APS Taps Ken Stone to Lead Growth Amid PE-Backed Expansion

BLUE RIDGE, Texas – January 22, 2026 – In a strategic move signaling aggressive growth ambitions, Advanced Process Solutions (APS) today announced the appointment of industry veteran Ken Stone as its new Vice President of Business Development. The hiring comes on the heels of the company's recent acquisition by private equity firm Provest Equity Partners, creating a powerful combination of new capital and seasoned leadership aimed at capturing a larger share of the booming semiconductor and electronics markets.

Stone is tasked with leading APS's global strategic growth, market expansion, and client relations as the precision manufacturing firm looks to scale its operations. His appointment is a clear indicator of the company's intent to capitalize on its recent momentum, which includes significant project wins and industry accolades.

A New Blueprint for Growth

The appointment of Ken Stone is the first major leadership addition since Provest Equity Partners acquired APS, a move designed to turbocharge the company's growth trajectory. Provest, an Atlanta-based firm founded by seasoned entrepreneurs Suhas Uppalapati and Kerry Byler, specializes in a hands-on approach to scaling industrial and infrastructure-focused companies. Their investment in APS marks the firm's first platform investment in the semiconductor and energy manufacturing sectors, underscoring their confidence in the industry's long-term prospects.

Provest's strategy typically involves leveraging its founders' deep operational expertise to scale capabilities and unlock new market opportunities. This philosophy appears to be in full effect at APS, pairing strategic capital infusion with a targeted leadership hire.

"We are thrilled to welcome Ken to the APS leadership team at such a pivotal moment for our company," said Phillip Pulliam, president and founder of Advanced Process Solutions. "Ken's deep understanding of the markets we serve, combined with his track record of fostering high-value partnerships, makes him the ideal leader to drive our business development efforts."

This dual strategy of private equity backing and expert leadership is designed to position APS to compete more effectively in the global semiconductor equipment market, a sector valued at over $121 billion in 2024 and projected to more than double by 2032.

A Veteran's Mandate in a Booming Market

Ken Stone brings over two decades of experience in technical business development and sales leadership to APS, most recently serving as Director of Global Sales for White Knight Fluid Handling, where he was instrumental in driving revenue growth. At APS, his mandate is broad and critical: identify new market opportunities, optimize the sales pipeline, and ensure the company's engineering and design capabilities align with the rapidly evolving demands of its global clients.

This task is set against the backdrop of unprecedented growth in the semiconductor industry. Fueled by the explosive demand for artificial intelligence, data centers, 5G, and automotive electronics, the semiconductor market is on a trajectory to surpass $1 trillion by 2030. This surge creates immense opportunities for companies like APS that provide the highly specialized equipment and process solutions necessary for advanced chip manufacturing.

"I am honored to join Advanced Process Solutions during this period of significant growth and innovation," said Ken Stone. "APS has built an incredible reputation for exceptional quality and reliability, particularly within the semiconductor industry. I look forward to working with the entire team to expand our reach, enhance our product offerings, and continue delivering the innovative solutions our customers have come to expect."

Stone's expertise will be crucial as APS navigates the complexities of this high-stakes environment, where demand for leading-edge process nodes and advanced packaging solutions is creating new technological challenges and business opportunities.

Cementing a Role in the US Semiconductor Supply Chain

APS's strategic pivot is validated by recent, significant achievements that highlight its growing importance in the domestic semiconductor supply chain. The company was recently honored with the Texas Instruments Supplier Excellence Award, a recognition that places it among the top suppliers for the semiconductor giant.

Perhaps more significantly, APS has secured key project wins at GlobalWafers America, LLC. GlobalWafers, the world's third-largest silicon wafer supplier, is at the forefront of reshoring critical semiconductor manufacturing to the United States. In May 2025, the company opened its new $3.5 billion 12-inch silicon wafer fabrication plant in Sherman, Texas—the first such facility built in the U.S. in over two decades. This project, a beneficiary of the CHIPS and Science Act, is pivotal for creating a robust domestic supply of the foundational material for all semiconductors.

APS's involvement in this landmark project demonstrates its capability to meet the exacting standards of next-generation wafer manufacturing. As GlobalWafers prepares for a potential Phase 2 expansion, partners like APS are positioned to play a continuing role in strengthening America's semiconductor ecosystem. Pulliam noted that Stone’s expertise will be critical in building upon these successes.

From Niche Player to Strategic Partner

The company's evolution from its former identity as Advanced Plastic Services to the more encompassing Advanced Process Solutions reflects a strategic shift from a component manufacturer to a provider of integrated, highly engineered solutions. This transformation is crucial in an industry where collaboration and co-design are essential for technological advancement.

With the financial backing of Provest Equity Partners and the strategic leadership of Ken Stone, APS is poised to accelerate this evolution. The company's focus on delivering process solutions that improve output and optimize workflows is directly aligned with the needs of chipmakers striving for greater efficiency and yield in an increasingly competitive landscape. By strengthening its position as a key technology partner to industry leaders, Advanced Process Solutions is not just growing its business—it is embedding itself as a vital link in the supply chain for the world's most critical technologies.