Stellar Employee Spotlight: John Steenblock

11.13.25

Dedicated might be the best word to describe John Steenblock, our Senior Manager of IT. Throughout his career, he has established a legacy of growth at Stellar while also dedicating himself to serving his community.
 
John’s 15-year career with Stellar includes several stepping stones. He joined the Stellar team in 1994 in Mechanical Operations. Noting the potential for growth in the company, he dedicated himself to learning all he could and eventually advanced to become one of our first Manufacturing Engineers.
 
As technology evolved, John saw an opportunity to explore new careers. He earned his master’s degree in business and MIS from Iowa State University. He left Stellar in 2004 to gain experience in IT and data storage, then moved back to the Garner area in 2018 and rejoined the Stellar IT team.
 
Outside of work, John well represents the Stellar spirit of community service. In 2019, he completed EMS training and joined the Garner Ambulance Service, later earning his associate’s degree in paramedicine. This fall marks his sixth year as an ambulance service volunteer. As John puts it, “It gets in your blood.” He believes that the most crucial thing in life is to give back to the community that supports you. His inspiration comes from his father, who served as a firefighter in his hometown of Belmond, Iowa.
 
Balancing IT leadership with EMS duties is not always easy, but John sees both roles as complementary. Critical thinking, remaining calm under pressure and problem-solving are skills he utilizes daily in both fields. Each career enables him to make a meaningful impact, whether by providing support to Stellar employee-owners or serving his neighbors in times of need. As John sums it up, “IT is my day job, but EMS is my passion.”
 
Stellar is proud of our employee-owners who serve as first responders in our communities. We encourage any employee-owners who have considered giving back to this community to explore opportunities in EMS, firefighting, or other forms of volunteer service. John has advice to others considering the ambulance or firefighter services: “Fill out that application! If your heart is in it, follow it. It takes a special kind of person to volunteer, and empathy is the most important part.”
 
Like we said, dedicated.

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