John Stege serves as Chief Relationship Officer at Stansell Construction, leading the charge in strengthening and nurturing client relationships while ensuring the company's commitment to service remains front and center. His deep industry knowledge and personal approach to relationships have been a cornerstone of Stansell's success, and this role allows him to focus intentionally on what he does best: connecting with people.
With a career that began in the hospitality industry where he worked for 23 years, John has been managing and motivating people since the age of 18. At this stage of his life, he finds fulfillment in mentoring people and helping build the Stansell Construction brand. The transition from hospitality in 2007 was both interesting and challenging, but the leadership training and skills he developed proved highly transferrable, particularly the mindset of focusing on the customer. Construction isn't typically known for being customer-focused, but that's exactly what Stansell strives for, and it's what John brings to the table every day with the team.
As a Licensed Certified Building Contractor, John holds licenses for all states where Stansell operates that require licensure, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining professional qualifications across the company's multi-state operations.
John's career began in the hospitality industry, where he spent 23 years with McDonald's Corporation from 1985 to 2007, ultimately serving as a Supervisor at McDonald's Brickman for 19 years. This experience gave him access to McDonald's world-class management development program, and he considers himself blessed to have gone through that program during his time with the organization. More importantly, he worked for amazing leaders who invested in him, shaping his approach to leadership and team development.
The skills and mindset he developed in hospitality—focusing on the customer, managing teams, and delivering consistent service—would prove invaluable when he transitioned to construction in 2007. John started his construction career building modular homes in Louisiana from 2007 to 2010, gaining hands-on experience in a new industry while applying the leadership principles he had learned.
After a brief period as Managing Member of Stege Consulting from May 2010 to June 2011, John joined Stansell Construction in 2011 as a superintendent. He quickly moved into project management and became an owner in August 2014, demonstrating his ability to deliver results and build trust with partners and clients alike.
Although John does not have a college education, he has gone through many leadership development courses and has become a lifelong learner when it comes to growing as a leader. He credits his success to the investment others made in him and to the amazing partners who complement his strengths. Together, they have been able to attract and retain talented individuals who challenge and motivate him every day.
John served as President of Stansell Properties & Development from June 2011 to April 2025, guiding the company's growth and establishing its reputation for customer-focused construction. In April 2025, he transitioned to Chief Relationship Officer, a role that leverages his greatest strengths: building relationships, mentoring people, and ensuring every client interaction reflects Stansell's commitment to exceptional service.
