Our People
Allison believes that through connection, courage, and creativity, we can change the world. Throughout her career, she has worked to change public policies and programs to better serve everyone in the community.
Allison has done this work from different angles: as a government employee, university researcher, nonprofit leader, and now, consultant. Thanks to two decades of experience, she understands what it takes to drive personal, organization, and systems change. And she embraces the challenge of taking a lofty goal or directive and turning it into an actionable plan that creates results.
Allison has a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. In 2023, she released her first book, Herocrats, which shares stories and strategies of government employees who are fighting systemic injustice.
Download Allison’s resume.
Connect with Allison on LinkedIn.
Allison Bell
Founder and CEO
Mike Bell
COO and Principal Consultant
Mike uses brain-based techniques to build powerful training systems that drive innovation and change. He has over 20 years of experience with strategic planning & implementation, program analysis, facilitation, and coaching.
Mike is an award-winning facilitator with over a thousand hours of experience leading large and small group meetings in university, non-profit, and corporate settings. He uses Motivational Interviewing techniques to draw out individuals’ energy and creativity, then brings it all together in an environment that promotes affirmation, trust, risk-taking, and mutual accountability.
Mike has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota. He is a graduate from the Equity Works Leadership Institute at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and has certificates in Personal Empowerment and Organization Development.
Rebecca Lieser
Project Manager
Rebecca has a public communications and outreach background and is driven to find meaningful ways to engage communities and enhance transparency around the government decisions that impact their lives.
Rebecca has six years of experience leading and coordinating public outreach for transportation and infrastructure projects and programs, and applying an equity lens to government public and stakeholder engagement practices.
Rebecca has a Bachelor’s Degree in Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies from the University of Minnesota.
Joanna Ocasio-Maisonet
Associate
Joanna is a team member who makes everyone feel welcome, no matter what the situation. She is an experienced public sector changemaker, and for much of her career she has led community engagement, customer service and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. She has led government community engagement initiatives in North Minneapolis and surrounding North Metro suburbs. Joanna is a promoter of public art and has served on several public art approval panels.
Vince is a master facilitator and interpersonal coach. He has a highly engaging facilitation presence that fosters honesty, acceptance, risk-taking, and growth. Throughout the past 10 years he has successfully connected formerly incarcerated Black men and women back into the workforce and provided them with educational and training opportunities.
Vince is a certified professional trainer in emotional intelligence, personal empowerment and motivational interviewing. He is GCDF (Global Career Development Facilitator) certified as well as a GCDF(I) certified Instructor and professional development coach. Vince studied early childhood education at Florida College. He is currently serving as Family Academy Program Director at Northside Achievement Zone.
Vince Frazier
Associate
Elise Trail-Johnson
Fellow
Elise is our Bellwether Fellow. She is working on communications and marketing as well as research for several of our current consulting projects. She is passionate about using good design to illuminate the stories of mission-driven work.
Originally from Saint Paul, Elise is a rising senior at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa, where she is studying visual communication, with minors in environmental studies, museum studies, and art. At Luther, she sings in choir, hosts a weekly radio show, and is the sustainability representative to student senate. Last summer, she explored peace studies and human-centered urban planning at the University of Oslo in Norway.