Outstanding Young Alumni Q&A: Melinda Bell

Outstanding Young Alumni Q&A: Melinda Bell

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Media Contact: Hallie Hart | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-1050 | [email protected]

Editor's note: The Spears School of Business is releasing a series of feature stories to celebrate the 2024 Spears Business Hall of Fame inductees and Outstanding Young Alumni. Previous profiles highlighted Vickie Carr, Eddy Ditzler, Ken Eastman, Carl Wiese and Bob Ault. Check back each week for a new profile leading up to the Oct. 4 ceremony.

Melinda Bell grew up helping at her father's financial planning and tax planning practice in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

She remembers preparing envelopes for mail, answering phones and shredding discarded documents while she was out of school for winter break. Today, she runs the business, which is now headquartered in Stillwater.

Bell, one of three Spears School of Business Outstanding Young Alumni award recipients this year, gravitated toward finance since her early days in the family office. In 2010, she returned to Stillwater to work as an advisor at Cochran Bell Wealth and Tax Strategy with her dad. Ten years later, she acquired the practice with her husband, fellow OSU alumnus Kevin Bell, leading it to significant growth.

Melinda Bell holds a bachelor's degree in finance from OSU with minors in accounting and economics. An active participant in community service, she has received recognition as a Young Professionals of Stillwater Leader Under 40.

When you were growing up in Shawnee, what made you know you wanted to go to OSU?

Bell: A lot of our family activities consisted of going to OSU sporting events, and we spent the majority of our family time at different OSU events. I didn't apply to any other colleges. It was only OSU from the get-go.

How have all of your studies in OSU's business school - finance, accounting and economics - influenced your career?

Bell:At first, I was focused on financial planning and investments, and then when I had the opportunity to come back and work for my dad, he told me, "OK, but you're going to have to learn tax." My appreciation for tax and financial planning grows every year - you can't really do one without it affecting the other. This allows me to provide comprehensive financial planning and tax planning, by being able to speak to both sides of the story. You can come up with a solid financial plan, but if you're going to be hit with a big tax bill, then you need to make sure you plan accordingly.

Economics affects everything from buying and spending and saving and interest rates to people's behavior and their mentality. It all ties together. I like that if we do something on the investment side, I have the capability to work up a tax projection and be able to say, "Here are the numbers. Here's how it's truly going to affect you on your tax return."

Were there any certain professors or classes that especially stood out to you?

Bell: Dr. (Michael) Applegate was one of my econ professors. He always started out class, especially after a football game or a basketball game, he'd always say, "It's another beautiful day in Oklahoma." Now, I work closely with Dr. Brad Lawson through different (avenues) in the community.

Now that you're here working in Stillwater, what has it been like for you to see the business school, OSU and the City of Stillwater grow since your time as a student?

Bell: One of the things that OSU does a great job at is assisting the City of Stillwater with growth and figuring out how they can help the city and both benefit from it. I really appreciate that OSU wants to help have a good community that they're located in. I'm always learning about different resources on campus available and being able to connect with the professors that we might know on campus or people that work on campus. It's nice to be able to reach out to students to come work for us.

What advice would you offer to current Spears Business students?

Bell: Get involved as much as possible, whether that is different organizations on campus or working on campus. The more connections that you can make and leadership positions, those will be able to translate well in the work field. The academic part is important, but it's also about how you can interact and relate to people and make those connections.

Did you have any favorite organizations or ways you were involved on campus?

Bell: I was an involved member of Kappa Delta sorority. I served as treasurer and held different leadership positions. I also was a director with Into The Streets.

What does it mean to you to receive this Outstanding Young Alumni award and be honored at the Oct. 4 banquet?

Bell: It's a very humbling award, and it is also motivating. We have a motto at our office, "Humble but hungry." When I think about all of the students that have graduated and that are part of the Spears School of Business, and to think that I'm one of three that was selected for this award, and I know that there's others that have accomplished great things in their careers and have been able to start businesses - it's a really big honor to be able to be recognized and to be able to celebrate it, just knowing what great things other alumni have achieved. It's humbling and exciting.

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