Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul/New York

• Serve as trusted advisor to more than 200 of world’s largest companies which represent $7.7 trillion in total revenue, $23 billion in total community investment, 14 million employees, 22.5 million hours of employee.
• Corporate CEO-led, invitation-only coalition, delivering corporate purpose results and long-term sustainable value
• Advise CEOs and C-Suite leaders on strategies, benchmarking, and stakeholder engagement across five Centers of Excellence… Show more
• Advise CEOs and C-Suite leaders on strategies, benchmarking, and stakeholder engagement across five Centers of Excellence (COE): Societal/Community Investment, Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI), Environmental Social &.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul/New York

• Direct team to consult with, lead research for, and convene senior corporate executives to transform their corporate purpose strategies
• Provide thought leadership and solutions development across corporate advisory, insights, and engagement as member of CECP senior leadership team

New Brighton, Minnesota, United States

• Concurrently serve as elected Mayor (two-year term) of Statutory Plan B City, work with four elected City Council members, and presiding officer at City Council meetings; advise on policy/legislative decisions (not.
• Prioritized creation of Equity Commission for which serve as council liaison; serve as City representative to League of Minnesota Cities, Regional Council of Mayors, North Metro Mayors… Show more
• Prioritized creation of Equity Commission for which serve as council liaison; serve as City representative to League of Minnesota Cities, Regional Council of Mayors, North Metro Mayors, Metro Cities, and ceremonial.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Corporate strategy and execution, public relations, and new business development for corporations, start-up and early-stage companies, nonprofits, and associations

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Directed and represented Public Affairs global corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate sustainability, including external and industry affairs, for world’s largest crop nutrient producer.
• Advocated for company, presented globally and served as communications advisor on food and agriculture supply chain, global food security, and NGO alliances
• Attained measurable improvements in year-over-year social reputation, with verified program efficacy
• Coordinated strategy… Show more Directed and represented Public Affairs global corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate sustainability, including external and industry affairs, for world’s largest crop.
• Coordinated strategy across government affairs, reputation and issue management, communications, community relations and stakeholder engagement as member of Public Affairs Leadership Team
• Achieved corporate ranking as one of 100 Best Corporate Citizens, Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine six consecutive years and CR Lifetime Achievement Award for CEO, CR Magazine, 2015

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Supervised cross-functional, cross-geographic community investment team for $28 million portfolio of international corporate and foundation grant making and United Way campaign for Fortune 300 publicly traded.
• Managed corporate social reputation survey and integrated internal and external communication strategies on community investments, including traditional and social media outreach
• Led public positioning as corporate leader in nutrient stewardship and… Show more Supervised cross-functional, cross-geographic community investment team for $28 million portfolio of international corporate and.
• Led public positioning as corporate leader in nutrient stewardship and other environmental, sustainable agriculture and supply-chain sustainability issues
• Received corporate recognition in 2013 from CECP (Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy) with its President’s Excellence Award for company’s outstanding partnerships in three countries Show less

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Designed new, formal grant making program, including media strategy, guidelines, and processes.
• Integrated global community investment program into corporate social responsibility strategies and projects across company; managed global grant making portfolio
• Led community investment staff and cross-functional teams focused on community relations, communications and media relations
• Personally recognized as a 2013 Women of Distinction by Girl Scouts of MN and WI River Valleys

Minneapolis, MN

• Identified new market entry strategies and developed market offerings for Fortune 350 financial services fraternal membership organization.
• Assessed potential deals, vendors, alliance partners and market data for new products and services
• Presented Strategic Development Division recommendations; led to successful spin-out venture, brightpeak financial

Minneapolis, MN

• Designed and instructed biweekly management course for Department of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship.
• Achieved exceptional learning outcomes for 120 undergraduate students
• Earned excellent student evaluations for innovative, multi-media curriculum content and delivery

Minneapolis, MN

• Redesigned and delivered jEM course as a joint program between Carlson School of Management and Office for Business & Community Economic Development.
• Directed summer college course on entrepreneurship for 30 inner-city high school students; achieved exceptional learning outcomes
• Organized university and community resources including faculty and corporate involvement to meet program demands

