Ray Bell Construction becomes Bell & Associates Construction

In October, Bell & Associates Construction LP replaced Ray Bell Construction Co. Inc. as the company’s business and marketing identity.

Bell is one of the largest general contractors in Tennessee and the Southeast.

The new company, announced by RBCC founder Ray Bell and the new owners of Bell & Associates, is the product of a succession plan developed by Bell to ensure the long-term future of the company. 

The new brand and look is effective immediately. The new ownership team is comprised of company veterans, including Bell’s sons, Darek Bell and Brad Bell.

“This company has been my passion for 36 years,” said Ray Bell. “By extending ownership to some of our outstanding people and to my sons, we can preserve the family culture that makes this such a special company. I have full confidence that this is the right time and the right plan. It is set up to succeed so that this company prospers for generations to come.”

Keith Pyle has served as president of RBCC for more than two years and will now serve as president of Bell and Associates.

“The Bell brand is so strong because of the principles Ray established over the past 36 years – integrity, quality and service,” Pyle said. “The qualities that were so important to his vision will not change.”

“We are all committed to continuing the quality and growth that is expected from the Bell name,” said Darek Bell. “Foremost, we will preserve the family atmosphere. Across this company there are so many second-generation Bell employees. I’m proud to follow my dad in this business and believe we will build on this legacy.”

Darek Bell said Bell & Associates will continue to be active in community service and philanthropic initiatives. Through the years, Bell has contributed more than $1 million to charitable causes.

Other owners are Randy Brent, Elvis Butler, Jody Evans, John-David Goolesby, Steve Hoover, Kevin Keller, Bruce Nicely, Tim Robbins and Chip Greene. The ownership group has more than 100 collective years of service with the company.

Ray Bell, who had already shifted the role of president to Pyle in 2004, will remain active in the company as CEO.

Joint venture to design $119 million MTSU science building

The joint venture of Thomas, Miller & Partners LLC/Hastings Architecture Associates LLC – JV was recently awarded a contract to design the new Middle Tennessee State University Science Building.

The new MTSU Building will measure 223,000 sq. ft. and house the biology and chemistry departments. The budget for this project is $119 million. By utilizing sustainable design and project Kaleidoscope principles, the new science building will be designed with future technology in mind.

Nashville NAWIC earns top awards

The Nashville Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) held its annual awards banquet at Fifth Quarter Restaurant in Nashville, Tenn., in October.

Deb Angielczyk of Gale Smith + Company, chapter president, won the NAWIC of the Year award for her contributions to the chapter. New member Ione Maltin of ICS Group won the NAWIC Rookie of the Year award. Both women will be nominated for the same awards at the regional level, which includes 11 other NAWIC chapters in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.

Other awards presented included NAWIC Supporter of the Year, which was awarded to two companies this year: JE Crain & Son Inc. and Gale Smith + Company.

New members Ruth A. Kjosa of Gale Smith + Co., Ione Maltin of ICS Group, Venkata P. Mutta of Seven Hills Granite Co. and Laurie Todd of Quality Mortgage Servers were recognized.