THE PROUTY PROJECT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Adrienne Jordan / Senior Consultant
Bethany brings a wealth of leadership and program development experience to the Prouty Project. She spent 17 years of her career building new programs and implementing operational systems to help a three-person start up grow into a mature organization with more than 100 employees. She understands the art and science of building relationships with communities to foster communication, empower people and better allocate resources. Bethany plays a pivotal role in helping our internal teams work more efficiently and continue to deliver a ‘WOW' experience for our clients.
Jeff's favorite movie is "Jerry Maguire." Is it because, as our CFO, he relates to "show me the money," Jerry's favorite phrase? Nope. It's because Jerry always does what's right, even when it means going against the grain.
Jeff's job responsibilities include many of our financial functions, including accounts payable and accounts receivable. But his favorite thing about working at The Prouty Project is being with the great people here. Jeff also takes great pride in helping other small businesses with their accounting and business administration needs via his own small business: Knack's Accounting Service.
A classic- and antique-car enthusiast and a wannabe racecar driver, Jeff owns a 1987 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, which he occasionally displays at local car shows. He's also active in the Knights of Columbus. Jeff has three adult children and became a Grandpa in 2023. Regardless of who he's with or what he's doing, he tries to keep this J. M. Barry quote top of mind: "Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting a battle."
Jeff's favorite movie is "Field of Dreams" (he's even taken our team on a road trip to Dyersville, Iowa, where it was filmed), so it's no surprise that The Prouty Project - the company he founded 30+ years ago - has become a "field" where he works with others to make dreams come true.
Many of the dreams are business-related: each year, Jeff and his team work with up to 100 CEOs from all over the world, helping them develop strategic plans and stronger leaders. His capacity for serving as a true visionary, for his own organization and in support of his clients, is well known. What's even more impressive however, is his predisposition for optimism and kindness. That reputation has fueled his firm's success for more than three decades.
Jeff and his wife Mary live in Eden Prairie. They have two daughters, Paige and Shea, both adopted from China. The family actively contributes their time, talent and treasure to causes they care about, including the National Charity League, Inc., Ronald McDonald House, Sigma Phi Epsilon National Fraternity, FINNEGANS Board of Inspiration (FBI), the Minnetonka Band Boosters and one initiative they hold particularly dear - The Prouty Project Stretch Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation, which they intend to grow to $2 million.
In his free time, Jeff, who describes himself as "the luckiest guy in the world," enjoys reading, seeing movies, working out and spending time on Think Tank II, The Prouty Project's powerboat and "floating meeting space," the perfect spot for both Jeff and clients to dream new dreams and steer a course to new horizons.
See Some Of The Organizations Jeff Has Worked With
Jonah is a bright newcomer to the Prouty Project, starting as a Marketing Intern before earning his place as a Support Specialist on our team. He has worked with the Prouty team to invent and deploy creative solutions for internal processes. From database management to social media growth, he has worked in multiple areas of the business, providing behind-the-scenes support for our clients and consultants. His dedication to learning has led to his exceptional growth in a short time.
It takes a steady hand and a sharp mind to manage an office-two things Julie brings to The Prouty Project team. As our Office Manager, she's the glue that holds us together, the oil that keeps the cogs of our business running smoothly, and it's her mission to fine-tune our day-to-day operations as she leads resources management, operations, event planning, and other administrative tasks.
She came to the Prouty team after 20 years as the Assistant Athletic Director for a top-ranked school, where she helped lead the department in event planning, operations and facilities management, budgeting, and finance. She had responsibilities for interviewing, hiring and supervision of coaches and moderators; coordinated scheduling, and communications with media. Julie was instrumental in the design and build-out of several aspects of the school's athletic facilities, as well as major event planning and coordination, a variety of fundraising events; point-of-contact person for parents and alumni. She is reliable, direct, organized, and always ready to keep our team on course. But that's not all; she also has a kind and generous spirit. Outside the office, you'll find spending time with her children, involved with her grandchildren, and planning events and activities with her extensive extended family. Julie enjoys volunteering at various fundraisers and with many community organizations. With a level head and big heart, Julie fits right in at the center of the Prouty Project office!
Curiosity - After receiving a bachelor's degree in public relations from Illinois State University, Kaitlin's curiosity for the sports industry led her to a career in athletics. Kaitlin quickly established herself as a talented media and communications specialist for several industry-leading organizations, where she handily revamped their media strategies to drive organizational performance.
Adventure - From there, Kaitlin's adventurous spirit led her to the land of 10,000 lakes where she joined Team Prouty. Kaitlin's creative spark and passion for graphic design adds an elevated look and feel to our team and the work we create for our clients. She crafts unique and memorable designs for both internal and external use including on our social media channels.
