Justin Steltenpohl’s innate drive led him to study law at The University of Toledo College of Law. Looking back on his time there, he cites what many law students do: that law school teaches you to think differently. It gives alums the ability to not only identify problems but to find unique, creative solutions.
He went on to become a partner at Squire Patton Boggs, a full-service global law firm. Although he loved the law and enjoyed the work he was doing, he found that being a successful partner in “big law” required him to prioritize his practice over other facets of his life; it blurred the boundaries of an important work/life balance that Steltenpohl wanted as he became a father.
So, when the position for General Counsel (which turned into a COO role) opened at P.B. Bell, he was ready to make a drastic change in his life and go into an industry that he had limited understanding of from his law days but without the insider knowledge that he has today.
Over his 10 years with the company, before he became CEO, he found his footing not only as an executive of P.B. Bell but as a champion of the culture and dynamic that sets P.B. Bell apart and makes the company a special place to work. “I learned, watching Chapin [R. Chapin Bell, who Steltenpohl succeeded as CEO], that leadership doesn’t have to be an analytical, rational analysis void of emotion; it’s okay to lead with heart. People adore Chapin because he is authentic and vulnerable, which motivates people to be their best because they care about him and his company,” Steltenpohl relates. Steltenpohl started balancing his analytic, rational analysis with emotion, authenticity and vulnerability to become the leader that he is today.
Steltenpohl became CEO a year ago, the first who is not part of the Bell family, and he continues to work on marrying his analytical, law side with his softer side to make a well-balanced CEO. He continues focusing on his personal growth, meditates every morning, leads P.B. Bell with a people-first approach, and offers employees a safe place to land.
“As CEO, my role has changed dramatically, and in more ways than I anticipated,” says Steltenpohl. “I am here to guide our team, and I want to inspire everyone to be the best they can be, to mentor their growth and development, and to help them achieve their goals.” Many times, that involves letting them know it’s okay to make a mistake. “Growth doesn’t occur without discomfort,” Steltenpohl continues. “Creating an environment where it’s okay if it doesn’t work out is critical. If it doesn’t work out the way you thought, you take a deep breath, you learn, you adjust, and you move forward. That’s growth.”
In addition to his mindset shift, Steltenpohl also faces ongoing challenges such as 1) finding the most effective ways to secure new opportunities and 2) navigating the ups and downs of the market.
When securing new opportunities, he has the same steady mindset he utilizes leading his team. He makes sure that P.B. Bell is presented authentically; he trusts the process that has guided the company for the past 50 years; and he leans into P.B. Bell’s culture.
“My goal is to ensure that we put forth the best possible processes for our developments and our property management, control what we can control, and move forward confidently,” Steltenpohl says. “After 50 years, we have processes that work like a well-oiled machine. We’ve developed or managed almost 60,000 units over the years and, due to our authenticity and dedication to our people, our clients and our partners, we’ve been an industry leader for five decades and will continue being an industry leader for the next five decades.”
In his tenure at P.B. Bell, Steltenpohl has also seen the market ebb and flow. What he has found to be a successful approach is maintaining control when the market is thriving. “It’s important not to over-extend yourself,” Steltenpohl says. “A business needs to maintain its discipline in an ‘up’ period, because that will determine the impact a ‘down’ period will have on your company.”
Ultimately, through his work at P.B. Bell, he has found that the “drive” required in his law days was no longer a necessity. He’s found that success can be accomplished through patience, dedication, authenticity and putting people above all.
A People-Driven Company
- P.B. Bell specializes in the development and management of multifamily housing communities in Arizona and has been around since 1976.
- Committed to quality apartment homes and service, P.B. Bell focuses on its people first and strives to ensure every employee feels valued.
- From food drives to volunteering at local nonprofits and charitable donations, P.B. Bell is committed to making communities a better place for everyone.
