COMTO Member Spotlight

Johnell Bell

Espousal Strategies

Founder and CEO

Johnell Bell is the Founder and CEO of Espousal Strategies. A seasoned strategist, facilitator, and policy advisor, Johnell brings over 20 years of experience leading high-impact initiatives that expand economic opportunity, strengthen communities, and improve public systems. His work spans the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, helping organizations navigate complex challenges with clarity and purpose.

Johnell’s career in infrastructure began at TriMet, serving as the agency’s Director of Diversity and Transit Equity. He was responsible for managing small business participation, workforce participation, and civil rights, particularly in conjunction with the Portland to Milwaukee light rail project active at the time. Under Johnell’s leadership, the project awarded over $150 million to DBEs and SBEs, demonstrating the power of infrastructure investments to generate economic opportunities for the broader community. 

His career transitioned to serving Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley to elevate local priorities in the nation’s capital and ensure communities and jurisdictions received federal and state support. In his role, Johnell fought for funds and grants like the TIGER grant and WIFIA (water infrastructure finance and innovation act) for rural communities in Oregon to modernize irrigation and drinking water systems. Johnell fell in love with the infrastructure industry after witnessing the opportunities created for underserved communities who have been disproportionately harmed by past infrastructure investments that tore apart neighborhoods and displaced local residents.

Johnell’s COMTO participation began with the Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter. He started as an active member and became involved as a chapter board member, leading him to his current role as COMTO’s National Chair for the Small Business Committee. COMTO’s goal to dissolve barriers in the infrastructure and transportation industry resonated with him and his background in public policy. As the chair of the national small business committee, Johnell works directly with small businesses across the nation, learning about their hardships and connecting them with new opportunities. As of this year, Johnell has also joined the National Small Business Association as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Looking forward, Johnell is excited to continue growing Espousal Strategies, a Pacific Northwest-based public affairs firm with offices in Portland and Seattle and clients across the country. He plans to grow the firm’s offerings, partnering with other firms interested in advancing their strategies in public affairs, community engagement, and small business compliance. Currently, Espousal Strategies is co-leading the Seattle Transportation Funding Task Force with Nelson Nygaard, provides support to the National Housing Trust, and has been active on the Interstate Bridge Replacement program with WSP.