Our Evolution

A History of Achievements

Coming from modest beginnings, Stellar was established in 1985 as a 12-person company specializing in refrigeration contracting, maintenance, service and parts supply. Today, Stellar has grown into a full-service firm with more than 750 employees, offering multifaceted design and construction services to businesses around the world. Throughout much of its recent history, Stellar has been continually ranked as one of the nation's Top 25 companies in the design-build industry and among the top 100 contractors in the United States by Engineering News-Record.

1985

From Left to Right: Walter “Chuck” Foster, Ron Foster Sr, George Albertelli, and Bobby Cothren

In July of 1985, Stellar opened in Jacksonville with fewer than 30 employees as a general contracting firm with a specialized refrigeration contracting, maintenance service and parts supply capability to service perishable food manufacturing and distribution industries. Stellar's first projects, the renovation and expansion of Epping Forest's Yacht and Country Club and service contracts for Tropicana, laid the groundwork for Stellar to become what it is today.

Stellar completes first public refrigerated warehouse for industrial cold storage in Jacksonville, Florida. This project paved the way for Stellar to become the largest ammonia refrigeration contractor in the nation.

Stellar adds additional refrigeration parts & service locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina.

Stellar expands its headquarters office building with a new 3-story structure that connects to the original building by way of a glass-enclosed atrium.

Stellar is recognized as one the "First Coast Fifty" by Jacksonville Business Journal

1990

Stellar builds world’s largest pork-processing plant for Smithfield Foods and wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year

Stellar adds building envelope/self-performed thermal construction services

Stellar becomes the first company in Jacksonville history to be recognized with the Platinum Safety Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors.

Stellar created new internet-based software for facility managers and operators unheard of in the industry, yet extremely powerful in reducing accidents, government fines and/or shutdowns. Stellar Interactive Solutions provides software that effectively assists with a facility daily operational activities for Process Safety Management, Risk Management training and maintenance. SIS is designed to help facilities meet compliance standards outlined by OSHA, EPA, FDA and USDA.

2000

Maple Leaf engaged Stellar to build a plant capable of producing pork at the world’s fastest rates, offering the highest-quality meat, and integrating both automation and human interaction. Stellar also guided the installation of processing equipment, central utility, refrigeration systems, computer logistic systems, wastewater treatment and back-up generation.

Stellar Interactive Solutions launched an innovative tool for evaluating plant operations called SimPro software at the IIAR Ammonia Refrigeration Conference in Acapulco, Mexico. This software was developed to allow users the opportunity to perform maintenance and safety compliance procedures in a virtual reality environment based on a client's actual facility.

Stellar adds process engineering experts to their team of experts

2010

Keystone Foods wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year

Stellar engineers a state-of-the-art, 1,658,000 square-foot bakery, the world’s largest bakery facility, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Stellar opens a dedicated refrigeration office in Pottsville, PA

Stellar celebrates 30 years growing from less than 12 employees in 1985 to more than 600 employees and $400+ million in annual revenue.

2015

Starbucks Soluble Coffee Plant project wins Food Engineering Magazine's Fabulous Food Plant of the Year

Bell & Evans project wins Food Engineering Magazine's Fabulous Food Plant of the Year

Stellar expands it's Wisconsin office

Ron Foster Sr. Inducted into UF's Construction Hall of Fame

Royal Cup's coffee processing facility project wins Profood World's 2019 Manufacturing Innovation Award of the Year

New leadership at Stellar with Ron Foster, Jr. remaining as Chairman, Mike Santarone becomes CEO and Brian Kappele becomes Stellar’s new COO.

Stellar celebrates 35 years

2020

Cuisine Solutions Sous Vide Plant wins Food Engineering Magazine's Sustainable Plant of the Year

Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Harvesting Plant wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year

Brian Kappele is named CEO & Mike Santarone becomes a Stellar board member

Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Harvesting Plant wins Stellar’s first DBIA Award

Mike Santarone inducted into UF Construction Hall of Fame

2024

Scott Mark is named COO

Stacey King is named CHRO – the first female to become an executive leader in Stellar’s history

JBS Prepared Foods Dried Meats Production Facility wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Project of the Year

Stellar continues its expansion with new offices in Honolulu, HI and Gainesville, FL

Stellar builds Nutrition Center at Jacksonville, FL headquarters

New Core Values established: Trust, Dedication, Transparency, and Accountability