The entertainment industry rarely follows a predictable path, but Joe Masciangelo has made navigating its evolving demands look effortless. As chief operating officer of Starlite, Masciangelo has led a surge in operational growth, building a culture around craftsmanship, accountability and creative excellence. His leadership has been instrumental in developing a team that meets each challenge with confidence and results.
Masciangelo’s journey at Starlite has been defined by a commitment to quality and client experience. In just three years, the company has tripled in size and capability. He transformed its structure, implemented sustainable systems and instilled a customer-first mindset that now defines its brand. Under his leadership, Starlite has not only scaled operations but elevated its market reputation.
The world of entertainment lighting and production is dynamic, and Masciangelo understands that preparation for the future must be just as agile. At Starlite, he’s cultivated an environment that embraces the integration of technology, design and logistics. By fostering mentorship and investing in development, the team is being equipped with skills that anticipate not just industry shifts but entirely new categories of opportunity.
Passion, for Masciangelo, isn’t something passively maintained. He surrounds himself with individuals invested in excellence and makes a point of recognizing their talents. That daily reinforcement of purpose has made its way into every facet of the business. Masciangelo’s enthusiasm is contagious, and the pride he takes in team achievement inspires a standard that others are eager to uphold.
If he could master any skill instantly, it would be bringing people with different communication styles into effective dialogue. In a company where creative, technical and operational minds converge, differences in how individuals speak, listen and problem-solve can lead to breakdowns. Masciangelo believes bridging those gaps is key to building empowered, cohesive teams. He works daily to hone this skill, knowing that strong communication is the foundation of a thriving culture.
His rise through the organization was shaped by relentless curiosity and a willingness to lean into hard challenges. Masciangelo found that the most demanding tasks often produced the most rewarding outcomes. Whether refining a process, uplifting a teammate or solving a logistical hurdle, he took every opportunity to push for better. That mindset ultimately led him to help shape Starlite’s direction from the executive level.
Over the next five years, Masciangelo envisions a company that expands into new markets while staying true to its values. Strategic partnerships, operational discipline and team empowerment are central to that outlook. Success, for him, is measured not only by scale but by the quality of relationships and outcomes it produces.
Named a Titan 100 Honoree, Masciangelo exemplifies the foresight, discipline and dedication that define leaders at the top of their industries. Among his many accomplishments, he is most proud of the team he has built—one that reflects his values and multiplies his impact every day.
