Demarquis Bell
Austin
Summary
Community driven Mobility Fellow at Austin Transportation and Public Works, skilled in GIS analysis and stakeholder engagement. Successfully supported the Vision Zero Action Plan through data-driven methodologies, enhancing pedestrian safety initiatives. Proven ability to lead projects and foster collaboration, driving impactful community mobility solutions.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Mobility Fellow
Austin Transportation and Public Works
Austin
10.2025 - Current
- Reviewed, edited, and provided suggestions for internal public policy and advisory documents, including plans, technical advisories, staff reports, program development, and new and ongoing infrastructure project notices.
- Policy briefings were used to evaluate potential program additions, grant applications, and crash data reporting and analysis in support of the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan, the Vision Zero Action Plan, Sidewalks Crossings, and Shared Street Plan, Urban Trails Plan, and related programs.
- Evaluated peer-city Vision Zero crash reporting methodologies and data management frameworks.
- My responsibilities included: reviews of peer cities' planning frameworks; GIS and crash data management; municipal, state, and federal crash data reporting manuals; and peer-to-peer outreach through surveys, interviews, and conferences.
- Peer city methodology reporting supported the Austin Vision Zero and Pedestrian Safety Action Plans. Research findings supported the development of the High-Injury Network (HIN) GIS and the Vision Zero crash dataset, supporting the Program's data-driven methodologies.
- Conducted internal data analysis, matching/joining, quality control, and input for the Vision Zero Crash Database and other Geographic Information Systems software programs.
- Crash data is used to identify each crash by location, vehicle, and roadway information, and to analyze population demographics and socioeconomic vulnerability to identify 'High Injury Roadways,' thereby creating the narrative justification for targeted safety investments.
- Engaged in consultations with peer cities' municipal and regional transportation departments.
- Conducted interviews and outreach to peer-city transportation departments to assess the feasibility of establishing a dedicated internal program for pedestrian crossing infrastructure.
- This initiative focused on the installation and upkeep of sidewalk ramps, safety enhancements, lighting, crossing islands, signal systems, and pavement markings.
- Conducted interviews with these Vision Zero program administrators and officers to investigate the integration of supplemental external datasets, such as Hospital and EMS records, to support program development and validate analytical findings and crash-severity reporting.
- Conducted Outreach with regional partner organizations to review interest and potential to apply for a Planning and Demonstration grant from the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program.
- Mobility Fellow for the Vision Zero Division of the Austin Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) in partnership with the University of Texas Center for Transportation Research
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Texas School of Architecture
Austin
08.2025 - Current
- Co-led research initiatives within a graduate planning practicum focused on improving community access to regional mobility corridors and trails for colonias communities in the Texas border region of the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- Led development of semi-structured interview questions for interviews with experienced professionals and leaders in the trail planning sphere in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
- Interviews were conducted with local and regional public health and health education officials; watershed, parks, trails, and mobility planning experts; members of bike advocacy organizations; faith-based institutions; Metropolitan Planning Organization staff, and state transportation officials.
- Lead coordinator for communications between the Community and Regional Planning graduate student team, the Architecture and Design student team, the UT faculty team, and community coalition partner organizations and their leadership.
- Co-facilitator for three community workshops with youth and adult residents, community organizers, and advocates to review environmental, public health, and safety issues related to the community.
- Workshops were guided by co-creative and participatory frameworks of local knowledge generation and capacity building.
- Qualitative coding methods were used to analyze community-generated deliverables and artwork.
- Community Workshop 1: Community residents were led through creative visioning and mapmaking activities to generate local civic knowledge on community issues, including flooding and drainage, water quality, road quality, stray animals, and park and trail infrastructure.
- Civic knowledge generated is used to identify environmental and mobility planning needs and to support future park and trail development.
- Community Workshop 2: Co-facilitation of a youth workshop to develop civic capacity in the planning of environmental and mobility infrastructure.
