ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Patricia Neal, Craig Neal, and Cynthia Wold

CRAIG NEAL

Since awakening to his life’s purpose in 1963, Craig has celebrated life as a passionate evolutionary leader. He has been a publishing and organizational executive, as well as a guide to those called to authentically show up in life and work. Throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Craig held executive positions with Garden Way, Inc., and Rodale Publishing, and helped launch Harrowsmith and Eating Well magazines. By 1996, he concluded his publishing career as publisher of Utne Reader magazine.

In 1996, Craig founded Heartland Inc. with Patricia, his wife of 30 years. Heartland produced the first Thought Leader Gathering in 1998. Twelve years and 170 Gatherings later, Craig has co-convened over 1,600 leaders from 800 organizations in these ongoing membership-based groups in Minnesota and the San Francisco Bay Area. He and Patricia created the Essential Conversations Process for educators (Circle of Fire) and MBA students, and have convened meetings for businesses and communities alike.

Craig created and launched the Art of Convening Trainings in 2004 for those called to be an inspired catalyst for change in their organization or community. Over 350 are currently engaged or have graduated from 40 groups.

Craig’s passion for the wilderness and being among men transforming their lives and personal visions led him to create the Men’s Wilderness Journeys.

Craig is skilled at building relationships within and across organizations. He is dedicated to creating networks of authenticity and essential conversations among individuals and within organizations through training and convening events.

He founded the Conscious Business Alliance and the Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association, and served as a board member of Business for Social Responsibility, various Waldorf Schools, and Responsible Minnesota Business.

Craig and Patricia live in Minneapolis; they have three inspired adult children and two grandsons.

PATRICIA NEAL

“My passion is to bring convening as an expression of intentional leadership and transformation. I love to convene leaders and communities of engagement dedicated to creating a world with well-being for all.”

Patricia is cofounder and president of Heartland Inc.

Since 1998, Patricia and her husband, Craig Neal, have co-convened over 170 Thought Leader Gatherings serving leaders in Minnesota and the San Francisco Bay Area. Patricia codeveloped the Art of Convening Trainings with Craig. Patricia leads When Women Lead retreats forwomen leaders in Minnesota. Under Patricia’s guidance and focus, Heartland’s signature programs over the last decade-plus have flourished.

Prior to Heartland Inc., Patricia held various marketing and media positions at Telemedia Communications, where she helped launch two national magazines, Harrowsmith and Eating Well, and at Garden Way Mfg. Inc.

Patricia serves as a Founding Board member of Honoring Women Worldwide, and is a participant and advocate in the Waldorf School movement. She is mother to three outstanding grown children and grandmother to two terrific boys.

CYNTHIA WOLD

Cynthia believes that the loving and generous among us are heroes to be recognized.

She is a writer, artist, and Web marketer and designer. She started her own Web design and consulting business in 2000, helping high-value organizations and nonprofits to better communicate their value propositions, until joining the Heartland team in 2007 as its Web chief.

Cynthia raised her two daughters as a single parent, working as a bartender, restaurant manager, and teaching/research assistant while earning her B.A. in psychology, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, at the University of Minnesota.

She continues to serve in an advisory capacity for several nonprofit organizations, including Minnesota Alliance of Peacemakers.

Cynthia lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Tom, her two stepsons, her cat, and Polo the wonder dog.