George Reistad Email & Phone Number

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

As a Business Development Specialist within the Office of Business Resources (OBR), I work with the OBR Manager and staffers to help businesses site, start, and expand within the City of Madison. In my particular role - due in part because of my past role as Food Policy Director for the City of Madison - I have an added emphasis and focus on businesses and orgs that operate within the food system.Roles and Responsibilities• Successfully advocated for a transfer from the Mayor’s Office to the Economic Development Division to more closely focus on economic development and community support programs that provided resources and opportunities to residents of historically under-capitalized communities within the City of Madison • Advance food systems economic development projects within the City of Madison and Greater Madison Region o Program Manager - Healthy Retail Access Program: Since 2016, distributed over $1 million to food retail businesses and economic development entities leading to the creation of multiple community food retail locations in areas with persistent food access/affordability challenges o Assist management of the Madison Public Market (MPM) project - Manage and assist with grant-writing and reporting, donor fundraising, and facilitating weekly MPM core team meetings with key community stakeholders and partners• Lead City of Madison-directed efforts to create and launch a guaranteed income pilot program in partnership with key community organizations and stakeholders o Assisted in fundraising for over $1 million ($250k in sole procurement) to support a pilot program with >100 participants who will receive unrestricted cash income for 12 months

Madison, Wisconsin Area

As the Food Policy Director, I worked within the Mayor's administration and was tasked with managing programs, entities, and initiatives that included, but were not limited to:- Madison Food Policy Council- Healthy Retail Access Program- SEED Grants- Double Dollars Program- The Gardens Network

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Coordinated implementation of USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program - Lead WI efforts to promote farmer sign-up, appropriations, implementation, and media coverageWorked with other WI sustainable agriculture advocates, NPO, and agency partners to advance a state sustainable agriculture policy agenda - Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Program - Farm-to-School Program - Managed Grazing - ConservationCo-chaired the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's Diversity Committee - Convenes and co-facilitated bi-monthly Diversity Cmte teleconferences - Engaged in creation of a Racial Equity Statement, publicly affirming the Coalition's commitment to racial inclusion in policy work - Worked with committee members and coalition members at large to brainstorm methods for diverse inclusion throughout the various issue committees of the full coalitionWrote proposals and administered grantsAssisted with MFAI publicity at public events and other grassroots outreach - Blog posts - Electronic newsletterSupervised and managed various project interns - Community Regional Food Systems Project Communications Intern - Community Regional Food Systems Project PEOPLE Program Coordinator

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Developed an urban agriculture curriculum for high school students in the UW-Madison PEOPLE Program. Coordinated logistics for all facets of class development, including recruiting instructors and speakers, planning field trips, meeting with community organization leaders, and adhering to budgetary constraints.

Nelson Institute - Uw-Madison

The Community Environmental Scholars Program (CESP) trains undergraduates to work with community-based environmental organizations. I took a one-credit seminar each semester that introduced me to nearby environmental and community organizations, and gave me a place to discuss the links between Environmental Studies and community service.As a Community Environmental Scholar, I collaborated with a cohort of students dedicated to working with real people on real environmental problems. I had preferred access to specially designed Environmental Studies Capstone (Envir St 600) courses that provided service-learning experiences with nearby environmental organizations.It was a truly great and unique experience that proved to be a HUGE part of my undergraduate career in Madison.

Madison, Wisconsin Area

Collected research to determine effective marketing strategies for promotion of renewable energy to small businesses. Involved heavy use of MS Excel as well as team-oriented communication and assignment completion.

Middleton, Wi

Engaged in sustainability and other planning department initiatives research including energy practices in the workplace, employer assisted housing, plastic bag recycling ordinance implementation, and construction waste recycling program recommendations.