Blake Woolsey, Chief Communications & Development Officer, Heartland Forward

The Caring Economy with Toby Usnik

Blake Woolsey is the chief communications and development officer for Heartland Forward (HF), a “think and do tank” based in Northwest Arkansas with a mission of changing the narrative about the middle of the country (20 states) to kick-start economic growth.

Prior to joining HF, she spent nearly three years as a consultant as a corporate strategist, leadership coach and president of her company Blake Communications. In her consulting work, she was able to spend time on a variety of dynamic, strategic projects such as the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Central Arkansas Water, St. Bernard’s Hospital, the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas as well as “looking to the future” for the timber and supply chain industries in the state.

She was the executive vice president of Mitchell Communications Group. In the 10 years she was at Mitchell she led the Center for Business, Training and Leadership Excellence, the Creative team as well as a team focused on activating campaigns for national companies at a hyper-local level. She has worked with some of the best-known global brands and shown teams how to integrate into the fabric of local communities. In addition to this niche expertise, her public relations proficiency spans media training, presentation training, influence, strategic thinking, and key messaging.

Prior to joining Mitchell, she was partner and co-owner of Executive Communications Consultants, LLC. Jointly with three-time CEO and Author Elise Mitchell, they offered public speaking workshops, media training, facilitation, and private coaching for business and nonprofit executives.

Blake also has expertise and experience in fundraising. For more than a decade, she worked with the University of Arkansas, taking a lead role in the Campaign for the 21st Century, which exceeded its $1 billion goal. Her greatest achievement was solidifying a gift of $50 million from The Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation Inc., for the Sam M. Walton College of Business. At the time of the donation, it was the largest gift ever to an American business school.
One of her most cherished accomplishments, though, is her family of three active boys (20, 17 and 13) and husband of 27 years.

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