June 28, 2023
Dr. Jim Murdaugh, president of Tallahassee Community College, has announced that Shelly Bell has been appointed as the new Vice President of Workforce Development effective July 24. Bell has served as the Director of Lively Technical College since June 2017. Under her leadership, the school transitioned from a vocational center to a technical college and experienced remarkable growth.
“Shelly Bell’s connections in the community and her experience in career and technical education will allow her to start making an impact on her very first day, particularly as we work to strengthen the ties between the programs at TCC and Lively Technical College. Most importantly, she has a passion for helping students achieve their fullest potential by finding a meaningful career path. I am thrilled to have her join our leadership team,” said Murdaugh.
Bell attended Florida State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration. Prior to Lively, she served as principal of Godby High School where she spearheaded the development of engineering, aviation, and certified nursing assistant career programs. Shelly's commitment to broadening career options extended beyond Godby, as she collaborated to also introduce welding programs at Rickards High School, an automotive program at Lincoln High School, and nursing programs at Chiles, Rickards, and SAIL High Schools.
“I am excited about this opportunity to continue to work with the business community to expand workforce opportunities and build the talent pool necessary to move our community forward,” said Bell. “TCC is a national leader in workforce development, and I am honored to join the team. I look forward to the possibilities for collaboration with Lively Technical College and the other workforce partners in our community.”
“Shelly Bell is brilliant,” said Dr. Marcus Nicolas, Leon County School Board member. “I've worked with her in several capacities, and I've found that one of her greatest strengths is her ability to diagnose complex issues and provide approaches to problem-solving. Her talent, project management, and passion for workforce programs and community building will allow her to quickly become instrumental as the Vice President for Workforce Development at TCC.”
Bell has been recognized statewide for her leadership in the field of career and technical education. She serves on the CareerSource Capital Region Board of Directors and is active with the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. In 2019, she was named Workforce Partner of the Year by CareerSource Florida.
“Shelly Bell’s proven leadership, along with the tremendous resources of Tallahassee Community College, will provide great synergy as we continue to align education and training to the workforce needs of our businesses,” said Terrie Ard, president and partner of The Moore Agency and chair of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. “This collaboration will elevate our regional workforce as we aim to create 15,000 new jobs by 2030 in order to remain competitive.”
Recognizing the importance of inclusive education, Shelly spearheaded the establishment of the Success for Occupational Area Readiness (SOAR) Program in 2021 at Lively. In collaboration with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities, this pioneering initiative provides post-secondary educational opportunities specifically tailored to individuals with intellectual disabilities, fostering their personal growth and empowering them for successful careers.
“I’ve worked with Shelly Bell for many years on a variety of workforce projects benefitting people with disabilities as well as K-12,” said Representative Allison Tant. “She thinks fast, acts fast, and gets things done fast. I have a great deal of excitement for her taking on this role and think there is no one better in this community to take the reins from Kim Moore.”