STG Leaders Honored for Driving Cold Chain Resilience and Innovation

COLUMBUS, OH – February 02, 2026 – In a significant acknowledgment of leadership within the critical global food supply chain, Food Logistics magazine has named two senior executives from STG Logistics as recipients of its 2026 Rock Stars of the Supply Chain Award. Vince Paperiello, Executive Vice President & Group President of Transportation, received the Leaders in Excellence award, while Todd Larson, Senior Vice President of Contract Logistics, was honored with the Top Warehousing Leader award.

The annual awards recognize influential individuals whose vision, hard work, and achievements are actively shaping the future of the supply chain. The recognition highlights STG's growing prominence in providing sophisticated, temperature-controlled logistics solutions.

"At STG Logistics, we are enormously fortunate to have talented, committed leaders throughout our organization," said Geoff Anderman, STG's Chief Executive Officer, in a statement. "These awards highlight the continuous contribution Vince and Todd make to our organization every day and to the supply chain industry as a whole."

The Architects of Operational Excellence

The awards celebrate two leaders steering distinct but interconnected pillars of STG's integrated logistics model. Vince Paperiello, recognized for his excellence in leadership, has been instrumental in refining the company's vast transportation network, which includes intermodal, drayage, and brokerage operations. Since joining STG in 2024 after a distinguished career at Hub Group, Paperiello has implemented a data-driven culture focused on disciplined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and process efficiency. His strategic approach to network optimization, customer segmentation, and pricing has yielded tangible results, including improved driver productivity, reduced operational costs, and lower emissions.

Todd Larson's Top Warehousing Leader award underscores his success in expanding and enhancing STG's Contract Logistics (CLS) division. Described as a "people-first leader," Larson has fostered a robust safety culture while driving exceptional customer satisfaction and financial performance. Under his guidance, the CLS segment has significantly grown its food-grade and value-added services. This expansion includes the launch of two new, strategically located facilities in California and Georgia, strengthening STG’s footprint in key consumer goods and light industrial markets. Larson was a key figure in managing the operational integration following STG's transformative acquisition of XPO Logistics' intermodal division in 2022, demonstrating his deep operational and financial expertise.

Navigating the Complexities of the Modern Cold Chain

The achievements of Paperiello and Larson are set against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile and demanding global market. The cold food supply chain, responsible for moving temperature-sensitive goods from farm to table, faces a barrage of modern challenges.

"From cargo fraud and natural disasters to ever-changing food safety regulations and increase in tariffs and cost of goods, many of today's supply chain leaders are faced with a number of challenges," noted Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics. "But it's their resilience, hard work, innovation and attention to quality, sustainability and food safety that separates these rock stars apart from everyone else."

STG Logistics has positioned itself to meet these challenges head-on by providing highly specialized, end-to-end solutions. The company operates a network of strategically positioned, temperature-controlled warehouses designed to safeguard product integrity. Its services extend beyond traditional storage to include efficient cross-docking, real-time inventory control, and rigorous quality control processes. Underscoring its commitment to the highest standards, STG's operations are enhanced by an organic certification through Oregon Tilth, a critical credential for clients in the organic food sector.

A Strategy Forged by Acquisition and Integration

The individual accolades for Paperiello and Larson reflect a broader corporate strategy that has aggressively reshaped STG Logistics into a national powerhouse. Backed by private equity firms Wind Point Partners, Oaktree Capital Management, and Duration Capital Partners, STG has pursued a deliberate growth-by-acquisition strategy since 2016.

This strategy culminated in the game-changing $710 million acquisition of XPO Logistics' intermodal division in March 2022. The deal instantly transformed STG into one of North America's leading providers of fully integrated, port-to-door containerized logistics. By acquiring 48 locations, thousands of containers, tractors, and chassis, and established rail partnerships, STG gained direct control over nearly every step of a container's journey. This vertical integration significantly reduced its reliance on third-party capacity, providing a crucial competitive advantage in a market often plagued by disruptions and capacity shortages.

This acquisitive momentum has continued, with the company diversifying into truck transportation and less-than-truckload (LTL) services through recent acquisitions of Frontline Carrier Systems and Clear Lane Freight Systems. The company's private equity sponsors have signaled their continued confidence in this approach, backing a $300 million financing package in late 2024 to fuel further organic growth and strategic acquisitions.

This powerful combination of strategic acquisitions and operational refinement allows STG to offer a seamless, single-source solution for clients, a capability that is becoming increasingly valuable. The leadership of executives like Paperiello and Larson is essential to integrating these new assets and ensuring that the company's expansive network operates as a single, efficient machine. Their recognition by Food Logistics validates not only their personal contributions but the success of a business model built to bring stability and reliability to a complex and vital global industry.