Stellar, a fully integrated firm focused on design, engineering, construction and mechanical services worldwide, has promoted four of its most senior-level executives, recognizing their continued leadership and performance. Brian Kappele and Richard Lovelace were promoted from Divisional Vice President to Senior Vice President, and Clint Pyle and John Heinzel were promoted from Vice President to Divisional Vice President.

“As we continue to grow and lead our industry as one of the only true design-build firms with the ability to self perform all critical scopes of work for a range of complex facilities, the quality of our leadership is vitally important,” said Mike Santarone, Stellar’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “These four leaders have proven themselves through outstanding performance, a relentless drive to be the very best at what we do, and by serving as role models for our industry.”

As Senior Vice President, Brian Kappele will lead Stellar’s Food Group, which includes a wide range of professionals providing services for food processing and distribution facilities. In addition to architecture, engineering and construction, Stellar self performs refrigeration, mechanical, utilities, and building envelope services. Stellar is one of the world’s top food manufacturing design-build firms, with long-term clients such as Starbucks, Heinz, Nestlé and Kraft.

In his role, Richard Lovelace will lead the Commercial and Military Groups, responsible for designing and building facilities for the federal government and a range of industries, including automotive, faith-based, educational, hospitality, healthcare, office/retail, institutional and recreational. With more than $225 million in military projects to date, Stellar has extensive experience in federal projects, from lodging to heavy machinery, recreation, waterfront facilities and more.

As Divisional Vice President, Clint Pyle will continue to oversee all of Stellar’s finance, accounting, payroll, procurement and IT functions. 

John Heinzel joined Stellar following a long Navy career, achieving the rank of Captain. As Divisional Vice President, he will continue to oversee the company’s growing Refrigeration and Mechanical/Utilities Groups, serving the food and cold storage industries, as well as other markets in need of advanced industrial refrigeration and mechanical expertise.

Stellar is an architecture, engineering, construction and mechanical services firm. Using a fully integrated approach, Stellar’s team of more than 600 people worldwide create award-winning food and beverage processing plants; refrigerated warehouses; distribution centers; commercial, institutional and military facilities; and industrial refrigeration, mechanical, thermal, cooling and power systems. In addition to its Jacksonville, Fla., headquarters, Stellar operates 12 support locations throughout the United States and has offices in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, China and Puerto Rico. The company also serves Central and South America, Europe and India. For more information, visit www.stellar.net.