Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Brandi's experience is in program development, program management and strategic partnerships within the industries of food and agriculture, precision manufacturing, marketing and events, and state government. Brandi has global experience working cross functionally with group and strategic partners internationally in several African nations. Most recently working with Land O'Lakes, Inc. in Arden Hills, MN, Brandi put project management and program management skills to work to launch the Land O'Lakes Global Food Challenge: Emerging Leaders for Food Security program in 2014 in three months at five universities. Program initiation included budget, timeline, communications, and recruitment strategy planning to ensure the successful execution and management of the program. Program growth later included 12 universities. Prior to moving to the greater Minneapolis - St. Paul area, Brandi worked for the North Dakota Department of Commerce in Bismarck, ND as program manager for a state-wide business venture competition, Innovate ND. While with Innovate ND, she was charged with expanding the program and growing an entrepreneurial community in the state. She also lead fundraising efforts within the private sector to sponsor cash prizes for the business venture competition winners. Brandi thrives on exceeding goals, developing leaders, building relationships, maintaining partnerships, adding value to an organization by delivering results, and learning from others. Specialties: - Program and project management, strategic relationships, community relations/affairs, communication, fundraising and development, international experience
Oversee and maintain daily business operations to ensure operations are well managed, coordinated, and running smoothly. - Lead customer and vendor relationship management - Identify and develop day-to-day business efficiencies - Implement ERP system to streamline and better track customer and vendor quotes, pricing, and purchase orders - Source and purchase raw materials (steel) and plant supplies - Support employee relations, accounts payable and receivable areas
Streamlined quoting and purchase order processing by implementing an ERP system that was not currently in place.
Maintain and build relationships with Land O'Lakes, Inc. key partners while raising the profile of Land O'Lakes, Inc. in the community and our member areas. - Support strategic partnerships with the University of Minnesota, the Chicago Council, Planet Forward, and the World Food Prize - Develop solutions and present recommendations on how to enhance the relationships with partners to achieve a "win-win" for both parties - Work with senior leaders across business units and members of the executive team Developed and managed the Global Food Challenge Emerging Leaders program while leading 41 interns through an experiential agriculture and food security internship. Interns are charged with driving the conversation on agricultural and food security challenges, how their ideas can help feed the world, and how Land O'Lakes strives for solutions to provide more food in an increasingly sustainable manner to help feed a hungry planet. - Raise the profile and reputation of Land O'Lakes on eleven college campuses across the US - Presented to over 7,000 college freshman on eleven college campuses - Maintain relationships with University partners where we have Global Food Challenge interns and alumni - Collaborate with global teams to develop agricultural exploration experiences in Africa - Lead the application, recruiting and hiring process of interns each year - Program management including budget, timelines, intern recruitment, program objectives, goals, measurements, future strategy, website development, social media, and communications
The yearlong Global Food Challenge Emerging Leaders for Food Security fellowship provides an opportunity for 10 students at five universities to identify innovative and practical ways to meet the world’s need for a 70 percent increase in global food production. These students are matched with professors who will help guide their research. In 2014, students were chosen from partner schools: the University of Minnesota, Purdue University, Iowa State University, Northwestern University, and George Washington University. Charged with developing a road map to execute the roll out of the program at universities, application process, communications strategy, development of website, selection of applicants, launch and announcement of those selected and 11-week internship plan May - July 2015. In the first year, nearly 70 applicants were received. 10 students from 5 universities were selected to participate and help drive awareness about how all forms are agriculture and all innovative ideas will be needed to feed a growing population.