Connect with Craigcneal@centerfpl.com
612.281.1192 - cell
612.920.3039 - office
he/him/his
#leadership #executiveleadership
#convening #engagement #culture
Fostering Teamwork
Building Collaborative Relationships
Fostering Innovation
Strategic Thinking
• 20 Years in Publishing, Marketing, Advertising Sales Management
• Publisher of Utne Reader Magazine
• Advertising, Sales Management, Business Management
• Visionary
• Thought Leader
Training
• American Management Association
• American Marketing Association
• American Academy of Advertising
• Coaching for ROI
• ToP Core Competencies
• True North Groups Institute
• World Café
• Open Space Technology
• Presencing/Theory U
Craig Neal, Co-Founder, CEO
he/him/his
Author of The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations
Art of Convening™ Originator and Lead Trainer
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi
Craig Neal celebrates life as a passionate change leader, publishing executive, author, trainer and executive coach to those called to create profound contributions in their life and work. Craig’s life forever changed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington in August of 1963, setting him on his current life path.
As an executive coach for over 25 years, Craig assists leaders to integrate their inner calling with maximizing their organizational leadership potential. In 1995, Craig and Patricia co-founded Heartland Institute, now CPL.
Change Management Leadership
Craig is a catalyst for change management and leadership consulting. His clients call upon him to convene high stakes collaborations that transform organizational systems, spark innovation, and resolve the toughest challenges.
Convening Leadership
Art of Convening Practicum Trainings and Certifications: In 2004 Craig founded and launched The Art of Convening Trainings, including pioneering a unique and engaging TeleTraining format. Over 1,000 leaders have graduated from The Art of Convening Trainings, virtual and in-person.
Thought Leadership
In 1998 CPL (formerly Heartland) produced the first Thought Leader Gathering for 40 change leaders in Minnesota. Eighteen years and 220 Gatherings later, Craig has coached over 173 Conversation Starters and co-convened over 3000 leaders in these ongoing membership based groups in Minnesota and the Bay Area of California. In 2012, Heartland launched the Transformational Leaders Collaboratory: A Community of Practice.
Wilderness Leadership
Craig's passion for the wilderness and being among men transforming their lives and personal visions led Craig to create the Men's Wilderness Journeys. These "inventure" trips into the pristine Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Northern Minnesota and Canada combine deep inner exploration with wilderness experience and skills training.
Professional Leadership
Craig held positions at Telemedia Communications, successfully launching two national magazines, Rodale Press and Garden Way Mfg. Inc. Craig was Publisher of Utne Reader Magazine (1990-1995). During that time Craig co-founded the Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association, and served as a founding board member of Business for Social Responsibility and Responsible Minnesota Business.
Sustainability Leadership
Throughout his publishing career Craig focused on the environmental impacts of publishing. As Publisher of Utne Reader, Craig led a statewide and upper Midwest initiative to reduce paper use through boosting recycled content plus to move from to traditional petroleum-based inks to soy-based inks. He was co-founder of Minnesota Environment Initiative (now Environmental Initiative),
Currently, Craig is a Climate Generation Advisory Board Member.
Volunteer Leadership
In 1996 Patricia and Craig co-founded the Conscious Business Alliance, soon to be the Convening Institute.
Craig is a Board Member of the Alafia Foundation and Climate Generation Advisory Board Member.
Named a Linden Hills Treasure in 2016, Craig is an accomplished photographer, known for capturing sunrises and sunsets experienced at Minneapolis' urban lakes and around the world.
You can enjoy his art here: Good Morning from Bde Maka Ska
