Building is in our blood. From our early roots in 1935 to the diverse group of companies today, The Bette Family of Companies’ story is synonymous with a successful family history with deep traditions in the construction industry.

Bette & Cring Construction Group was formed in 1999 as a friendly spin-off of several divisions of Barry, Bette & Led Duke, Inc. (BBL), by company executives Matthew Bette, Peter Bette, and Harold Cring. Today, with over 300 employees in two locations, Bette & Cring is focused on providing exceptional services and construction expertise to both private and public sector clientele.

Our story is based on several generations working to “Build Value” in our communities

1935

construction tools 1935

The Bette family enters the construction business when Joe Bette starts Bette Builders

1960

Bridge Construction 1960

Mike Bette gets his start in Commercial Construction Industry

1965

Bridge Construction 1965

Mike Bette and Bob Barry relocate to Upstate NY to start a new construction Office in Albany.

1973

Bridge Construction 1973

Mike Bette partners with Bob Barry to form Barry & Bette, Inc. specializing in heavy highway construction.

1980

Family Business

The next generation joins the family construction business as Mike’s sons Matt, Kevin, Peter, Chris, and Mark move up through the ranks at BBL.

1981

Harold Cring

Harold Cring joins BBL and opens an office in Watertown, NY.

1982

Barry & Bette adds a new partner and Barry, Bette, & Led Duke, Inc. is formed (BBL Construction).

1987

1987 Bette Cring Timeline Photo

BBL forms a real estate development division, headed by Kevin Bette, to offer new services.

1988

Tarpon Springs Condos

Matt Bette expands the company opening an office in Ft. Myers, Fl. (BBL Florida) to focus on high-rise, multi-family type projects.

1991

construction history - 1991 Bette Cring expands to Texas under BBL Building Co

Matt Bette expands the company opening an office in Irving, Texas focusing on multi-family construction.

1992

Peter Bette becomes VP

Peter Bette becomes a Vice President of BBL and Division Manager of the Bridge Group

1993

Matt Bette is named “Contractor of the Year” by the American Subcontractors Association of Southwest Florida.

1998

Bette Cring Construction History - Construction of Anthem Blue Shield

Kevin Bette forms First Columbia, a real estate development and investment firm.

1999

Downtown Albany

Bette & Cring Construction Group is formed as a spin-off of BBL by sons Matt and Peter Bette (Albany, NY Office) and Harold Cring (Watertown, NY Office).

2005

Bette Cring Construction Group Offices

Bette & Cring, First Columbia, BBL Florida and TX BBL relocate their headquarters to Century Hill Plaza in Latham, NY – our present location.

2007

Burrstone Energy Center

Bette & Cring develops, builds, and owns the landmark Burrstone Energy Center, which provides onsite cogenerated power to a neighborhood microgrid serving St. Luke’s Hospital, Utica College, and St. Luke’s Nursing Home, and exports power back to the grid.

2008

Bette & Cring Board of Directors

The Bette Companies forms to unify First Columbia, Bette & Cring, BBL Florida, and Texas BBL as a national diversified construction group.

2009

Cogen Power Technologies Team

As demand for energy alternatives grows, Bette & Cring creates Cogen Power Technologies, a cogeneration and power consulting company.

2010

Bluffview

TX BBL changes its name to BBL Building Company (BBLbc) to represent its wider geographic coverage.

2017

Multifamily Project Model

Mark Lear and Ron Rollins assume leadership positions at BBL Building Company and expand the office to Plano, TX.

2023

A housing community with one-story homes, fenced-in yards, a pool, a BBQ area and palm trees.

BBL Building Company expands its footprint by adding an office in Tampa, FL, which focuses on Build to Rent communities. John Jones and Patrick Bette assume leadership positions.

2024

Bette & Cring employees gathered and smiling, while holding a "25 Years of Excellence" sign in a hotel lobby.

Bette & Cring celebrates its 25th anniversary! Since January of 1999, B&C has completed over 750 projects. Today, with over 300 employees in two locations and 40+ ongoing projects, Bette & Cring continues to provide exceptional services and construction expertise to both private and public sector clientele.

Construction worker with safety harness standing at a height

A new generation of the Bette family and the Cring family join the construction legacy within project management, field supervision, and administrative roles.