Stephen Draper

Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer Envision Cold

Last Reviewed: September 28, 2026

Executive Summary

Stephen Draper is cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of Envision Cold, an Alpharetta, Georgia company that owns and operates temperature-controlled warehouses and cold chain services. He leads its operations across the United States and Canada, oversees its customer relationships and helps set its strategy. He is the operator among the three founders, all former Americold colleagues. Draper started at Americold in 1993 as a forklift operator in Clearfield, Utah. He ended up running its Southeast business unit as Vice President of Operations, responsible for about 50 facilities across 14 states and some 3,000 employees. Envision Cold launched in August 2023 on a $500 million investment from an institutional capital partner.

Career Highlights

• Cofounder and Chief Operating Officer of Envision Cold, leading operations in the United States and Canada.
• Launched Envision Cold in August 2023 with cofounders Austin Solem and Eric Diaz, backed by a $500 million investment raised with Newmark as adviser.
• Vice President of Operations at Americold, responsible for its Southeast business unit: 14 states, about 50 facilities and upwards of 3,000 employees.
• Supported Americold’s 2018 initial public offering. His responsibilities afterwards grew to include acquisitions, greenfield projects and automation.
• Began his career in 1993 as a forklift operator at Americold in Clearfield, Utah. He then held leadership roles in Boise, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Charlotte and Huntsville.

Professional Journey

Draper joined Americold in 1993 as a 19-year-old forklift operator at its Clearfield, Utah site. His company describes him as someone who “grew up in cold storage”. Over the following years he took on leadership roles at Americold sites and regions across the country, including Boise, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Charlotte and Huntsville. He eventually became Vice President of Operations for Americold’s Southeast business unit. That region spanned 14 states, around 50 facilities and some 3,000 employees. Envision Cold’s bio also says he played a role in supporting Americold’s 2018 IPO. After the listing his responsibilities widened to include oversight of acquisitions, greenfield developments and new automation.

At Americold he worked closely with Eric Diaz, a finance executive, and Austin Solem, who ran its mergers and acquisitions work. By Envision Cold’s account, the three became friends outside work. During the COVID-19 pandemic they concluded that the cold chain needed a new kind of operator to keep pace with the industry’s growth. They pitched the idea to private equity firms and investment banks, and in the resulting founding team Draper took the operating role.

Envision Cold announced its launch on 14 August 2023 with a $500 million investment from an undisclosed capital partner. Newmark, which advised on the raise, later described that partner as an institutional investor. By launch the company had already closed acquisitions of cold storage operations and assets in Oakland, San Francisco, Laredo and Vancouver. As COO, Draper runs the network that has grown since then, with facilities from California, Washington and British Columbia to Savannah, Miami, Minnesota, Michigan and the Texas border crossings. He also oversees the company’s customer relationships. Outside the business he is involved in the Global Cold Chain Alliance, with a focus on developing the industry’s future leaders.

Education

No education record was found in the company biography, the launch coverage or any other first-party source.