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Bellingham, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – When Stephanie Morrell joined the Bellingham Bells in 2013, she had no idea she was about to embark on a journey that would combine her love for sports, community and leadership. 12 years and several promotions later, she’s the guiding force behind one of the city’s most dependable sources of summer fun.
Morrell left her roots in Yakima to attend Western Washington University before getting a job as the Bells’ marketing director. Though she began her post-college career in sales and marketing, she quickly realized she had a knack for handling operations and running events.
The Bells gave Morrell an early taste of success by winning the West Coast League (WCL) Championship in her first year with the team, but she quickly realized that on-field success was only part of the formula to have the club truly resonate with the community. There had to be something at Joe Martin Field beyond the game itself that could bring people together.
Bells games bring together all groups from the community, with events like College Night, Women in Sports Night, Native American Heritage Night and even a Taylor Swift sing-along. Add in some post-game fireworks, merchandise giveaways, mini-games in-between innings and more, Bells games appeal to even the biggest baseball skeptics.
“I think one of things that I’m really proud of is our mission and the way that we do things hasn’t really changed, but it’s gotten bigger and our brand has become a lot more recognizable,” Morrell said. “Over time, just a whole lot more people have realized they don’t have to love baseball to come to our games.”
When describing the Bells’ evolving role in the community over time, Morrell jokes that the teams’ mascot “Dinger” wasn’t always the local icon he is now. Earlier in her career with the club, the hamster was mistaken as “The Christmas Mouse” when he was spotted at events.
The Bells’ impact on the community can now be easily seen by viewing the crowded stands at Joe Martin Field on a warm summer evening, but Morrell also appreciates seeing the more tangible effects. Last year’s WCL All-Star game generated $600,000 in tourism for the city.
“I think [the All-Star Game] put us on the map,” Morrell said. “I think sometimes people are like ‘Oh yeah baseball games are fun!’ but we’re a player in the community, we bring people here and we give people jobs and we’re able to do these big events for our community.”
Big events like the All-Star game add to an already grueling schedule for Morrell. In addition to a minimum of 30 home games throughout the summer, the club hosts a Junior Bells development program with roughly 180 kids. Morrell likens the season’s workload to putting on a different event every day, but says she embraces the challenge.
“I like a fast pace, I like a challenge,” Morrell said. “It’s only a ten-week season, and so you don’t have like five weeks during the season to think about something. You only have ten weeks total, so you just have to move. And that’s kind of the way I live my life now … I’ve got to trust my instinct and I’ve got to just move quickly because that’s how we deliver the best product and that’s really the way we have to think around here.”
On top of her duties as president and general manager of the Bells, Morrell takes an incredibly active role in the community. She currently serves as a commissioner on the City of Bellingham’s Tourism Commission, a member of Bellingham’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and a board member for both WECU and the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation. That’s all while taking time for her husband and their 6-year-old daughter.
“I have a longstanding history of just wanting to be involved in everything,” Morrell said. “I was that way in high school; I’m that way now.”
And if you’re wondering how all that extra work has affected her devotion towards keeping the Bells in tip-top shape, look no further than her two awards for WCL Executive of the Year. Morrell credits her staff with holding everything together.
Even with all the moving parts, Morrell tries not to overcomplicate the Bells’ role in the greater community.
“We’ve just tried to keep it affordable, keep it community centered and keep it something that anybody can do, like low barrier to entry,” Morrell said.
“We are Bellingham’s team, so if we’re not doing what they want, then we’re failing. So we have to do what our community wants, we have to be a reflection of the community, and that’s what we’ve tried to do.” – Stephanie Morrell
The Bellingham Bells open the 2025 season on the road against the Nanaimo NightOwls on May 30. Their home opener takes place on Tuesday, June 3, against the Kamloops NorthPaws. You can find single-game and season tickets at bellinghambells.com.
We Are Whatcom is a weekly column featuring Whatcom County residents making a positive impact on the community. To submit a Whatcom County resident to be featured, click here.