10 | The Bell Company
cal centers, universities, correctional insti-
tutions and nuclear power plants, the Bell
Company’s capabilities in construction has
figured in the formation and functionality
of critical initiatives throughout America.
Despite the company’s industrial for-
titude and the litany of challenges they’ve
overcome to achieve what can be very com-
plex performance requirements for the ap-
plications they deliver, one won’t find Bell
Company President Steve Ruether bragging
about all the company has done or who it has
served. In rather low-key and down-to-earth
tones, Ruether cautions against fanfare and
explains that the company prefers to oper-
ate with a quiet humility and committed ap-
proach to duty. He concedes that many in the
firm’s hometown base of Rochester may lack
full awareness as to the wide range of work
the company fulfills, and to be sure, that’s just
fine with him and his team. Though proud
to have participated in so many projects,
Ruether says the company simply doesn’t
believe in tooting its own horn, so to speak.
The Bell Company prefers to prosper by em-
bracing principles of attraction versus that of
promotion.
BUILDING A LEGACY
The Bell Company got its start in 1940
with John P. Bell Sr. who was well known in
Rochester as a professional plumbing con-