Generosity - Most recently, Kaitlin generosity led her back to school to chase her dreams of wanting to serve and help others. In addition to being a member of Team Prouty, Kaitlin is also a pediatric hematology and oncology registered nurse, where she walks alongside and cares for pediatric patients and their families.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking and ice cream runs with her dog, spending time with her family, watching college football, and traveling.
See Some Of The Organizations Kaitlin Has Worked With
Kari appreciates the beauty of this beautiful earth we've been given. She enjoys being outdoors - hiking, skiing, biking and spending time in and on the water. Her heart feels most full when she gets to travel, because she loves seeing and experiencing new places. Even on an airplane! If you're ever with her don't attempt to take her window seat!
As associate consultant, Kari has one goal: to make life easier for those she's working with, which she does with her desire to lend a helping hand and can-do spirit. She has a knack for making things better than they were with her attention to detail which makes Kari so good at her job. She's not afraid to dig into her role to deepen client relationships and help the process run smoothly from A to Z.
Kari lives in Eden Prairie, close to work and her two fabulous young-adult "kids." She describes her family as energetic, experiential people who would rather "do and be active" than have conversation sitting at a table.
Kari's most memorable trip was to Mozambique, where she spent five weeks helping teach orphaned children and serving the missionaries in their work. Kari challenges herself every day to live out her favorite Mark Twain quote: "The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."
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Kristin Jonason joined The Prouty Project in 2016. Kristin specializes in the area of Positive Psychology, the scientific study of well-being and human flourishing. She aims to integrate elements, research, and interventions from Positive Psychology into all our client engagements to increase their individual and organizational well-being while improving employee engagement. You can also find her speaking publicly on a variety of topics such as well-being and flourishing, mindset, emotional intelligence, and navigating change.
Prior to joining Prouty Project, Kristin spent two years in Indianapolis working at a software company as part of the Orr Fellowship of Indiana. In addition, Kristin spent six years working with youth at Camp Olson YMCA in northern Minnesota where she wore many hats, eventually becoming assistant director. While there, she developed a deep appreciation of nature and a passion for experiential leadership development. These experiences, in combination with her time at Prouty Project, Kristin brings expertise in facilitation around strategic planning, leadership development, experiential learning, workplace well-being, and employee engagement.
Kristin loves trying new things and is not afraid to stretch herself in out-of-the-box situations. She lives in Minneapolis but is always planning her next big trip. She's been to over 30 countries (including Antarctica!), always seeking adventure. A few of her highlights are exploring New Zealand by campervan, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, white water rafting 227 miles of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during the 2022 Stretch Expedition, and leading our 2023 Stretch Expedition to Namibia for Desert Elephant Conservation.
Kristin has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. in Psychology from DePauw University. In 2023, Kristin will be pursuing her National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) certification through the Mayo Clinic. Kristin is one of our Licensed Practitioners of Insights Discovery.
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A graduate from the Minnesota State University, Mankato, Lexi adds her marketing and public relations expertise to our team. She is gifted public speaker who has successfully managed to allocate her time to her studies, budding career and volunteer work with the YWCA and Girls on the Run. She is driven and committed to supporting clients and teammates to ensure their success. In addition, we're grateful for Lexi's attention to detail and strategic eye for design.
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The mingling of Mike's adventurous spirit and dry wit inspires clients to find the extraordinary in their businesses and in their personal lives, whether that means he's facilitating executive retreats or leading strategic planning sessions. Known for his keen sense of business strategy and his depth of business acumen, Mike's reputation speaks for itself. He's in high demand yet keeps a constant stance of humility.
Mike lives in Chanhassen with his wife of more than 43 years, Jane, a woman he describes as "the rock" who not only grounds him but also encourages him to excel. They have three children, five grandchildren and a golden retriever, all of whom live in the Twin Cities. Mike is grateful to have his family near so he can share in their lives and offer support.
Mike's not-so-secret passion is the Star-Spangled Banner. That's why he's led us on a 10-year quest to sing it before a Twin Cities' pro sporting event. Though the opportunity hasn't yet presented itself, the firm's ready and in good voice.
See Some Of The Organizations Mike Has Worked With
Curiosity. Adventure. Generosity. These three words not only represent the core values of the Prouty Project, they also perfectly describe the life and work of Paige Prouty. Her adventurous spirit and natural curiosity have taken her all over the world. She has visited 14 different countries thanks to her Semester at Sea-an opportunity that allowed her to vastly broaden her understanding of the world's many different cultures, languages, people, and ways of doing business.
