Bell Investment Advisors President James Bell, CFP® Wins Arts Leadership Award

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bell Investment Advisors, a Bay Area registered investment advisory firm, has announced that James Bell, CFP®, the firm's founder and president, has been selected by the Arts Commission of Alameda County as the recipient of the 2011 Arts Leadership Award for Oakland/Berkeley (District 5). Past winners have included Maestro Michael Morgan of the Oakland East Bay Symphony and Tony Taccone, Artistic Director of the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

This annual award program enables the Alameda County Arts Commission to recognize individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions impacting the arts community and the residents of Alameda County. Awardees will be presented to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors by the Arts Commission at a recognition event scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. at the Supervisors Chambers in Oakland.

A total of 14 nominations for the Arts Leadership Award Program were submitted by the public. The Alameda County Arts Commission selected five individuals to receive the award, representing all of the districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. Arts Leadership Award nominees must be residents of Alameda County and involved in any arts discipline such as music, dance, visual arts, literature, theater, film and video, traditional crafts and folk arts, and new media. The nominees participate in a wide range of arts activities in Alameda County.

It is out of Jim's personal gratitude for the many ways in which the arts have enriched his own life and contributed to his success in business that he has become a major donor and friend to various local art institutions.

At the Oakland East Bay Symphony (www.oebs.org), Jim and his wife Bonnie Bell are particularly recognized for their sponsorship of the OEBS American Masterworks Concert. Bell also serves on the steering committee for the OEBS 25th Anniversary Capital Campaign and is a major supporter of the OEBS Endowment Fund and the Conductor's Fund.

In 2009, Jim and Bonnie commissioned The World Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, composed by Nolan Gasser and premiered by Michael Morgan and OEBS. The theme of the concerto reflects the global investment strategy of Bell Investment Advisors and the belief that the major cultures of the West, Asia, India and Arabia have opportunity for conversation and cooperation.

In addition, the Bells are season supporters of the Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir (www.piedmontchoirs.org) and are long-time supporters of Cazadero Music Camp (www.cazadero.org). Jim serves as chair of Festival Opera Association.

Jim believes deeply in the importance of a strong connection between business and the arts and actively encourages other business owners and professionals in the East Bay business community to become involved as well. In this regard, he helped establish the Business and the Arts Networking Circle (BANC), an organization of business owners and professionals who contribute time and money to the MUSE program of the Oakland Symphony which develops and supports music programs within the Oakland Pubic Schools.

Through Investment Management, Financial Planning, and Career & Life Coaching, Bell Investment Advisors (www.bellinvest.com) helps people build positive momentum for a good life. Established in 1991, the firm has offices in Oakland and Santa Rosa, California.

SOURCE Bell Investment Advisors