KarleeBreannPruitt

Table of Contents

Personal Philosophy

Resume

Creative Resume

Statement of Qualifications

Work Samples

Photography*

* All photos were taken by me except for the self-portrait

Personal Philosophy

I am an agricultural communicator. Building an effective communication bridge between consumers and producers is my professional mission. I believe bridging this gap will allow agriculture, in its entirety, to further advance in sustainable practices, healthier foods and greater commodity

yields for prosperity of human-kind.

Taken by Maggie Jo Pruitt

Resume

Karlee B. Pruitt100 Old Carpenter Lane—Harrison, AR 72601

Phone: (870) 391-6748E-Mail: karleebpruitt@gmail.com

EducationUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR August 2014 – May 2016Major: Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technologyo Concentration: CommunicationsMinor: HorticultureMinor: Agriculture BusinessGPA:North Arkansas College Harrison, AR August 2012 – May 2014Transferred with 50 credit hoursGPA: 3.8

ExperienceUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR August 2014 – Present

Work Study for the Horticulture Department: o Help Horticulture grad assistant on strawberry root scanningo Help Entomology PhD Candidate on research with Integrated Pest Management in PecansHudson’s Bake A Deli Harrison, AR May 2014 – August 2014

Cook and deli sliced meat and cheeseo Catered to customers need by providing hot food, deli meat and cheeseNorth Arkansas College Harrison, AR August 2013 – July 2014

Work Study for the Agriculture Department:o Helped build high tunnel, planted and maintained strawberries and raspberries in the high tunnelAgriculture Future of America Kansas City, MO November 2013

Track 1 participant Kids Across America Branson, MO May 2013 – August 2013

Receptionist, assisted with various office tasks

Skills & Involvemento Public speaking – Parliamentary Procedure (running a meeting), Prepared Speaking (creating and presenting a speech)o Horticulture practices – Nursery, gardening, landscape, irrigationo Computer – Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Access, Publisher, and InDesigno Research and research assistanceo Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow - Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow – Professional Development Conference – January 2015 in Orlando, Floridao Small group through a college church organization

Scholarshipso University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Transfer Scholarship: $3000o Arkansas Lottery Scholarship: $3000 o Howard and Inez Young Access Arkansas Scholarship: $1000o Farm Credit Scholarship: $1000

Creative Resume

EducationUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR August 2014 – May 2016Major: Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technologyo Concentration: CommunicationsMinor: HorticultureMinor: Agriculture BusinessGPA:North Arkansas College Harrison, AR August 2012 – May 2014Transferred with 50 credit hoursGPA: 3.8ExperienceUniversity of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR August 2014 – Present

Work Study for the Horticulture Department: o Help Horticulture grad assistant on strawberry root scanningo Help Entomology PhD Candidate on research with Integrated Pest Management in PecansHudson’s Bake A Deli Harrison, AR May 2014 – August 2014

Cook and deli sliced meat and cheeseo Catered to customers need by providing hot food, deli meat and cheeseNorth Arkansas College Harrison, AR August 2013 – July 2014

Work Study for the Agriculture Department:o Helped build high tunnel, planted and maintained strawberries and raspberries in the high tunnelAgriculture Future of America Kansas City, MO November 2013

Track 1 participant Kids Across America Branson, MO May 2013 – August 2013

Receptionist, assisted with various office tasksSkills & Involvemento Public speaking – Parliamentary Procedure (running a meeting), Prepared Speaking (creating and presenting a speech)o Horticulture practices – Nursery, gardening, landscape, irrigationo Computer – Excel, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Access, Publisher, and InDesigno Research and research assistanceo Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow – Professional Development Conference – January 2015 in Orlando, Floridao Small group through a college church organizationScholarshipso University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Transfer Scholarship: $3000o Arkansas Lottery Scholarship: $3000 o Howard and Inez Young Access Arkansas Scholarship: $1000o Farm Credit Scholarship: $1000

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100 Old Carpenter Lane—Harrison, AR 72601Phone: (870) 391-6748

E-Mail: karleebpruitt@gmail.com

Statement of Qualifications

While being raised by an agriculture teacher in a small rural agriculture area, I learned

that people are more supportive if they understand your goals even if they do not understand

every concept. I had no idea this disconnect was much more widespread until I started attend-

ing college at the University of Arkansas where I am currently working towards my bachelors

of science in Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technology with an emphasis in

Communication. As I began my college career at North Arkansas College, a two-year college

that I attended before transferring to the UofA, I gained more experience in horticulture prac-

tices such as cultivation, irrigation, fertilization, and pest management than communication.

It wasn’t until the middle of my first semester at the University of Arkansas when I understood

my area of passion. Throughout my first semester at the University of Arkansas I attended the

Food for Thought lecture series where I started to understand how important it is for agriculture

communicators to create a bridge of communication between consumers and producers. To be

able to create this bridge there are important skills that must be obtained by the communicator

including using certain technologies and learning how to communicate effectively. During this

time, I was in a mix of classes where I was not fully prepared. I felt I was at a disadvantage. I had

to become self-sufficient by teaching myself how to use computer applications such as InDesign,

Photoshop, and Illustrator, then when the occasions for extra help from my professors came

around I knew I had to take them. My strengths also include my passion to write. I love taking

information and putting it in a written form for others read and gain that information. Learning

the fast-paced and opportunistic lifestyle of an agriculture communications student has helped

me gain the determination and confidence to succeed.

