Patricia Neal, Co-Founder & President, Heartland Inc.
Patricia’s focus is inspiring Heartland’s growth through program development and execution of Heartland’s  signature programs:
Transformational Leader Circles: A Community of Practice (MN & CA), Thought Leader Gatherings (MN & CA), The Art of Convening Trainings, VisionHolder Interview Series, When Women Lead: The Inner Voice of Women’s Leadership Retreat, Men’s Wilderness Journey Retreats
and consulting and coaching programs.
All Heartland programs are dedicated to creating a world that works for all.
 
Patricia is co-author of The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations (Berrett-Koehler, 2011). With 25+ years of working with entrepreneurial start-ups, and community organizing, Patricia has had broad experience in convening, marketing and organizational operations. Prior to Heartland Inc., Patricia held various marketing and media positions at Telemedia Communications, launching two national magazines, and Garden Way Mfg. Inc.
 
Patricia is co-founder of the Conscious Business Alliance and serves as a Founding Board member of Honoring Women Worldwide, The Symposium Network, and the Positive Coaching Alliance MN Chapter, and is a member of the National Association of Professional Women and Minnesota OD Network. She has been instrumental in the development of three Waldorf Schools and is an activator in the Waldorf School movement. Patricia is currently writing Questions of Leadership. She is mother/step-mother to three wonderful children, grandmother of two.

patricia@heartlandcircle.com

Craig Neal, Co-Founder, VisionHolder, Heartland Inc.
Since awakening to his life's purpose in 1963, Craig Neal has celebrated life as a passionate change leader, publishing executive and organizational executive and guide to those called to authentically show up in life and work. 



Craig had extensive experience within the early co-op movement, as Founder, Northeast Kingdom Food Co-op (1972); Co-Founder, Natural Organic Farmer’s Association (1974); Co-Founder, Plainfield Co-op, Plainfield, VT (1971). From the 70s to the 90s Craig held executive positions with Garden Way, Inc, Rodale Publishing, and helped launch Harrowsmith and Eating Well magazines.  

In 1995 Craig concluded his publishing career as Publisher of Utne Reader Magazine and co-founded Heartland Inc. with Patricia, his wife of 25 years.  

In 1998 Heartland produced the first Thought Leader Gathering for 40 change leaders in Minnesota. Thirteen years and 191 Gatherings later, Craig has co-convened over 2500 leaders in these ongoing membership based groups in Minnesota and the Bay Area of Calif. In 2012, Heartland launched the Transformational Leader Circles: A Community of Practice.

Additionally, Patricia and he created the Essential Conversations Process (ECP) for educators (Circle of Fire) and MBA students, along with convening meetings for businesses and communities alike.



In 2004 Craig launched The Art of Convening Trainings, including pioneering a unique and engaging TeleTraining format. Over 500 leaders have graduated from The Art of Convening Trainings, virtual and in-person.

Craig is co-author, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations (Berrett-Koehler 2011). He is skilled at building relationships within and across organizations and in developing and maintaining superior communication skills and member relations.

He co-founded the Conscious Business Alliance, the Minnesota Magazine Publishers Association, and served as a founding board member of Business for Social Responsibility and of Responsible Minnesota Business. Craig is currently a Board member of the Berrett-Koehler Author Cooperative. Craig and Patricia live in Minneapolis; he loves the land, is an avid gardener, beekeeper and voyageur.

craig@heartlandcircle.com

Cindy Wold, Web Chief, Heartland Inc.
Cindy served as Heartland's Web Chief until November of 2010. She continues to serve as a collaborator and consultant. She is co-author, with Craig and Patricia, of their book, The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations (Berrett-Koehler, Feb. 2011).

In addition to working with the Heartland team, Cindy also designs and develops websites through her own business, Wold Wide Web, and as a volunteer. 

Cindy has a BA degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors. She is a writer, designer and thinker interested in meaningful engagement, social psychology, elegant design, worthy causes, and the social impact and opportunity of the internet.

Cindy is the mother of 2 grown daughters and  lives in Minneapolis with her  husband,  2 stepsons, her cat, Sandy Kisses, and her dog, Polo.

cindy@heartlandcircle.com

Alec Neal, Heartland Inc.
Alec is a visual and graphic artist, Alec has dedicated his work to creating transformative art and experiences. Alec serves as a consultant and designer of Heartland's online presence, and is lead on the Minnesota TLG production team.

Prior to his work at Heartland, Alec was co-founder of Solutions Revolution, a bicycle journey across America filming a documentary about local communities solutions to the climate crisis.
Alec was also co-founder and co-curator of SEA Change Gallery in Portland, OR. SEA Change’s mission was to advocate for environmental consciousness, animal rights, and social justice via art exhibits and community events open to all walks of life.