Cleo C. Pruitt

3318 North Humboldt Blvd. Milwaukee Wisconsin 53212 414·562·0989
Email: cleopruitt@Yahoo.com

Ms. Pruitt has executive level experience in business and workforce development, project management, organization development, media/ communication and community service.

She is trained as an educator, with a B.S. in Education. She has presented papers on south – south media issues in St. Lucia and Ghana and participated in ecumenical dialogue in the former Soviet Union. She is a former treasurer and board member of the Wisconsin Employment and Training Association (WETA). And served as a member of the Board of Directors: Foundation for Arts Resource Management (FARM) an arm of the Minneapolis Arts Commission.

Experience

Bridge Works, Inc.

Media Relations, Marketing Communications and Organization Development Consultant

Conducts issues research; develops and conducts organizational assessments

Produce diverse communications products: Reports, Speeches, Editorial content for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and electronic media tools

Develop and conduct media and marketing communications campaigns

New Focus Productions

Producer, Writer, and Marketing-Sales Rep

Created 39 vignettes for cablevision and a pilot program for a 13-week series
Conducted program research, wrote scripts and related collateral materials
Co-producer-production assistant on field shoots, and location scout

Office of the Mayor, Minneapolis, MN
Liaison: Minneapolis Arts Commission

Oversight of city arts funding to local arts organizations including $2.2million city funding for arts
Acted as Ombudsman between arts community and the Mayor’s Office

Minneapolis Arts Commission
Arts Consultant

Developed Commission’s 5-Year Operating Plan
Advocated for saving, restoring and redevelopment of 7 Corners Arts District
Campaigned for and provided technical assistance and advisement for public and corporate support of public art, emerging artist and arts groups, and small and experimental arts entities
Developed cutting-edge proposals that resulted in garnering $5million in arts funding
Assisted in the development of an “arts voucher program” and mounting public performances in the city’s parks

Maximus, Inc.
Project Manager and Employment and Marketing Rep

Expanded employer base for job seekers
Customized Training Partnerships and pool of Community Job Service (CSJ) providers
Managed partnership relations with 20 employer partners

Kaiser Group, Inc
Employer Services Consultant

Developed customized employer service plans for KGI’s clients
Provided advisement on business development and retention, and fiscal management and accountability
Implemented training course for new recruits — speeding profitability.

BAB, Inc.
Business Development and Fleet Manager

Created company’s business development, operating, and employee management policies
Identified new prospects for company’s services and established contractual relationships
Co-developed strategies for lobbying municipal authorities on issues and municipal polices regarding recycling
Monitored business services and employee productivity; supervised eight (8) employees

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Associate Director: Communications

Created and developed diverse communications products to inform and educate 11,000-member congregations on ELCA’s policies, issues and world-wide spiritual and missionary work
Conducted issues workshops for 37 church sites and retreat centers
Conducted direct-mail campaigns to membership and others
Served on policy-making bodies and as a member of the Justice Network of the Lutheran Church

Education

The University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI
B.S., Education
MBA Candidate
Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP)

Professional Development

ELCA sponsored World Bank Training on the International Monetary Fund
The Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce: AdVenture Capital Business Plan Reviews

Presentations

Milw. Interfaith Conference Lecture Series, Africa and Central Am.
“Multicultural Images in Media” National Association of Black Studies, Accra, Ghana
“Ecumenical Dialogue” Lutheran Church in America, The Soviet Union
“Southern Hemisphere Media Issues” Caribbean Conference of Churches

Affiliations

National Association of Workforce Development Professionals
Former Treasurer and Board member, Wisconsin Employment and Training Association (WETA)
Former Member of the Board of Directors: Foundation for Arts Resource Management (FARM) an arm of the Minneapolis Arts Commission

• NAACP Soldiers Home Tribute Proposal
• Synopsis and Budget for the NAACP Soldiers Home Tribute

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