Lisa Seale, Associate Vice Chancellor, University of Wisconsin Colleges
Our university contracted with Sue Gleason to prepare a multi-million dollar federal grant proposal in about four week’s time. We were delighted with her professional, polished approach throughout the process. Sue provided us with excellent advice and guidance, working with us from A to Z, from strategizing, to making connections for us with the appropriate state agencies through her extensive contacts, to conducting research, to writing through thick and thin. Sue also assisted us with communication across our multi-campus institution to develop campus and community partnerships, as well as setting up collaborations with two external university partners. In short, Sue was invaluable—and a delight to work with. Read letter from UW Colleges and UW Extension Chancellor Ray Cross.

Jennifer Alexander, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce & Thrive, 
Sue Gleason is one of the most talented people I have had the pleasure to know over the past eleven years.  She first worked for me at the state Department of Workforce Development, using her deep knowledge and skills to facilitate several high-level, multiple agency teams to develop a comprehensive strategy to build the state’s economy. I was thrilled when she agreed to join me at Thrive to develop the regional assets and metrics for the 8-county Madison region. In addition to her top-notch planning, research, grant writing, and facilitation skills, Sue tackles projects with excitement, commitment, and good humor, making her a joy to have on your team.

Bruce Palzkill, Chair of the Mineral Point Library Board
Sue Gleason was a tremendous asset for the Mineral Point Library Capital Fund Raising Committee. Through her ongoing grant writing efforts, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the WI Department of Commerce have approved a total of $1.681 million dollars in grants and loans for our building renovation project. She persevered in working through Federal rules that, on the surface, did not make us eligible for these funds. Thinking outside the box, she researched and provided compelling data as part of the application that convinced the funding agency that our project did indeed qualify for these funds.

In a short amount of time, she built strong working relationships with a diverse group of ‘players’ involved with this project, including City officials, the city attorney, bank representatives, accountants, fund raising committee members, WI Commerce staff, and the US Dept. of Agriculture. Sue demonstrated an uncanny ability to bring these parties together to work quickly and collaboratively on this grant application. She did her homework well, including extensive research on this project, and blended right in to get the job done. She went above and beyond the traditional grant writing tasks in working with us.

Roberta Gassman, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training in the U.S. Department of Labor
Sue Gleason is one of the top workforce development leaders I’ve had the pleasure to work with as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Her contributions to our agency and state have been tremendous and her outstanding work has left a strong legacy that is now woven into the very fabric of our department. Sue’s many colleagues over the years, not only inside our agency but across the state and beyond, hold her in high regard and very much appreciate her strong expertise, intellect, leadership, work ethic, interpersonal skills and analytical and organizational abilities. Fortunate, indeed, are those who get to work with Sue Gleason!

Don Sykes, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board
I have had the privilege of working with Sue Gleason over the past few years and am impressed with her ability to help a group of individuals find common ground. She takes the time to listen, sharing her knowledge and perspective when helpful, but then quickly moves the conversation to the next level of action to get something done. She does this with a sense of humor and style that helps groups accomplish their goals while enjoying the process.