- Exercises included co-creating a shared understanding of community issues and environmental impacts; facilitating intergenerational conversations with community elders; stakeholder mapping of local leaders and potential supporters; and developing community visions and draft policies, plans, and projects for future community needs.
- Community Workshop 3: Community leaders, organizers, and elders were advised on findings from previous resident workshop and interviews with city and regional officials.
- Exercises included ground-truthing community issues, supplementing community-generated participatory mapmaking efforts, and identifying trail routes to fit community needs.
- Conducted comprehensive literature reviews regarding environmental justice, mobility equity, and the unique socio-economic challenges of demographically lower-income minority Hispanic/Latino communities to assist in drafting planning reports and academic manuscripts.
- Performed technical audits of regional trail infrastructure in the Texas Rio Grande Valley (RGV) to identify existing programming and design, water infrastructure, flora and fauna, lighting and safety infrastructure, and shade and cooling infrastructure.
- Produced technical reports and presentations for community coalition leaders and statewide environmental and mobility planning officials to build political capacity for local and state support.
- Developed an academic manuscript of research findings for submission to peer-reviewed urban planning and environmental justice journals.
- Graduate Research Assistant for Dr. Miriam Solis - Environmental Justice and Mobility Planning in Texas
Deputy Project Manager - Contracts I
HNTB Corporation
Austin
01.2024 - 09.2025
- Coordinated the execution of Construction & Maintenance (C&M) agreements for state-owned road projects impacting railroad rights-of-way.
- Managed complex railroad-related lease arrangements and facilitated the interface between public divisions and private railroad companies.
- Oversaw state and federally funded rail rehabilitation projects, monitoring contractor performance against defined scopes.
Acquisition Liaison
Federal Transit Administration (via DJS Consulting)
Washington
08.2023 - 01.2024
- Served as the primary communications liaison between the Project Management Oversight and Contracting Offices of the Federal Transit Administration.
- Coordinated oversight of capital grant recipients to ensure project budgets and timelines complied with Federal requirements.
- Facilitated contract planning and resolved intradepartmental disputes between the PMO and Contracting Offices.
- Drafted technical policy and performance documentation to support executive leadership in making informed decisions regarding national transit investments.
Contract Specialist
Dept. of Education & U.S. Coast Guard (via OCT Consulting)
Washington
06.2020 - 08.2023
- Managed a $240 million contract portfolio, including agreements for digital media equipment, IT, and USCG Clipper ship maintenance.
- Executed cradle-to-grave responsibility for solicitations and vendor agreements in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
- Documented market research, cost and price analysis, and memorandums of negotiation for high-dollar service and supply contracts.
- Negotiated terms and conditions and edited contracts to ensure all regulatory, business, and technical requirements were met.
- Analyzed financial reports and price proposals to determine cost reasonableness for complex acquisitions.
- Monitored contractor and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) performance to ensure strict adherence to delivery schedules.
Student Assistant / Gift Administrator
University of North Texas
Denton
10.2019 - 05.2020
- Managed the administrative processing of university donations and assisted in departmental gift tracking.
Contract Specialist / Section Chief / Program Coordinator
United States Air Force
Guam / Tokyo
09.2013 - 01.2020
- Led the team responsible for procurement policy reforms and adoption of federal contract writing systems for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ), providing cross-departmental support for the Air Force, Army, Navy, and U.S. Embassy Japan.
- Managed a $125 million contract portfolio, including base-wide landscaping, aircraft corrosion control, and network cabling.
- Served as the Region-wide Quality Assurance Program Coordinator, managing over 50+ Contracting Officer Representative (COR) programs across Tokyo, Japan.
- Drafted, negotiated, and managed IDIQ contracts, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), and intergovernmental agreements on behalf of the USAF.
- Reviewed and edited Statements of Work (SOW) and Performance Work Statements (PWS) for all awards exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT).
- Administered over 200 contracts and service agreements, acting as the lead liaison between the commercial marketplace and the federal government.
