Dedicated to gleaming precision.
About
West Star is a leading, family-owned U.S. manufacturer offering 50 years of fabricating experience in stainless steel products for commercial food services. We serve restaurants and other businesses nationwide, offering standard and custom stainless steel refrigeration, sinks, tables, exhaust hoods, dish tables, shelving, cabinets and other products. And we meet the highest certification standards in the food service industry. West Star is fast, affordable and dedicated to gleaming precision.
100% owned by women
West Star has recently completed the WBENC Certification to validate that our business is 100 percent owned, controlled, operated, and managed by women. This special certification will give us the ability to compete for real-time business opportunities provided by WBENC Corporate Members and government agencies. 
Company leadership
Michelle Focke
PRESIDENT
Michelle has been the president of West Star Industries since 2013. She has worked for the business for more than 24 years, having started in 1995. Michelle is responsible for the company’s direction and strategy as well as customer relations, which is her biggest strength. In order to foster relationships with clients, she believes in forging lasting partnerships rather than focusing on single projects. One way she does this is by making sure each project is built to meet a customer’s long-term needs. Given her hands-on leadership style, she is directly involved in all day-to-day business. Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Fresno State, where she also played Division I women’s soccer. Michelle is the mother of two and is co-owner of West Star Industries..
Nancy Mittelstadt
SR. ESTIMATOR AND SECRETARY
Nancy has worked for West Star Industries since 1996, and assumed the position of senior estimator and corporate secretary in 2013. Nancy is charged with leading the company’s efforts to provide quick turnaround on project quotes and estimates. Nancy also acts as our main project estimator. Focused on value engineering, Nancy works closely with the internal sales team to ensure that our product designs are well thought-out and the best solution to individual client needs. Rather than focusing on what seems correct at the moment, she is quick to uncover unseen answers. Her goal is to offer the best solution—even when that solution is lower priced.
Rich Hackett
FOUNDER (RETIRED)
Rich Hackett began in the sheet metal industry in 1956 and started his own company, Economy Sheet Metal, in the Bay Area in 1968. Five years later, he incorporated the business and officially changed its name to West Star Industries. Over the next four decades, Rich fostered a family-like culture at West Star because he wanted his people to stay with him and gain a deeper knowledge of the industry. Rich encouraged treating customers like family, too. It’s why West Star is now second to none in industry customer service. Rich is an award-winning sailor, swimmer, pilot, father, and community member. Now retired, he and his wife, Carolyn, spend most of their time with their three children and seven grandchildren.
