Becca Cruger Email & Phone Number

Provide business development concierge services, with workforce expertise, for businesses looking to expand or establish in the Grand Forks region. >Advise companies on workforce funding programs at the state & local levels>Connect companies to workforce pipeline streams & partner organizationsOrganize, promote and direct EDC's strategic workforce pipeline portfolio. >Manage Northern Valley Career Expo, bringing 1800 high schoolers from 52 school districts across 14 counties. Manage a budget of $45,000>Manage InternGF, which provides $40,000 annually in matching funds for EDC member companies and Grand Forks region startup organizations to establish new internships. Create partnerships with other agencies to create solutions to workforce challenges>Co-chaired the Career Impact Academy Steering committee and worked with a team to raise $20M to support the creation of a career and technical education center>Currently working alongside New American and justice-impacted serving organizations to create a program to reduce barriers to employment in the manufacturing career fieldEngage with State and local leaders to champion workforce policy>Serve on Governor Burgum's Workforce Development Council>Pursue local and federal grant funds to support workforce pipeline programsDirect marketing strategy for the Greater Grand Forks: Way Cooler than you Think!(grandforksiscooler.com) initiative. >Manage website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn creative direction & content @gfiscooler>Coordinate media buys, ad production, and special projects with multiple vendors. >Coordinate a 22-person HR Advisory Committee to steer the Cooler initiative>Launched "What's Cooler Today?" gfiscooler.com/whats-cooler-today - a regional lifestyle blog with a revolving staff of regional voices, resulting in a 213% increase in web traffic>Overhauled website SEO strategy resulting in a 21% increase in organic web traffic over a 1-year period

Grand Forks, North Dakota Area

Responsible for building relationships with employers seeking students of UND College of Business and Public Administration (CoBPA) for internships, mentorship programs, and employment opportunities. Assists students of CoBPA with career preparation, resume building, learning networking skills, and seeking internships and employment. Developing creative marketing strategies to enhance the presence of the Pancratz Center.

Grand Forks, North Dakota Area

Assisting rural healthcare organizations and professionals with identifying funding opportunities, scholarships, and loan repayment programs. Cataloging and organizing funding programs in an online database. Building relationships with foundations, and state and government funders. Presenting at national conferences on rural health and human service issues, especially in the areas of philanthropy and funding.Presentations Given: ------------------------------ o 10/2013 – Economic Opportunities Studies Webinar, Funding for Weatherization Projects in Rural Areas o 02/2014 – National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Grantwriting Seminar, The Rural Assistance Center, A Partner and a Resource o 04/2014 – National Rural Health Association 2014 Annual Conference, Going for the Green, Funding in Rural America o 05/2014 – Workforce Investment Boards, Creating Partnerships between WIBs and SORHs o 12/2014 – West Virginia Rural Health Conference 2014: Finding Rural Models and Innovations o 04/2015 – National Rural Health Association 2015 Annual Conference, Foundations in Focus: Funding for Rural Healthcare o 04/2015 – National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health Grant Writing 101 Course: Overview of Resources to Support Rural Grant Writing o 05/2015 – Public Private Collaborations in Rural Health Philanthropy Annual Meeting – Resources for to Support Rural Healthcare Funders o 10/2015 – North Carolina Foundation for Advanced Healthcare Programs – Bernstein Fellows: Resources to Support Rural Health Research and Grant Writing o 11/2015 – New England Rural Health Roundtable Annual Conference, Building the Evidence Base for Rural America

Duluth, Minnesota Area

Duluth, Minnesota Area

Curated content for magazine publication and managed a freelance writing staff. Wrote, conceptualized, and edited articles. Worked with a graphic design team to formulate the magazine layout.