VitalSpace

The Partnership

Founder-Led to Institutional Quality

VitalSpace, formerly known as SteelCell, entered a transformational growth phase following investment and partnership with Heartwood Partners in 2021. As the organization evolved from a founder-led business into a scaled, multi-vertical enterprise, leadership recognized the need to build an institutional-quality executive team capable of supporting rapid expansion, operational complexity, and acquisition integration.

We partnered closely with both the executive leadership team and Heartwood to help design and build the leadership infrastructure for this next chapter, professionalizing the organizational structure while maintaining the entrepreneurial culture that fueled its success.

Engagement Scope

Where We Placed Leadership

• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO)
• Compliance Leader
• Operations Leader
• Directors of Quality and Sales
• Additional functional leadership across back-office and operations

Key Challenges

Scaling on Several Fronts

• Transitioning from a founder-led operating model into a more mature, PE-backed structure
• Supporting rapid organic growth across multiple business verticals
• Integrating two significant acquisitions during the transformation period
• Building scalable operational, compliance, HR, and financial infrastructure
• Recruiting high-caliber executives willing to relocate to a rural global headquarters
• Maintaining culture and operational continuity amid aggressive expansion

Our Approach

A Targeted, National Search

We identified leaders with experience in:

• Private equity-backed growth environments
• Multi-site operational leadership
• Manufacturing and industrial scalability
• Acquisition integration
• HR and compliance infrastructure development
• Building process-driven organizations while preserving entrepreneurial agility

Because the company's global headquarters was in a rural market, our process required extensive national outreach, relocation management, and candidate engagement strategies designed to attract executives seeking long-term growth and meaningful leadership impact.

Results

Substantial Growth

During the partnership, VitalSpace experienced substantial organizational growth and operational expansion, including:

• Workforce growth from 83 employees in 2021 to more than 530 in 2026
• Expansion into multiple operating verticals
• Successful integration of two major acquisitions
• Development of a professionalized executive leadership structure
• Strengthened operational, financial, compliance, and people infrastructure
• Successful relocation and onboarding of key executives into the headquarters community