BRIDGETON, MO, October 21, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Steven R. Philipp Jr. has been recognized for his leadership in the industrial specialty contracting field. His work protects America's critical infrastructure from fire, water, and corrosion.

Mr. Philipp is President and Owner of Coatings Unlimited, Inc. (CUI). The company is a fifth-generation, family-owned industrial specialty contractor that specializes in protective coatings, linings, and fireproofing. He has led the company since 2018. He is responsible for developing talent, identifying new markets, and allocating capital to drive long-term growth.

Under his leadership, CUI has grown at a compound annual rate of approximately 20 percent. The company holds AMPP QP-1, QP-2, QP-8, and QS-1 certifications. Its field work is performed by its own union craft workforce (IUPAT District Council 58). Mr. Philipp placed CUI in a group captive insurance program, National Contractors Insurance, so the company manages its own risk and controls its insurance costs. His focus on safety has given CUI an Experience Modification Rate of 0.68, well below the industry average. In 2026, the company received the NCI Award of Excellence for Risk Control.

From 1990 to 2018, Mr. Philipp served as Vice President of CUI. During that time he expanded the company into the defense, automotive, mining, nuclear energy, and government sectors. This drove steady growth in market share and craft man-hours.

His career in the field began in high school, working summer projects on job sites. After college, he moved into estimating and project management roles and advanced through the company.

The Philipp family's work in the trades dates back to 1870 in New Orleans, which makes Mr. Philipp the fifth generation in the industry. His grandfather, Harold Frederick Philipp, founded Coatings Unlimited in 1954, so he is also the third generation to lead the family business. Mr. Philipp believes the company's competitive advantage is its people. He considers helping others succeed his most significant accomplishment.

Mr. Philipp earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1998, with concentrations in management, finance, and industrial psychology. He also studied Construction Engineering Technology at Missouri State University. He completed a construction leadership program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and earned an Advanced Management Certificate from Washington University's Olin Business School. He holds certifications from SSPC: The Society for Protective Coatings and NACE International, which are now unified as AMPP (Association for Materials Protection and Performance). He is also a member of Vistage, the executive peer advisory organization.

Mr. Philipp credits much of his success to the mentorship of his grandfather, his uncle, and his father, Steven Philipp Sr., who serves as Chairman of CUI. He also credits the steady support of his wife, whose understanding has been vital given how often his work requires him to travel.

Outside the business, Mr. Philipp is active in civic life and philanthropy. He supports the Veiled Prophet of St. Louis, Operation Sun SCREEN, and initiatives that benefit military veterans. He volunteers with developmentally challenged children and their families. He donates to the Humane Society, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Heifer International. Through CUI, he also sponsors youth motorsports.

In 2026, Mr. Philipp published BUILT: The Fifth-Generation Contractor's Manifesto for Debt-Free, AI-Proof Success in the Golden Age of the Trades (builtthebook.com). The book makes the case for skilled-trade careers as a debt-free path to success. It aims to change how families and schools talk about the trades.

Mr. Philipp was born in St. Louis. He values time with his family, including his three daughters, and enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and boating with them and their two dogs. Looking ahead, he is leading CUI into its next phase of growth and developing the leaders who will carry the company forward.

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