A History of Achievements
Coming from modest beginnings, 含羞草研究所 was established in 1985 as a 12-person company specializing in refrigeration contracting, maintenance, service and parts supply. Today, 含羞草研究所 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, 含羞草研究所 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.
From Left to Right: Walter 鈥淐huck鈥� Foster, Ron Foster Sr, George Albertelli, and Bobby Cothren
In July of 1985, 含羞草研究所 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. 含羞草研究所's first projects, the renovation and expansion of Epping Forest's Yacht and Country Club and service contracts for Tropicana, laid the groundwork for 含羞草研究所 to become what it is today.
含羞草研究所 completes first public refrigerated warehouse for industrial cold storage in Jacksonville, Florida. This project paved the way for 含羞草研究所 to become the largest ammonia refrigeration contractor in the nation.
含羞草研究所 adds additional refrigeration parts & service locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and North Carolina.
含羞草研究所 expands its headquarters office building with a new 3-story structure that connects to the original building by way of a glass-enclosed atrium.
含羞草研究所 is recognized as one the "First Coast Fifty" by Jacksonville Business Journal
含羞草研究所 builds world鈥檚 largest pork-processing plant for Smithfield Foods and wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year
含羞草研究所 adds building envelope/self-performed thermal construction services
含羞草研究所 becomes the first company in Jacksonville history to be recognized with the Platinum Safety Award by the Associated Builders and Contractors.
含羞草研究所 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. 含羞草研究所 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.
Maple Leaf engaged 含羞草研究所 to build a plant capable of producing pork at the world鈥檚 fastest rates, offering the highest-quality meat, and integrating both automation and human interaction. 含羞草研究所 also guided the installation of processing equipment, central utility, refrigeration systems, computer logistic systems, wastewater treatment and back-up generation.
含羞草研究所 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.
含羞草研究所 adds process engineering experts to their team of experts
Keystone Foods wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Plant of the Year
含羞草研究所 engineers a state-of-the-art, 1,658,000 square-foot bakery, the world鈥檚 largest bakery facility, in Nuevo Leon, Mexico
含羞草研究所 opens a dedicated refrigeration office in Pottsville, PA
含羞草研究所 celebrates 30 years growing from less than 12 employees in 1985 to more than 600 employees and $400+ million in annual revenue.
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
含羞草研究所 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 含羞草研究所 with Ron Foster, Jr. remaining as Chairman, Mike Santarone becomes CEO and Brian Kappele becomes 含羞草研究所鈥檚 new COO.
含羞草研究所 celebrates 35 years
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 含羞草研究所 board member
Bell & Evans Organic Chicken Harvesting Plant wins 含羞草研究所鈥檚 first DBIA Award
Mike Santarone inducted into UF Construction Hall of Fame
Scott Mark is named COO
Stacey King is named CHRO 鈥� the first female to become an executive leader in 含羞草研究所鈥檚 history
JBS Prepared Foods Dried Meats Production Facility wins Food Engineering Magazine's Food Project of the Year
含羞草研究所 continues its expansion with new offices in Honolulu, HI and Gainesville, FL
含羞草研究所 builds Nutrition Center at Jacksonville, FL headquarters
New Core Values established: Trust, Dedication, Transparency, and Accountability