Driven By A Legacy Of Honesty, Integrity And Customer Relationships
Originally a sheet metal sign shop, the company later added HVAC, plumbing and mechanical solutions to their portfolio, along with 24/7 service. Now approaching 80 years in business, the company is run by 3rd and 4th generation non-family owners Paul Irwin, Jeff Alcayaga and Gary Awai.
Irwin got his start at Bell Products under the 2nd generation of owners: Jim Asbury, Walt Blackman and Bob Winchell. After completing his sheet metal apprenticeship in 1979 and working for a few years as a journeyman, he was offered the opportunity to work as an estimator at Bell. He later took on roles as project manager and senior project manager. By 2001, Irwin, Stan Foltz and Mark Heitz were offered equity in the company, eventually taking over in 2007.
“When we took over, the ship was already going full steam across the ocean,” Irwin said. “We didn’t have to create anything; we had the guidance of our mentors and we just took the wheel. It was a very good transition.” Foltz and Heitz have since retired, securing Alcayaga and Awai as the next generation of owners with Irwin.
The succession plan is so unusual for this industry, in that a company could last for almost 80 years and go through four generations of non-family ownership and still be in business,” Irwin said. “Everybody who owns the company now worked here as employees first. There’s no entitlement. We were in the trenches the whole time and showed a little bit of gumption. Together, we think we’ve built a very strong culture.”
Today, the Bell team numbers between 80-100 employees, doubling in the last 25 years. Roughly one-third of the business focuses on commercial and residential service, with nearly 25 dedicated service technicians on projects throughout the Bay Area. In addition to installing, repairing and maintaining all types of heating and air conditioning systems (including energy-efficient options like radiant heat), the company holds various specialty licenses that allow the team to custom fabricate sheet metal, install and repair piping for commercial plumbing systems and more.
Recent projects for the Bell team include many local school modernizations, particularly as the emphasis on IAQ has grown. They’re also currently wrapping up work at a cold storage warehouse in Fairfield for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, one of the most prominent alcoholic beverage distributors in the country. Additionally, Bell’s location in the Napa Valley makes them a natural choice to perform work for a number of notable winery clients who rely on optimized temperature control not only the fermentation process, but for the overall quality of the finished product.
Despite the success and growth the company has experienced, Bell’s philosophy of building his business on honesty and integrity is what has stuck with Irwin throughout his decades-long career.
“I can remember making a mistake on a bid early in my career, and I wanted to tell the client about the mistake and that we couldn’t do the project,” Irwin said. “I was reassured by my three mentors that it’s more important to honor our commitment than back out of a deal. So, we honored our deal and moved forward as planned. That’s the integrity they instilled in the company, and it has shaped how we operate to this day. Values are very important to us, and we try to lead by example.”