14 Sep 2026
After more than 30 years in the power line trade, John Bell knows that building a successful operation takes more than equipment, materials and technical expertise. It takes good people — and a company willing to invest in them.
John’s career has taken him through Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative and Austin Energy before eventually bringing him to Renegade, where he has spent the past several years helping grow the company’s power line operations.
It’s a career that has also been closely connected with longtime friend and colleague Shane Cooper.
“Me and Shane, we actually were best friends since seventh grade,” John said.
Their friendship continued after high school, when the two became roommates, and eventually into their professional careers. Both worked at Bluebonnet and later at Austin Energy before their paths brought them together again at Renegade.
For John, that sense of camaraderie is one of the qualities that has made his time at Renegade particularly rewarding.
“I like the camaraderie,” he said.
When John first joined the company, Renegade’s power line operation was much smaller than it is today. That gave the early team an opportunity to help shape the operation and take ownership of its growth.
“We take a lot of pride in our work,” John said. “We got here and worked, you know, to make the company grow. It’s a challenge. It’s rewarding too.”
Today, John’s responsibilities put him at the heart of the day-to-day coordination required to keep that growing operation moving.
His work includes preparing quotes and tracking projects from planning through execution, while making sure crews have what they need to complete their work safely and efficiently.
“For me, I steadily quote and stuff, and then projects that we’ve quoted, and then just keeping up with the day-to-day operations side,” John said.
That means keeping an eye on schedules, materials, permits and the many other details behind successful field operations.
“Making sure all the jobs are running in a timely manner, what material can get to the projects, permits, and then just basically coordinating everything through the operations side,” he said.
After three decades in the trade, John also understands what it takes for someone new to build a successful career in the industry.
At the top of the list is safety.
“Number one is safety,” John said.
From there, he believes attitude and a willingness to learn can make all the difference. Taking pride in the work matters, as does understanding that leadership develops through experience and a commitment to getting better.
“Wanting to learn, you know, I think that’s the biggest thing,” John said. “You’ve got to be willing to learn. Be a good worker.”
Those principles also influence the kind of workplace John wants Renegade to maintain as it grows.
Expansion can make it increasingly difficult for companies to retain the personal connections that existed when they were smaller. John believes preserving those relationships is important.
“We try to know everybody — know every one of our employees,” he said.
It’s a simple philosophy, but one that John believes can have a significant impact on how people feel about coming to work each day.
“That way it’s more comfortable,” he said. “I think that just gives that person, I guess, a better feeling about working for that company.”
Most importantly, John wants employees to know that their contribution is recognized.
“You’re not just a number,” he said. “You’re actually an employee.”
For someone who has spent more than 30 years in the trade, it’s a straightforward summary of what makes a strong company: take pride in the work, put safety first, keep learning — and never lose sight of the people doing the job.