MBA in Management from the John F. Kennedy University, Orinda California
Undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Wichita State University
Graduate of the class of 1986 of the esteemed Leadership Kansas program
Gary Bell is currently President and CEO of Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union in Berkeley California. Mr. Bell has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry including over 20 years with Bank of the West and Imperial Saving producing mortgage loans.
He also served as the CEO of Cooperative Center FCU for 2 years. The main office of First Bankers Mortgage and Realty is located at 5327 Jacuzzi Street in Richmond California. It operates with five licensed individuals with the primary focus of business in mortgage loan production. The primary markets for First Bankers is in and around the Richmond community.
Mr. Bell was a licensed real estate broker and owned and operated First Bankers Mortgage located in Richmond for several years. He also was the Vice President/Branch Manager of the Bank of the West office in Richmond for nearly 10 years. He has lived and worked in the Richmond area since 1989.
In 1985, Mr. Bell at age 25 was elected to the Wichita City Council, the largest city in the State of Kansas, making him the youngest person to ever serve on that Council and only the second African American to serve in the city's history.
As a member of the Wichita City Council Mr. Bell, served on the National League of Cities Human Development Policy Steering Committee. Mr. Bell has received numerous awards and recognition from Governors to U.S. Senators for his invaluable contributions to community service. Mr. Bell was also a lecturer at Wichita State University where he taught Personal Development.
He was selected as Outstanding Young Man Of America in 1985 and selected to be a member of the Council for Young Political Leaders of America in 1986. Mr. Bell was asked to travel to Nicaragua 1986 as an official observer of the U. S. backed Contra civil war. He made numerous public appearances to speak about the war and report his findings.
Upon arriving in California in 1989, Mr. Bell wasted no time in getting involved in the community to make a difference. He served as chairman of the Greater Richmond Community Development Corporation; he served as treasurer of Richmond Art Center. In addition, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the Rubicon Housing committee; he was also a member of the Food for All Grant awards committee.
As a member of the Richmond City Council,from 1999 to 2004. During that time Mr. Bell kept a close eye on Richmond’s finances as Chairman of the Council’s Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee. He was instrumental in eliminating blight in two of Richmond’s most crime-plagued areas. He helped initiated the Richmond Main Street Initiative, which is revitalizing historic downtown Richmond as a pedestrian-friendly urban village, and the Easter Hill Hope VI Project, which transformed that dilapidated housing project into a new mix-income development with little or no crime. He also served on council committees for issues related to schools, seniors and the arts.
Although Mr. Bell has a successful professional and educational career, he has demonstrated his greatest personal power and leadership skills through his long history of community service and involving his time and energy in programs aimed at human and personal development. This combination of experience and commitment to the community make Mr. Bell qualified to serve your needs.
Undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Wichita State University
Graduate of the class of 1986 of the esteemed Leadership Kansas program
Gary Bell is currently President and CEO of Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union in Berkeley California. Mr. Bell has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry including over 20 years with Bank of the West and Imperial Saving producing mortgage loans.
He also served as the CEO of Cooperative Center FCU for 2 years. The main office of First Bankers Mortgage and Realty is located at 5327 Jacuzzi Street in Richmond California. It operates with five licensed individuals with the primary focus of business in mortgage loan production. The primary markets for First Bankers is in and around the Richmond community.
Mr. Bell was a licensed real estate broker and owned and operated First Bankers Mortgage located in Richmond for several years. He also was the Vice President/Branch Manager of the Bank of the West office in Richmond for nearly 10 years. He has lived and worked in the Richmond area since 1989.
In 1985, Mr. Bell at age 25 was elected to the Wichita City Council, the largest city in the State of Kansas, making him the youngest person to ever serve on that Council and only the second African American to serve in the city's history.
As a member of the Wichita City Council Mr. Bell, served on the National League of Cities Human Development Policy Steering Committee. Mr. Bell has received numerous awards and recognition from Governors to U.S. Senators for his invaluable contributions to community service. Mr. Bell was also a lecturer at Wichita State University where he taught Personal Development.
He was selected as Outstanding Young Man Of America in 1985 and selected to be a member of the Council for Young Political Leaders of America in 1986. Mr. Bell was asked to travel to Nicaragua 1986 as an official observer of the U. S. backed Contra civil war. He made numerous public appearances to speak about the war and report his findings.
Upon arriving in California in 1989, Mr. Bell wasted no time in getting involved in the community to make a difference. He served as chairman of the Greater Richmond Community Development Corporation; he served as treasurer of Richmond Art Center. In addition, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the Rubicon Housing committee; he was also a member of the Food for All Grant awards committee.
As a member of the Richmond City Council,from 1999 to 2004. During that time Mr. Bell kept a close eye on Richmond’s finances as Chairman of the Council’s Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee. He was instrumental in eliminating blight in two of Richmond’s most crime-plagued areas. He helped initiated the Richmond Main Street Initiative, which is revitalizing historic downtown Richmond as a pedestrian-friendly urban village, and the Easter Hill Hope VI Project, which transformed that dilapidated housing project into a new mix-income development with little or no crime. He also served on council committees for issues related to schools, seniors and the arts.
Although Mr. Bell has a successful professional and educational career, he has demonstrated his greatest personal power and leadership skills through his long history of community service and involving his time and energy in programs aimed at human and personal development. This combination of experience and commitment to the community make Mr. Bell qualified to serve your needs.
