Her Story
About Abby
Abby S. Bell, MHR, SHRM-CP, is a seasoned Career and Workforce Development Strategist specializing in talent acquisition, transition programming, and adult learning initiatives that support service members, veterans, military spouses, and adult learners. She currently serves as a Talent Sourcer at Annuity, where she supports strategic recruitment efforts by identifying and connecting qualified candidates with organizational needs. In this role, she continues to build on a strong foundation in workforce development, bringing a deep understanding of both employer expectations and the lived experience of individuals navigating career transitions. Over the past four to five years, her career has focused on talent development, employment facilitation, and structured support programs designed to improve workforce readiness and long-term career alignment.
Prior to her current role, Abby worked extensively in military transition and workforce reintegration programs, supporting service members and their spouses as they moved into civilian careers across industries including financial services, education, and workforce development. Her work centered on helping individuals translate military experience into civilian competencies, identify viable career pathways, and secure meaningful employment aligned with their strengths, interests, and long-term goals. She has also played a key role in designing and facilitating training programs, career readiness workshops, and one-on-one counseling sessions focused on résumé development, interview preparation, and education planning. Across her professional experience, she has directly supported nearly 5,000 service members and spouses in achieving employment, education, or career advancement outcomes—an impact that remains one of her most significant professional accomplishments.
Abby holds a Master’s degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma (2016) and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications from the University of West Florida (2011). She earned her SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification in December of last year, further strengthening her expertise in human resources strategy, organizational development, and workforce planning. In addition to her formal education and professional roles, she has maintained a long-standing commitment to leadership and service through her involvement with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Organization for over 15 years, where she contributes to program operations, volunteer development, and youth leadership training. She also volunteers with Act Now Education, supporting initiatives that connect service members, veterans, and military spouses with free education and training opportunities. Her professional philosophy is rooted in the belief that effective workforce development is not only about filling roles, but about aligning people with sustainable, purpose-driven career pathways that maximize both individual potential and organizational success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Abby
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm a recovering people pleaser, and so now I'm an Abby pleaser. If it's something that makes me feel like I'm contributing to society, or my family's success, or my success, I'm gonna do it. I have a lot of intrinsic motivation. If something makes me feel like I'm contributing in a meaningful way, that's what drives me forward.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I feel like this would be advice that I gave to other people, because I've had to figure out stuff the hard way, but I'd say the best career advice is college isn't for everybody. Honestly, right now, the trades or certifications or licensures is where there's money and growth to be made. So find something that makes you happy, that you're good at, that also pays the bills. And it doesn't have to be college. My mom was my guidance counselor in high school, and I felt like I had to go to college. But my brother failed within his first semester of college, and he's making between $50-60/hr. I'm sitting there with degree after degree, and definitely not making 60 bucks an hour.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
College degrees are great, but certifications are better. So, if you can get certified, get certifications. I feel like there's something else that has to be inspirational here, but for now, that's the main advice - focus on getting certified in your field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is finding people who are willing to work. The opportunity would be on the company's side of things - meeting employees where they need to be met, so that they're willing to work. There's so much happening right now with the economy and with the global political atmosphere that people are looking for a certain type of work, and employers are thinking, oh, we can still do the same thing that was done 40, 50 years ago, and that's just not the case. So, it's a big shift that has to happen. And employers are taking too long to figure that out, and employees and working families are suffering because of it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value efficiency and connectivity, in all things, in work and life. If I can find a better way to do something, I will. And just being connected to people is really important, period. Just trying to find ways to stay connected with friends, with family, with coworkers, even if it's just sending silly GIFs all day, or memes, or, you know, thinking-of-you text messages. It means a lot to people, again, especially in this economy.
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