Minneapolis, MN

• Hired as a member of MBA student consulting team to deliver design-thinking on business innovation.
• Presented strategic recommendations on new business opportunities to senior management, boards, and investors in new ventures and large companies
• Developed joint venture framework on emerging technologies for Fortune 70 corporations and university-sponsored business incubator on smart grid and renewable energy
• Researched and recommended energy efficiency initiatives and dynamic… Show more Hired as a member of MBA student consulting team to deliver design-thinking on business innovation.
• Researched and recommended energy efficiency initiatives and dynamic pricing strategy for electric utility Show less

Saint Paul, MN

Led brand audit and advised leadership on market entry, business development and rebranding strategies for for-profit innovation consulting firm focused on budgeting for outcomes and leadership expertise

Saint Paul, MN

• Led operations of and directed executive leadership team for $6 million social service nonprofit organization.
• Provided sole oversight of public policy decisions, community relations, and governmental affairs
• Improved annual goal-setting and work plan development processes for Board of Directors and Board committees
• Integrated three major departments and increased revenue 10% in one year

Saint Paul, MN

• Directed Finance and Administration department for social service nonprofit organization, including $6.6 million annual operating budget, more than $18 million in assets, and $27.5 million public-private capital.
• Led on-time/on-budget design and construction of for new community center through private capital campaign, city, state, and Federal funds; exceeded affirmative action goals
• Managed department of human resources, finance, technology, and community… Show more Directed Finance and Administration department for social service nonprofit organization, including $6.6 million annual operating.
• Managed department of human resources, finance, technology, and community center/facility management
• Named Finalist for 2007 CFO of Year Award—Nonprofit by Minneapolis/Saint Paul Business Journal
• Designed systems, operations, processes, and planning to accommodate agency growth of 89% in six years Show less

Minneapolis, MN

• Expanded funding and communications to increase revenue goals by 200% for this mental health human services organization focused on advocacy and education.
• Designed program outcomes, budgets, and communication materials
• Increased revenue from direct mail, planned giving, events, conferences, government, corporate, foundation, and membership

Minneapolis, MN

• Supervised operations, programs, administration, and legislative session/public policy programs focused on increasing access to services for persons with mental illness.
• Held concurrently this interim leadership role with Director of Development & Communications
• Provided leadership to Search Committee for new Executive Director

Washington, DC

• Managed finance department and administrative staff, financial records, and financial systems for national environmental nonprofit.
• Standardized financial reports and systems for a national, $15M annual operation with over 700,000 members
• Developed systems to improve local, state, and federal tax reporting and administered benefits plans, payroll, and insurance policies

Washington, DC

• Expanded funding sources through a variety of donor giving programs and campaigns for national environmental nonprofit.
• Recruited, trained and supervised more than 50 volunteers simultaneously
• Coordinated all aspects of three annual benefit events that each raised more than $100K
• Initiated new affinity marketing program to increase donor development

Providence, RI; Baltimore, MD; Washington, DC

• Hired, trained, and supervised more than 60 field canvass staff members simultaneously who raised funds and conducted door-to-door community outreach for national environmental nonprofit.
• Organized federal, state, and local legislative, issue, and electoral campaigns, and national leadership conferences and meetings
• Arranged for and represented organization at press conferences and wrote press releases and promotional materials
• Cross-trained: Dallas, TX; Pittsburgh, PA

Washington, DC

• Managed district outreach plans and trained staff to communicate with community members for national environmental nonprofit.
• Communicated with, educated and enlisted financial, membership and electoral support from thousands of citizens
• Cross-trained: Houston, TX; Providence, RI; Austin, TX

Master Of Business Administration, Strategic Management

Study abroad on Scandinavian Corporate Social Responsibility to Norway, Sweden, & Denmark; Wells Fargo Scholarship; Loren W. Johnson.

Latin American Sustainability

Partnership with Carlson School of Management and Instituto Centroamericano de Administración de Empresas (INCAE), this intensive.

Bachelor Of Arts, Double Major, Statistics & International Studies, School Of International Service

Concentration: International Development; Graduated with Honors; Dean’s List