This semester, I am enrolled in a leadership theory course with Dr. Jill Rucker. Through this course, I have come

to have a better understanding of the theory behind leadership. There are multiple definitions of leadership but the most

common definition defines leadership as “the process in which an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a

common goal” (Northouse, 2013, p. 3). There are four components to this definition: a process, influence, working with a

group, and achieving a common goal. Each component needs to be present for effective leadership to occur.

A process means a leader cannot be stagnant. This means the leader is always moving the group forward. I believe

I do this by setting a timeline and setting certain goals on that timeline. I am a perfectionist and I strive to perform the job

correctly the first time. While being a perfectionist can slow me down some, I am able to stay on task and complete the

work in a timely manner as long as deadlines are set. Additionally, I am always looking ways to improve.

Influence incorporates the power you have when working with a group of individuals. There are five power bases

mentioned in Northouse’s book. I believe the best leader will use referent power (based on respect and trust) because it is

so important to be a good influence and to listen to your followers. In leadership, I believe followers are just as important

as the leader. Their relationship should be reciprocal with benefits for both parties. Working as a team, each can achieve

more.

I believe the most important aspect of leadership involves achieving a common goal. Achieving a common goal

means the team has worked collectively to achieve. Moreover, goal setting sets the strategic direction for the team. As a

leader you must celebrate the wins, both big and small, and work with team members to set a vision for the future.

I am not your typical leader. I am introverted and quiet in a group setting. Some call me a quiet analyzer. I am an

excellent listener and I am fair. Moreover, I believe given the right situation, I am able to emerge as an effective and effi-

cient leader. If selected to be a participant in this course, I believe I can bring a different perspective on leadership to class

discussions and activities.

Leadership Essay — Karlee Pruitt

I wrote this essay as part of an application process to join a class in Spring of 2015. I got in!

Tara JohnsonAccount Manager at OneKreate

Any person that majors in Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technology at the University of Arkansas has heard of Tara Johnson.

Johnson completed her degree in Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technol-ogy with an emphasis in communication and went out in the world to join the work force. She ventured back to the University to complete her Master of Science in Agricultural and Exten-sion Education, also with an emphasis in Communications.

Most students shutter at the thought of grad school. So we honestly had to ask her if going to grad school was worth her time.

“For me, going to grad school was the best decision I’ve ever made. I was able to fur-ther hone my skills and perform meaningful research that broadened my understanding of the field. Grad school is also when I studied abroad, another experience I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t gone back,” said Johnson.

Maggie Jo Pruitt, a former classmate and lifelong friend of Johnson’s stated, “She com-pleted her Master’s degree in less than two years and immediately landed a great job with a great advertising company. They are lucky to have her.”

Johnson didn’t advance in her career only from her education. She also had many intern-ships and jobs where she could apply her skills and education.

“…I think internships are extremely valuable because they allow you to remove your-self from the school mindset and get a taste of, possibly, a more corporate culture. Working is very different from school and any work experience you have is valuable,” she said.

Unfortunately, getting a job is not as easy as it sounds. What is worse is that everyone has to have an income. Johnson included what were some of the challenges she faced while trying to find a job, tips on finding a job, and if she ended up in a place she expected to be in.

The main challenge she faced was going into a very competitive job market. While it was a very competitive job market she had an upper hand with a specialized

degree. Most college graduates will have general degrees like business; most of the jobs she interviewed for did not know what even came out of her degree.

“I found many of my non-agriculture potential employers didn’t understand what my degree was in. However, this gave me an opportunity to show the variety of skills I learned during my degree,” Johnson explained.

Every soon-to-be job seeker wants advice or tips on how to find a good job, so who better to give advice other than someone who just went through the process of finding a job. Thankfully Tara was more than willing to supply tips. During her job search she start-ed months in advance and strongly encourages others to do the same; she also said that you should take every opportunity while you are in college to gain skills and contacts. These can help you more in the long run.

“It isn’t only up to your professors to prepare you for a career; you have to be an active participant by making smart choices.”

Johnson’s explained that her position at OneKreate involves meticulous work in com-munication between clients and the creative team. She is the face of the team for the clients, so there is a lot of go between with the team and the client, which makes her the middle woman. Luckily Johnson has a lot of support and can use her experiences from her education, intern-ships, and other jobs to pull together both sides and make the best out of the project.

While Johnson’s initial plan was to end up working for a company that was solely based on agriculture, she ended up in a place where she could tap into her creative juices with her work and enjoy the people she works with.

While she is not working with an agriculture company, Johnson believes all roads some-how lead back to agriculture. Johnson has always had a strong background in agriculture.

In high school she was a leader in the agriculture program as well in the school’s Future Farmers of America club. She said her strong roots in agriculture started with her family’s chicken houses in Lead Hill. These experiences are roots have allowed Johnson to become the hard working professional she is.

“Tara is the most hardworking person I know. To add to her talent as a designer and a communicator, she is also attentive, intelligent, and diligent” said Maggie Jo Pruitt, Johnson’s close friend who is now a graduate student following in her footsteps.

As a message to the future Agriculture Education, Communication, and Technology students, Johnson will be a leading example of how hard work and commitment will lead to a bright and astounding future.

Photography

KBP