executive staff

W. D. "Don" Bell is the founder and CEO of Bell Micro, a value added electronics distribution company with a broad range of products. Well respected among his peers, Don has gained a reputation for being an innovative strategist and a leader in creative high tech marketing and management.

Since its founding in 1988, Bell Micro has rocketed to be one of the top five companies worldwide in its industry. Bell Micro sales exceed $3 billion. The company is one of the largest worldwide distributors of computer storage components and systems, and manufactures its own proprietary product line of RAID, NAS, SAN, and other storage systems. Bell Micro has 50 locations throughout Europe, North America, and Latin America

In four decades of experience in the electronics industry, Don has achieved an exceptional level of accomplishment. A synopsis of his management positions, since earning a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering at the University of Alabama in 1961, is filled with varied and impressive achievements. Don has held engineering positions in flight and inertial guidance systems, and surveillance satellites. In addition to working on various missile and satellite communications projects, he has also served an instructor of the engineering principles and applications of inertial navigation systems.

Don was president and CEO of integrated circuit manufacturer, Electronic Arrays, prior to its purchase by NEC Microelectronics. He has served as executive vice president of sales and marketing of American Microsystems Inc. and executive vice president of the company's memory and microprocessor group. In addition, Don was with Ducommun Inc. from 1980 to 1987 in several capacities, including president and COO, managing its five electronics and five aerospace companies, and president of the company's Kierulff Electronics division.

Don has been inducted into the Engineering Hall of Fame of the State of Alabama in recognition of his achievements. Honored as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by The University of Alabama, Don serves on the UA Engineering Leadership Board. He is a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Wholesalers, Sand Hill Capital, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the board of directors and executive committee of the Bay Area Council, as well as other organizations. He has also been a board member of the San Jose Symphony, Control Data Systems, the National Electronic Distributors Association and the Silicon Valley Capital Club.