- Spearheaded program development of an enhanced shipping and delivery tracking system between Andersen Air Force Base, Guam and the San Joaquin Distribution Center.
Sales Representative
Journey's
Grapevine
05.2012 - 05.2013
- Delivered high-quality customer service in a high-volume retail environment, consistently meeting or exceeding individual sales targets.
- Maintained expert knowledge of diverse inventory to provide tailored product recommendations based on customer needs and trends.
- Assisted with visual merchandising and inventory management to ensure optimal product presentation and store organization.
- Processed financial transactions accurately using POS systems.
Barista / Shift Lead
Oasis Cafe
Lewisville
11.2011 - 05.2012
- Managed daily operations as a Shift Lead for a family-owned coffee shop, including opening/closing procedures and staff task delegation.
- Ensured high standards of food safety and quality control while preparing a wide variety of specialty beverages and food items.
- Handled cash management duties, including drawer reconciliation and preparing bank deposits.
- Resolved customer service issues promptly to maintain a positive environment and high customer retention.
Sales Representative / Cashier
Supertarget
Wichita
05.2011 - 08.2011
- Provided efficient and friendly service at checkout, maintaining high accuracy in cash handling and electronic payment processing.
- Facilitated guest inquiries and resolved issues regarding product locations, pricing, and store policies.
- Collaborated with team members to restock merchandise and maintain department cleanliness during peak shopping hours.
- Promoted store loyalty programs and processed returns/exchanges in accordance with corporate guidelines.
Education
High School Diploma -
Lewisville High School
Lewisville, TX01-2013
MS - Community and Regional Planning
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TXBA - Political Science and Government
George Washington University
Washington, DCSkills
- Stakeholder Engagement
- GIS Analysis
- Participatory Planning
- Policy Monitoring
- Regulatory Navigation
- Market Research
- Procurement Strategy
- Methods of Contracting
- Evaluation & Negotiation
- Financial Analysis
- Contract Administration
- Post-Award & Closeout
- Regulatory Compliance
- Portfolio Management
- Team Leadership
- Mentorship
- Workflow Prioritization
- Accountability
- Data analysis
- Project coordination
- Mobility planning
Veteran Status
Yes, 09/24/13, 09/23/19
Personal Information
Date of Birth: 11/16/94
Knowledge And Skills
Stakeholder Engagement, GIS Analysis, Participatory Planning, Policy Monitoring, Regulatory Navigation, Market Research, Procurement Strategy, Methods of Contracting, Evaluation & Negotiation, Financial Analysis, Contract Administration, Post-Award & Closeout, Regulatory Compliance, Portfolio Management, Team Leadership, Mentorship, Workflow Prioritization, Accountability
Questionnaire
Yes, District of Columbia, 70 wpm, English, Native, Spanish, Fair, Japanese, Fair, Expert in Windows/Mac, MS Office Suite, Google Suite, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Timeline
Mobility Fellow
Austin Transportation and Public Works
10.2025 - Current
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Texas School of Architecture
08.2025 - Current
Deputy Project Manager - Contracts I
HNTB Corporation
01.2024 - 09.2025
Acquisition Liaison
Federal Transit Administration (via DJS Consulting)
08.2023 - 01.2024
Contract Specialist
Dept. of Education & U.S. Coast Guard (via OCT Consulting)
06.2020 - 08.2023
Student Assistant / Gift Administrator
University of North Texas
10.2019 - 05.2020
Contract Specialist / Section Chief / Program Coordinator
United States Air Force
09.2013 - 01.2020
Sales Representative
Journey's
05.2012 - 05.2013
Barista / Shift Lead
Oasis Cafe
11.2011 - 05.2012
Sales Representative / Cashier
Supertarget
05.2011 - 08.2011
High School Diploma -
Lewisville High School
MS - Community and Regional Planning
The University of Texas at Austin
BA - Political Science and Government
George Washington University