JACKSONVILLE, FLA. — Design-build firm Stellar announced Jan. 9 the promotion of several key team members to executive roles, all effective Jan. 1. According to the company, the shuffle marks a “pivotal moment in the company’s continued growth.”

“I am proud to announce the well-deserved promotions of these exceptional leaders,” said Brian Kappele, chief executive officer at Stellar. “These individuals embody the essence of our company’s commitment to excellence and innovation. Their passion, dedication and expertise are integral to our continued success. As we forge ahead, these leaders will help shape Stellar’s future, driving growth and ensuring we remain at the forefront of the design-build industry. Congratulations to each of them on their well-earned achievements.”

Scott Mark has been promoted to chief operating officer after more than 25 years with Stellar. He has held several roles throughout his tenure with the company, including division vice president, where he managed growth for its Food & Beverage Division, as well as executive vice president of Stellar’s consolidated Food Group, where he oversaw cold storage, thermal, manufacturing, engineering and construction projects.

In his latest role as chief operating officer, Mark will be tasked with directing the company’s Industrial and Commercial segments. He will also oversee Stellar’s Field Services, Quality and Safety (FQS) initiatives. Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from the University of North Florida, and joined Stellar as an intern upon graduation.

Stacey King has been elevated to chief human resources officer after most recently serving as vice president of human resources. She joined Stellar in 2019 as human resources manager with more than two decades of talent management, training and development, recruiting and planning under her belt.

King will manage all HR functions in her new role, including retention and recruiting efforts, training and career development, and employee engagement. She received her bachelor’s in journalism from Boston University, which she leveraged as a reporter before shifting her career to the HR and hospitality industries.

After serving as director of corporate parts since 2018, Robbie Roberson has been promoted to vice president of aftermarket services at Stellar. He brings more than 25 years of experience to the new role, having previously served the company’s Refrigeration Group. According to Stellar, Roberson’s skillset is expected to support the company’s Aftermarket Refrigeration Group in the areas of operations, engineering and procurement. He holds both Bachelor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Jacksonville University.

Peter Wu has been tapped as senior vice president of field, quality and safety. He has held several roles at Stellar, including director of quality, operations manager, and vice president of engineering. Wu offers more than two decades of engineering experience, which he has used to help the company standardize design processes and support quality initiatives throughout his tenure.

In his new role, Wu will be responsible for leveraging data and KPIs to integrate design, quality and construction for continuous training purposes. He earned his bachelor’s in civil/structural engineering from Pennsylvania State University, followed by an MBA in management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Nathan Edwards, who Stellar described as a “16-year industry and Stellar veteran,” has been promoted to vice president of operations for the company’s Food & Beverage division. In his new role, Edwards will support project leads, manage finances for departments, and mentor personnel with the overarching goal of advancing the company’s customer service and operational expertise. He holds a bachelor’s in construction management from the University of North Florida.

Jim Oko brings more than 23 years of experience to his new role of vice president of project development for Stellar’s Food & Beverage segment. In this latest role, Oko will spearhead project development efforts for the company’s Process department. He has held several process-oriented roles with Stellar since 2006, including director of process engineering, director of process development, and project executive. Oko holds a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from the University of New York at Stony Brook.

Morgan Wilbanks has been promoted from to vice president of operations for Stellar’s Commercial division. With 14 years of experience at Stellar and more than two decades of experience in the industry, Wilbanks’ new role will provide him with broader oversight of initiatives for the company’s Commercial division.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.