Hello! My name is Connie Reimers-Hild. I am the Founder and Chief Futurist at Wild Innovation.In 2005, I discovered that personal fulfillment was the key to motivation in adult leaders and have been on a mission to help individuals and organizations create greater prosperity for themselves, their teams, and the planet ever since. Wild Innovation developed the “Wild Method” – a unique blend of strategic foresight, neuroscience, and nature to help leaders and organizations create more prosperous and purposeful futures. How? By untaming their minds and their futures. Our holistic approach to strategic foresight and leadership focuses on the intersection of science and technology, environmental sustainability, shifts in prosperity, and the evolution of humanity to create purposeful futures.My experience comes from blending a career at the University of Nebraska with entrepreneurship. Wild Innovation's research-based programs have helped more than 150 companies and 30,000 individuals better understand and create unique innovation playbooks designed to achieve their ideal futures while enjoying the present moment.I was the first (and only) female to be appointed to an Executive Director role at a university-wide institute. Leading the Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska was an enjoyable experience because we had a dedicated team of people eager to partner and innovate with leaders throughout the world. Our team launched the Rural Futures podcast, which explored the future of rural places. We also founded an inclusive leaders fellows program and a Thriving Index for rural areas. As a Futurist, I could see the possibilities! I loved working with leaders from several countries as well as from companies like Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Verizon. I still love working with leaders from all corners of the planet. If you are ready to go wild and untame your future, then send me a DM!-Dr. Connie

Serve as a member of the board to help shape the future of Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard Educational Foudation, Inc; An organization focused on agricultural education, historic preservation, and family experiences.

Contracted by the Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard Educational Foundation, Inc. to facilitate a pivot in a time of constant change and new normals. Implementing COVID best practices for a non-profit that historically relied on in-person educational experiences. Creating a future-focused strategic plan, coaching leaders and employees, standardizing procedures and operations, generating new business ideas, opportunities and metrics to support the non-profit mission; improving intern experiences, leading the development of nation-wide search and onboarding process for a permanent general manager.

As an adjunct faculty member in the School of Natural Resources, I have the opportunity to serve on graduate committees and help create the future of sustainability

Selected to serve as the Interim Executive Director to lead the pivot and downsizing of the Institute. Established systems of metric collection and communication to demonstrate the value of the Institute. Created alliances to continue critical programs. Eliminated programs that were growing but not yet funded with revenue-generating activities. Managed a mulit-million dollar budget that was in the process of being reduced and strategically invested into critical research, teaching and engagement initiatives. Openly innovated with partners to determine how to best proceed in an effort to fulfill the Institute’s mission.• Expanded partnerships with Microsoft and Apple to help rural communities increase their access to broadband, coding and other technologies in an effort to prepare for the future; Invited by Microsoft to speak on the future of cities and economies for the future at the 2018 Women’s Forum Global Meeting in Paris, France• Rebuilt and refocused a team with low morale into one that once again found confidence, passion and purpose in their work• Led the evolution of the Rural Futures Fellows program to focus on personal and community transformation with a foundation focused on Inclusive Leadership, including the measurement of quantitative indicators and qualitative patterns as well as long-term socio-economic metrics focused on Exponential Impact• Convened partners to finalize and launch the Nebraska Thriving Index, which was the first economic and quality of life benchmarking tool for rural Nebraska • Served as host of the Rural Futures podcast, which completed three seasons and served as a platform that brought innovators ranging from Microsoft and Google to Verizon and the DaVinci Institute as well as leaders from a variety of universities and small business ventures• Selected as one of six innovators from the United States to network with and present to Japanese leaders in various regions of rural Japan

Member of the executive team that developed and implemented future-focused, strategic direction for the Rural Futures Institute (RFI). Led efforts to develop the start-up Institute using futuring and foresight as a tool to guide strategies, tactics and metrics. Helped manage and strategically invest $2.35 million annual budget. Strengthened engagement across the University of Nebraska system and in communities focused on growing the rural sector. Facilitated partnerships with national and international organizations focused on improving the rural outcomes and economies.Key Achievements: Delivered seven keynotes and ten invited lectures on the importance of utilizing future-focused leadership and strategic foresight to strengthen innovation in individuals, communities and organizations. Developed and taught strategic foresight and leadership workshops for the Nebraska Water Leaders Academy (NWLA)Inked first-ever RFI partnership with the University of Nebraska at Kearney to create a Rural Futures Fellows programLaunched first Rural Futures Internships in partnership with 2 different departments at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Supervised student internships and projects at undergraduate and graduate levels that established metrics for the Rural Futures Competitive Awards and Rural Serviceship programs; Served on three masters and two doctoral committees for students researching various areas of leadership and engagement, including rural healthcare, entrepreneurship, leadership and mindfulness Worked with a multi-state team and student intern to create and publish 4 popular press articles and 6 videos on strategic foresightHosted thought leaders from Japan and Australia to explore partnerships and opportunities for the University and rural communities in partner countries

Invited by the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants to publish a peer-reviewed article on the future of rural healthcare. Abstract: This article uses a strategic foresight tool, megatrends, to examine forces influencing long-term healthcare staffing in the rural United States. Two megatrends—exponential advances in science and technology and the continued evolution of the decentralized global marketplace—will influence and ultimately help shape the future of rural healthcare. Successful health ecosystems of the future will need to be customer-driven, more affordable, and tech-savvy. Successful evolution in an era of continuous change will require a blend of intentional engagement with stakeholders, strategic foresight, and future-focused leadership. More research is needed to fully understand not only the challenges of rural healthcare but also the emerging opportunities.

