Amanda H Bell

I have lived, studied, and worked in the Upper Midwest most of my life and I have been studying in the Lake Michigan Basin in some capacity my entire career. I have also conducted field work throughout the U.S. broadening my experience and expertise. The Upper Midwest Water Science Center (formerly Wisconsin Water Science Center) has been my home for over 21 years and I want the Center to continue to be a beacon of scientific ingenuity and advancement. Since the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan offices merged in 2017, many unique challenges and opportunities have risen on combining the localized nuances of management, supervision and implementation of policies.

Over the last 3 years I have had the opportunity to serve as the Team Leader for the Integrated Ecosystems Studies and Groundwater Characterization Teams. This experience solidified my desire to be a leader in our organization. Since beginning my role as IES Team Leader and Supervisor, the team members have developed and lead projects from dozens of cooperators across multiple states and international boundaries, totaling over $2.6 million dollars per year. 
Beginning in summer of 2021, I began duties pursuant to Center Operations and have been selected as the Center’s Operations Officer. These duties include leading the teams for moving offices, helping the safety teams find direction, perform clean-ups and find their stride, leading the IT team until the new supervisor joined the center, and leading the charge to overhaul the fleet management.  As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, I helped resolve concerns related to facilities, operations, data management among other topics. This role was a huge undertaking while continuing to perform my duties as a Team Leader, however, I excelled and move the Center forward during this transition time of not having a permanent Operations Officer. 

I enjoy working in a team environment where the personal dynamics foster a professional respect and conflicts are resolved through open communication and a judicial approach. I have a strong work ethic that is reflected in my productivity and dedication to detail. I am a natural-born leader that enjoys helping others develop projects that line with their passions and interests. Thriving on organizing logistics, I can find the people with the right experience and skill to fill the roles they best fit into. I am learning different techniques for personnel conflicts and how to accommodate personalities that differ from my own. I pride myself on clear, honest, and efficient communication in both praise and critique. I value open communication and above all else integrity in my work and personal life.