Stefan Lopata

Stefan Lopata is President & CEO of Newport Industries – Newport is an ESOP holding company for: Kelso-Burnett – an electrical contractor since 1908, Kelso Burnett Utility – a group that has capabilities in power generation (renewable technology, fossil and nuclear) & medium voltage distribution systems, KB Advanced Technologies – a voice and data communications company since 2010, Contech MSI Co. – a company in fire detection and signaling systems since 1975, Denny’s Fire Control – a company providing high quality extinguishers and service for over 40 years, Pro Com Systems – a low-voltage company providing virtually all aspects of this market segment for over 30 years, Ballard Engineering – providing engineering and power management solutions since 1982. Our complete capabilities include electrical, engineering, nurse call, voice/data communication, central office, fire alarm, security, sound and audio-visual. Kelso Burnett has been consistently ranked as one of the Midwest’s fiftieth largest specialty contractors by ENR magazine for the past thirty-years.

Prior to entering the electrical industry Stef was a police officer. A graduate of the University of Denver, Stef has been a member of Kelso-Burnett since 1994. Stef came to Kelso-Burnett with over 16 years in the Chicagoland electrical industry, he worked in both electrical distribution and electrical contracting.

Stef started with Kelso-Burnett’s Rolling Meadows Office as manager of the Electrical Testing division which evolved into ETTI (Electrical Testing Technologies Inc.). Stef was instrumental in the creation of the Special Projects division which focuses on industrial projects such as conveyor systems for customers like FedEx, UPS, Amason, Jewel Foods, Ford, Home Depot & USPS and printing presses for the Chicago Tribune & Sun-Times. In 1998, Stef became General Manager of Contech MSI Co., was promoted to Vice President in 1999 and President in 2000.

In 2001, Stef was promoted to Vice President of Kelso-Burnett Co. and was elected to the Board of Directors. Stef was promoted to Rolling Meadows Branch Manager in 2004, a position he held until becoming the Executive Vice President / COO in 2011. On January 1, 2010, Newport Industries was created as a holding company for all the subsidiaries. On January 1, 2013, Stefan Lopata became President of KB Advanced Technologies, and was named the ninth President in Kelso-Burnett’s illustrious history. On January 1, 2018, Stef became the President & CEO of Newport Industries.

Stef has been involved in various associations within the Electrical Industry for over 37 years. He is a member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), USGBC and ChicaGO Safety & Sustainability Committee. Stef is the past president of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Electric Association. He is a past president of the Electric Golf Club of Chicago. Stef is licensed by the City of Chicago as a Supervising Electrician and serves in this position for Kelso-Burnett. Stef will be retiring from Newport Industries on 12/31/2024. He will continue to play golf and spend more time at his house on Martha’s Vineyard.