Built on precision.
Driven by results.
Apex Refinery Solutions was founded in 1998 by a team of process engineers who saw a recurring problem in the industry: facility operators were caught between large EPC contractors who over-promised and under-delivered, and small consulting firms that could advise but not execute.
We built Apex to occupy a different position — a firm with the engineering depth to design real solutions, the project management infrastructure to execute them on schedule, and the regulatory expertise to navigate compliance without relying on the client's internal team.
Over 25 years, we've grown from a three-person Orlando, Florida office to a team of 140+ engineers, project managers, and compliance specialists operating across all 48 contiguous states. We've completed more than 340 projects across petroleum refining, sugar processing, and precious metal refining — delivering $3.2 billion in processed materials value and maintaining a 98% on-time delivery rate.
That track record is the result of a culture that treats every project like our reputation is on the line — because it is.
Founded in Orlando, FL. A team of three process engineers establishes Apex Refinery Solutions, focusing on petroleum refinery consulting for Bay Area industrial clients.
First major renovation contract. Apex manages its first full refinery renovation project — a 120-day turnaround for a California petroleum facility. Delivered 11 days ahead of schedule.
Sugar processing expansion. We extend our expertise into agricultural commodity processing, completing our first sugar refinery renovation in Louisiana.
Precious metals division launched. Apex enters the precious metals refining sector, adding gold, silver, and platinum group metal processing to our service portfolio.
ISO 9001:2015 certification achieved. We obtain ISO certification across all divisions, formalizing quality management systems that had been in informal use since 2005.
200th project milestone. Apex completes its 200th refinery renovation or processing project, with operations now spanning 28 states.
340+ projects, nationwide reach. Operating in all 48 contiguous states with a team of 140+ specialists and a 98% on-time delivery rate maintained across the portfolio.
Mission & Core Values
To plan, manage, and deliver refinery renovation and raw material processing projects with engineering precision, regulatory integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our clients' timelines and objectives.
Every decision — from scope definition to contractor selection to materials procurement — is made with careful analysis, not assumption. We measure twice before committing. We document everything. Sloppy execution has no place in environments where a single error can cost lives or shut down a facility.
We tell clients what's true, not what's comfortable. If a scope is underspecified, we say so before signing. If a schedule risk materializes, we surface it immediately. Our long-term client relationships are built on a pattern of straight talk — including the news that isn't easy to deliver.
Refinery environments carry real physical risk. Our site teams follow OSHA Process Safety Management protocols rigorously, run daily safety briefings, and have the authority to stop work if conditions are unsafe. We've maintained a recordable incident rate below the industry average for 15 consecutive years.
We sign contracts with fixed delivery schedules and stand behind them. When unexpected conditions arise — and they always do on complex renovation projects — we absorb the problem-solving effort rather than passing it back to the client. The schedule is our responsibility, not a shared target.
Leadership Team
Our senior team brings deep domain expertise across process engineering, project management, regulatory compliance, and operations.
Susan founded Apex in 1998 after 12 years as a process engineer at Chevron. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Engineering Management from Stanford. Her focus on accountability and schedule discipline defines the Apex operating model.
Maria oversees all project delivery and field operations. A licensed Professional Engineer with 22 years in refinery project management, she joined Apex in 2004 from Bechtel. She has managed projects totaling over $900M in construction value.
David leads our raw material processing and purification division. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from MIT and spent a decade in R&D at Degussa before joining Apex in 2010. He is a recognized expert in precious metal electrolytic refining and agricultural commodity processing.
Industry Certifications & Standards
Our certifications reflect a genuine commitment to quality, safety, and environmental responsibility — not just documentation for the sake of it.
Our facility operators hold EPA certification in hazardous waste operations, air quality management, and wastewater treatment. This credential ensures our field teams can legally and competently operate refinery environmental control systems, coordinate agency inspections, and manage compliance documentation without relying on external consultants.
All Apex site supervisors are trained and certified in OSHA's PSM standard for highly hazardous chemicals. Our PSM programs include process hazard analyses (PHAs), written operating procedures, mechanical integrity protocols, management of change (MOC) systems, and emergency response planning. We've maintained a TRIR below 0.9 for 15 consecutive years.
Apex achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification across all business units in 2015. Our quality management system governs project planning, execution, inspection, non-conformance tracking, and continual improvement processes. Annual surveillance audits are conducted by Bureau Veritas. Our certification scope covers refinery renovation management, raw material processing, and quality control services.
Apex holds active NACE International membership and employs five NACE Certified Corrosion Technologists. Our corrosion engineering capability is critical to refinery renovation work — aging infrastructure in petroleum facilities faces accelerated corrosion from process streams, and identifying and addressing it early prevents costly mid-project discoveries and ensures long asset service life post-renovation.
Nationwide Operations
We operate across all 48 contiguous states with regional project teams based on the Gulf Coast, West Coast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Our distributed model means we can mobilize local expertise quickly, without the relocation costs and timeline delays that come with centralized firms.
Work with a team that takes ownership.
25 years of projects completed. 98% delivered on time. One firm that manages it all from start to finish.