Bio
Sparkle Anderson Bell, APR, CPC is an award-winning strategic communications and marketing leader based in Chicagoland, currently serving as Senior Manager of Global Public Affairs for Abbott’s Rapid Diagnostics business. She leads high-visibility communications initiatives that spotlight groundbreaking healthcare innovation, including point-of-care diagnostic technologies transforming care around the world.
Sparkle’s expertise spans public relations, media relations, executive communications, brand storytelling, and community engagement. Over the course of her career, her leadership has contributed to more than 30 awards recognizing excellence in marketing and communications.
At Abbott, Sparkle leads global communications strategies for diagnostic innovations including the i-STAT TBI test, BinaxNOW, Panbio and ID NOW platforms. She spearheaded the historic partnership between Abbott and MotoAmerica, marking the first use of a rapid blood test for concussion assessment in professional sports — an achievement that earned her a prestigious Abbott Point of Care Platinum Award. Her work has helped position Abbott’s diagnostics portfolio at the forefront of healthcare innovation, contributing to recognition in major national and international media and industry honors such as TIME Best Inventions and Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Health and Medicine.
Prior to joining Abbott, Sparkle held senior communications leadership roles in government and corporate sectors, including Director of Communications for the City of Pearland, where she led crisis and public information efforts during Hurricane Harvey, and Corporate Affairs Manager for Kroger’s Houston Division.
Her work in municipal communications earned widespread recognition. The City of Pearland Communications Department, a team she led, was named Government Communications Team of the Year by the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and Sparkle was honored as PR Professional of the Year in 2016. In recognition of her impact, Mayor Tom Reid proclaimed February 1, 2018 as Sparkle Anderson Day in Pearland. She was also named to the Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class.
Outside of her professional achievements, Sparkle is an active member of the Lambda Nu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she serves on the Executive Board. She is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America and volunteers with the Junior League.
Sparkle holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree from Rice University. She is Accredited in Public Relations (APR), a Certified Public Communicator (CPC) through Texas Christian University, and a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Senior Executive Institute.
Fun fact: Sparkle’s name was inspired by the song “Sparkle,” and she truly lives up to it. She resides in Gurnee, Illinois with her husband Raymond and daughter Aubrey.