Oliver Bell is the Market Vice President for Operation HOPE, New Orleans. Oliver Bell directs Operation HOPE’s financial empowerment programs in the Gulf Coast region. Under his leadership, the Louisiana office has assisted more than 150,000 individuals and small businesses with free small business coaching, homeowners’ recovery services, personal finance counseling, and BP claims applications.
In June 2006, Oliver Bell opened and staffed offices in Louisiana and Mississippi to provide free financial empowerment programs to small businesses, entrepreneurs and non-profits affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Since then, his team has continued to primarily support micro businesses with less than three employees located in traditionally underserved communities. HOPE staff creates business plans, marketing strategies, financial projections and websites, provides technology training, and hosts small business workshops and personal finance seminars to help clients improve their financial health. The office collaborates with government funding agencies, local family foundations, corporations, lending institutions, universities, public housing agencies and other non-profits to effectively deliver these programs.
Prior to joining Operation HOPE, Bell was the Team Lead for Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) responsible for assisting with Louisiana’s Long Term Community Recovery Plan for Jefferson Parish. He served for more than 20 years as a key administrator, including the role of Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance, at Southern University in Shreveport.
Bell received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Education from Grambling State University and Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Prairie View A&M University.
Operation HOPE is proud to have Oliver Bell representing the organization as a speaker at the White House Urban Entrepreneurship Forum, New Orleans, Louisiana, along with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and others. Operation HOPE founder, chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant is also speaking.