Name: Gail Cruikshank

Organization: Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation – Talent Director

Length of time as a FEW Member: Since 2014 

Hometown: St. James, MN

Family: 

• Husband, Tom
• Son, Tyler married, to Ally with daughter Chloe 
• Daughter, Katie engaged to be married May 27 to Austin

What I actually do at work: I support our local employers, job seekers and community partners to support their needs in the area of all things workforce/talent. I help provide programs to support career exploration to our future workforce, connect current workforce with local employers, provide resources and connections to our employers to enable them to grow their businesses right here promoting our region in any way we can as the best place to live, work and engage.

How I help others succeed: I recognize and highlight their accomplishments providing them the support to connect and confirm their passions.

My biggest accomplishment: Other than being a Mom, my biggest accomplishment has been coordinating key workforce events in Central MN – Talent Summit and Exploring Potential Interests and Careers Community Collaborative.

The person who has had the biggest impact on who I've become: my Mom

My biggest indulgence/guilty pleasure: cookies and Captain Morgan

The three words that best describe me: Compassionate, Dedicated and Persistent – my colleagues refer to me as professionally persistent in successfully engaging folks to engage in our work as a non profit.

My favorite way to waste time: do color by number pictures on my iPad                      

What other FEW members would be surprised to learn about me: I was the rifle carrier in our High School Marching Band.