Led a unique public-private partnership between the University and an educational foundation. Responsibilities included strategic planning, team development, exponential impact analysis, marketing and revenue generation. Managed budgets, interns, personnel and contractors. Established key metrics to evaluate the impact of programs and center activities. Reported impacts and outcomes to relevant boards, stakeholders and university administrators. Established Kimmel’s branding, marketing and social media campaigns. Strengthened relationships with partners, including the Richard P. and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation and the Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard Educational Foundation. Collaborated with partners to launch entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation programs. Key Achievements:Consulted more than 50 businesses to facilitate future-focused leadership strategies designed to strengthen innovation and income generationAttained more than $1,0000,000 of investments for programming, student and staff development and facility growth; Added 5 new positions, 10 undergraduate internships and 2 graduate assistantshipsAuthored or co-authored 2 books, 9 refereed publications and reports, 6 leadership coaching tools, 9 workbooks and 31 popular press publications on the topics of leadership and innovation; Developed, taught and evaluated over 66 workshops, retreats and training sessions and 59 invited presentations, 20 professional presentations and 13 keynotes on the areas of leadership and innovationCollaborated with the Nebraska State Irrigation Association and the University of Nebraska School of Natural Resources to develop, deliver and evaluate Nebraska’s first Water Leaders Academy, which involved numerous partners from both the University and the private sector. Translational research on transformational leadership and innovative behavior was a key component of the Academy. Launched the “Happy Orchard” brand of educational tools and resources

Directed activities associated with distance-delivered programs. Managed budgets for distance programs and grants. Coordinated and implemented the first marketing and advertising campaigns for departmental distance programs, which included the concept of branding and the use of Internet-based tools. Designed strategies to improve the quality of distance programs, including on-line surveys to assess quality, a needs assessment to determine course demand and marketability and an exit interview to gather feedback from graduates of the distance-delivered Masters program. Led efforts to streamline application process for distance students. Developed and co-taught two distance courses. Advised distance students on program development and course work. Helped build a sense of community between learners and the institution by developing an eAdvising Center and by implementing and authoring electronic newsletters for distance students. Key Achievements:Helped increase enrollment of distance masters degree program 410% in four years and obtained $62,000 in grant dollars to support recruitment, teaching and advising efforts for departmental distance programsDeveloped and taught the Department of Entomology’s first distance course delivered and evaluated entirely online and co-taught the first distance-delivered undergraduate course offered for Concurrent Credit by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to high schools in NebraskaCo-led the creation of an eAdvising Center for distance learners, which was designed to build stronger ties between students and the University, to help advise learners throughout their programs and to assist in the professional development of individualsMet with a number of Nebraska’s Congress members, Senators and Staffers to discuss the importance of distance education as a tool to serve both urban and rural communities

Developed and empirically tested the first-ever theoretical framework of the "Entrepreneurial Learner," which earned a "Best Paper Award" by the Distance Learning Administration in 2005. Findings revealed that personal fulfillment motivated adult distance learners and leaders.

Published the paper, Entrepreneurial Career Development: Using Human Capital, Social Capital, and Distance Education to Achieve Success in the Advancing Women in Leadership Online Journal. This publication was developed as part of a series developed by select graduate students who wanted to focus on researching women and leadership.

Directed activities associated with first distance-delivered, hard science program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Managed budgets for distance programs and grants. Coordinated and implemented the first marketing and advertising campaigns for departmental distance programs, which included the concept of branding and the use of Internet-based tools. Designed strategies to improve the quality of distance programs, including on-line surveys to assess quality, a needs assessment to determine course demand and marketability and an exit interview to gather feedback from graduates of the distance-delivered Masters's program. Led efforts to streamline the application process for distance students. Developed and co-taught two distance courses. Advised distance students on program development and course work. Helped build a sense of community between learners and the institution by developing an eAdvising Center and by implementing and authoring electronic newsletters for distance students. Key Achievements:- Helped increase enrollment of distance masters degree program 410% in four years and obtained $62,000 in grant dollars to support recruitment, teaching and advising efforts for departmental distance programs- Developed and taught the Department of Entomology’s first distance course delivered and evaluated entirely online and co-taught the first distance-delivered undergraduate course offered for Concurrent Credit by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to high schools in Nebraska- Co-led the creation of an eAdvising Center for distance learners, which was designed to build stronger ties between students and the University, to help advise learners throughout their programs and to assist in the professional development of individuals- Met with a number of Nebraska’s Congress members, Senators and Staffers to discuss the importance of distance education as a tool to serve both urban and rural communities