Building a national construction firm, delivering major projects, and shaping industry talent and safety standards
Inducted 2026
When James “Jim” Russell graduated with his bachelor’s degree in construction
engineering in 1983, the economy was entering a period of uncertainty. At age 22, equipped with a stack of business cards and $10,000, he opened a small shop in Bettendorf, Iowa, called Russell Construction Co. Inc. Within the first year, he hired two employees and secured the company’s first project: renovating a local hotel. By the end of the 1980s, Russell employed 22 people and recorded more than $5.9 million in sales.
Over the next four decades, Russell led the company to a reputation for excellence in both project delivery and people development. His leadership earned accolades including the Master Builders of Iowa’s Build Iowa Award and induction into the Quad Cities Business Hall of Fame. Russell Construction also earned a place on the Engineering News-Record Top 400 Contractors list and has maintained that distinction for the past five years.
Today, Russell Construction Co., is nationally recognized, operating from five offices with 350 employees. The company has delivered more than $7 billion in projects across 34 states and has surpassed 1.6 million man hours without a lost-time incident, reinforcing a deeply rooted commitment to safety and accountability.
Russell’s passion for giving back continues to shape the company’s culture through RussellGives, a people-driven initiative that empowers team members to support and lead causes in the communities where they live and work. Since 1983, Russell has proudly donated more than $2.3 million to over 65 local nonprofit and community organizations across the Kansas City, Quad Cities, Springfield, and St. Louis regions.
Russell’s willingness to take a risk as a young Cyclone alumnus has helped launch countless careers and continues to leave a lasting impact on the industry and the communities it serves.