Corporate Team
Douglas Hignell, CEO
Doug Hignell directly supervises the executive management team. Doug and his father, Fred, formed Hignell & Hignell, Inc. in 1970, recently re-named The Hignell Companies. He received an M.B.A. and Ph.D. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and holds a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering. He holds the title of Certified Property Manager (CPM) from the Institute of Real Estate Management and the title of Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) from the National Realtors Institute.
Philip Larios, President & COO
Phil Larios oversees all of The Hignell Companies. Phil joined the firm in 2003. He came to Hignell with extensive business and construction experience, 5 years of general management and 15 years of executive management in professional/retail lumber sales, manufacturing, construction, fabrication, facility management, investment and the sales and purchasing of commodities. Phil has over 20 years of risk and insurance experience throughout the state of California and Nevada. Phil places a high priority on ethics, combining a strong marketing and sales focus with a commitment to quality customer care and improvement of the community in which we live.
Vito Mulé, CFO
Vito Mulé directs and oversees all finance and accounting functions at The Hignell Companies. Vito joined the company with extensive management, operations and finance experience in the retail construction supply industry, agriculture produce and transportation industry, non-profit organization administration, and as a consultant to other retail, commercial and medical industry clients. A California CPA since 1976, Vito has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Golden Gate University, and is a member in good standing with both the American Institute of CPA's and the California Society of CPA's.
Rich Sprenkel, Community & Corporate Ministry Director
Rich Sprenkel is a Real Estate Broker and has been with The Hignell Companies since 1974. Prior to joining The Hignell Companies, Rich was in Real Estate sales for eighteen years. As a Broker, he ran the Real Estate Sales office for the company for many years. He has been part of The Hignell Companies Management Team for over twenty years and is a member of the Board of Directors. He has been involved in many projects over the last twenty nine years including Husa Ranch, Sterling Oaks, The Courtyard, Riders Crossing, Woodoak Condos and Morseman Duplexes. Currently Rich focuses on ensuring that the ministry plan of The Hignell Companies is carried out both locally and throughout North Valley Communities.
