Micheál Y. Newman-Brooks

EDUCATION

2015
Windy City Harvest/ Chicago Botanic Gardens
Chicago, Illinois
Curriculum focused on soil ecology, outdoor production and planning, greenhouse production, post-harvest handling and food safety, (GAP) training production planning, crop planning, and basic business plan development.
Certification Received: Certificate of Agriculture

1997 – 2001
University of Saint Francis
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Major: Business Administration, concentration Marketing
Degree Received: Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA)
Degree Date: December 14, 2001

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

10/15 – Present
Garden Educator
The Kitchen Community
Building and maintaining relationships between schools and their surrounding communities, and community involvement in Learning Gardens. Working closely with school administration and staff to recruit, train, and engage parents in the Learning Garden. Activities includes but not limited to running teacher professional development workshops, Garden Team meetings, and Learning Garden installation and planting days.

09/15 – Present
Adjunct Professor
Chicago Botanic Gardens / City Colleges of Chicago
Business and Entrepreneurship for Local Foods Course is intended for aspiring urban agriculture entrepreneurs and individuals who are launching or planning to launch a local foods business. The course has been designed for those practicing sustainable urban agriculturalists who want to produce vegetable crops and agricultural products for sale in commercial markets.

06/15 – 10/15
Adjunct Professor
Urban Edibles (Bayless Gardens) / Assistant Gardner/Internship
Tasks include, but not limited to, weed control, plant pruning and training, perennial plant care, container displays, seasonal color rotations, production, IPM, monitoring of irrigation systems, and landscape plantings.

04/13 – 06/15
Accountant/ Accounts Coordinator
Sunshine Gospel Ministries
Conducted all duties associated with accounts payable/receivable including bank deposits; and tracking and following up on all accounts receivables. Performs all credit card reconciliations. Assists with preparing annual audit schedules. Performs special projects and duties as assigned.

04/11 Seasonal
Accountant/ Accounts Coordinator
Christian Community Dev. Association
Conducted all duties associated with accounts payable/receivable including bank deposits; and tracking and following up on all accounts receivables. Performs all credit card reconciliations. Assists with preparing annual audit schedules. Performs special projects and duties as assigned.

06/06 – Present
Chief Financial Officer/Program Director
Canaan Community Complex Inc.
Managing and overseeing the business operations of the church, including but not limited to accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, acquisitions, liabilities, and taxes. Write grants to acquire funding for the agency. Prepare program and fiscal budgets and reports used to report to various funding agencies.

2006 – 2011
Program Developer
Diamond Academy Youth Program
Develop and implement appropriate grade level programming for students for the after school and summer youth program sessions. Worked with staff to ensure the effective coordination and integration of the programs and resources that were available.  Maintained relationships with local schools to enhance development of programming. Instructor for summer intensive programs for grades 6-12.

12/05 – 05/06
Construction Escrow Officer
Chicago Title & Trust
Processed and prepared bank draws to be paid out to independent contractors. Prepares and processed actual payments per work completed.

08/04 – 06/05
Escrow Payroll Officer/ Marketing Representative
LENA Enterprises
Processed and prepared bank draws to be paid out to independent contractors. Prepares and processed actual purchase orders and payments per work completed, mild accounting and duties.

01/02 – 05/03
Managing Cadre
Chicago Public School / Overton Elementary Pre K-5,
Overseeing reports to school daily for classroom assigned by the principal. Carried out program of study prescribed in the lesson plans left by the classroom teacher. Provided lesson plans and curriculum in cases of extended teacher absences. Fostered a safe and fun learning environment in which to educate children.

LICENSES AND ADDITIONAL INFO

• Certified Food Service Manager (City of Chicago)
• ServSafe Certified
• Owner/Chef Gourmet Soul Catering
• Serves as Food service manager and food safety consultant for Greenline Coffee

COMPUTER AND SOFTWARE SKILLS
QuickBooks
Salesforce
MS Office including: Word, Works, PowerPoint, and Excel
Mac proficient
Internet and Intranet proficient