News release

Organizational Effectiveness Officer Grant awarded

July 22, 2008 | EAST TROY, WISCONSIN -- Michael Fields Agricultural Institute proudly announces the receipt of a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Community Grant Fund to establish the position of Organizational Effectiveness Officer (OEO) in its East Troy, Wisconsin office. Susan Gravelle has been named as OEO, bringing her corporate experience as the former Director of Client Care and Director, Business Coaching at E-Myth Worldwide in Santa Rosa, California.

A convergence of organizational growth, maturity and market demand leads us to invest in the position of an Organizational Effectiveness Officer to build individual and organizational knowledge, skills and will. “Our goal is to focus on projects that leverage cross-sector partnerships with business, government and nonprofits creating communities of practice that can create more impact with and through alliances of organizations and individuals than could have ever been achieved alone. The addition of an Organizational Effectiveness Officer will enable us to most effectively fulfill our mission, improve the value of service and program delivery and adapt to changing conditions and external environments,” states Ron Doetch, Executive Director.

Michael Fields is realizing increasing demand for its expertise and innovation in applying agricultural solutions to urban and rural community needs. Among its Milwaukee projects is Teutonia Urban Garden, an environmental and educational “Best Practices” garden located at Teutonia Urban Housing and Handsome Plaza in Milwaukee’s urban center in partnership with Elaine’s Project.

Susan states, “I am thrilled to join Michael Fields Agricultural Institute as their first Organizational Effectiveness Officer and look forward to our focus on strengthening organizational capacity and funding development in order to most effectively leverage the talent, passion and expertise of our staff towards addressing critical issues of our times. I am grateful to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation for their generous support and partnership of our efforts.”

The Greater Milwaukee Foundation is a family of over 850 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the local charitable causes of their choice. Grants from these funds serve people throughout Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties. Started in 1915, the Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S.

For more information, please contact:

Susan Gravelle
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
Phone: 262-642-3303
Fax: 262-642-5517
Email: susang@michaelfieldsaginst.org