During her studies at Chapman University, where she studied International Business and Finance, Paige also completed an internship at Acorn Entertainment in Shanghai. While there, she analyzed the social media markets in U.S. and China, creating strategies for U.S.-based clients looking to expand their digital reach. After graduating, she moved on to a Management Development Program with Amerihome Mortgage, where she developed her leadership development skills in preparation for her to transition to a full-time Prouty Associate Consultant.
Paige brings energy, passion, and a sense of joy to the Prouty team. She is actively engaged in her community and always looking for ways to give back, donating over 500 hours to community service at Make-a-Wish, the Ronald McDonald House, and other local organizations. She's also a faithful companion to her two dogs: Blue and Celine.
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You could say Peter has a "driving" passion for positive thinking; he proclaims it proudly on his car license plate, which reads: CREATE. Honk if you see him pass by.
And create Peter does. As president of The Prouty Project, he develops transformational experiences that improve collaboration by helping people expand their life skills, belief systems and communication processes. He also designs and facilitates cross-cultural strategic planning and innovation programs for companies eager to help their people become more effective global team members. Having traveled, lived and worked in 50 countries on four continents, there's no one better suited to the work than Peter.
Peter describes his family - his wife, Tanya and two children, Sydney and Jackson - as one that is "happy, grateful and blessed." That family also includes three rescued cats, Emmet, Silver and Luna, and Skye, the Aussie/Border Collie mix who hold a special place in his heart. (They also tend six chickens!)
Peter expresses his creativity through writing, carpentry, stone sculpting and roasting coffee on an open fire for family and friends. He also enjoys challenging himself by sailing, surfing, rock climbing, fly-fishing and - no surprise - learning new languages.
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Sam Smith - Managing Director
Known by his clients and colleagues for expanding curiosity, uncovering insights and driving action, Sam lives by his two favorite questions - "What if?" and "Why not?"- and his two favorite statements - "We can!" and "Let's go!"
For close to two decades, Sam has worked with executives to drive effective change, create adaptive advantage and accelerate meaningful innovation. He does this by designing and facilitating experiential solutions including executive retreats, strategic planning engagements and leadership development offerings - all of which enable Sam to do what he is most passionate about: helping people see and believe in what's possible.
Sam along with his wife & best friend, Maureen, live in Minneapolis and have enjoyed raising a large family (5 kids) which now includes their son-in-law and 3 grandchildren.
Sam graduated from Michigan State University, where he was a scholarship student athlete and Captain of the men's gymnastics team. As a gymnast of 20 years, there were many highlights including a performance in the halftime show of Super Bowl XXVI. Today, Sam stays engaged with the sport as the voice of Gopher Gymnastics.
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Samantha is a consultant specializing in strategic planning and leadership development. Samantha came to the Prouty Project with a background in management and leadership as well as coaching for development. As a Certified Professional Coach, she supports others in their personal and professional growth. She works with individuals to heighten their strengths and minimize their growth edges, while offering tools and resources for actionable next steps. A tool in Samantha's toolbelt is her improvisational background. She has been performing and coaching improv comedy in the Twin Cities regularly since 2005. She will weave the teachings of improv into her sessions and encourages people to lean into play as a part of their leadership development and strategic planning. Samantha designs programs specific to team building and leadership based on the desired needs of an individual or organization including: the value of creating a culture of feedback and how to create a more inclusive culture in the workplace.
A natural leader who has a penchant for improvisation? You can see why she fits right in as a Prouty Project Consultant. Before stepping into a full-time role with Prouty, Samantha was as key piece of both prouty i•will cohorts, leading the improv instruction and acting as a facilitator for all areas of the retreat. She brings a wealth of creativity and inspiration to our clients, helping them rediscover their imagination, reflect on themselves, and use their natural-born creativity as the ignition for new ideas.
Samantha has a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications: Performance Studies at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL, and a Graduate Certificate of Leadership from Capella University in Minneapolis
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Over the last 10 years, Tammy has devoted herself to the study of theatre and creative writing. She has a vast array of teaching experience that ranges from cultivating young minds in preschool to guiding and evaluating collegiate level students. Her creative spark and propensity for helping others learn is what caught our team's eye here at Prouty. She has a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking and has spent years helping others find their way both personally and professionally.
As an Associate Consultant, Tammy assists in providing the experiential and transformative service Prouty is known for. Her fresh ideas and time spent teaching will help us evolve and enhance our creative offerings, and her managerial experience will be invaluable in keeping Prouty's internal processes running smoothly.
See Some Of The Organizations Tammy Has Worked With