-integrity, high-impact company redefining how industries think about safety and compliance.
TempLink: Built for the Future
Under Gary Tharaldson II’s leadership, TempLink is more than just a tech company—it’s a symbol of thoughtful growth, grounded ambition, and generational wisdom put into action. With a strong team, a clear focus, and a hunger to innovate, TempLink is poised to lead the next wave of IoT-enabled safety solutions.
Learn more about our story, our team, and how we’re building smarter, safer systems—one sensor at a time.