Benjamin Block

Experience

• 

  Mequon Country Club Snack Shop

  Jun 2007 - Sept 2007

  Snack Shop Employee.
• 

  Santa Barbara Zoo

  Jun 2008 - Sept 2008

  Camp Counselor
• 

  Weshop

  Sept 2008 - May 2011

  Cashier and Stocker
• 

  The Dickman Company, Realtors

  Jun 2009 - Sept 2009

  Paid Intern
• 

  The Mandel Group

  Jun 2010 - Sept 2010

  Property Maintenance
• 

  Smocke & Associates, Inc

  Jun 2010 - Sept 2010

  Construction Assistant
• 

  Earl's Organic Produce

  Aug 2011 - Jan 2014

  • Responsible for coordination and logistics of over $40 million annual produce sales• Managed daily pickups and deliveries of produce in Washington, California, and Arizona• Oversaw direct sales of produce to national customers (Safeway, Whole Foods, etc.)• Initiated and implemented a new receiving schedule for deliveries to the Earl’s Organic warehouse resulting in greater efficiency • Managed warehouse operations and served as primary contact and public face during third shift• Responsible for a sales portfolio of small-sized accounts• Managed semi-truck routing and delivery coordination for San Francisco Bay area

  • Logistics Coordinator

    Aug 2012 - Jan 2014

  • Customer Service Specialist

    Aug 2011 - Aug 2012
• 

  Advicent Solutions

  Apr 2014 - Apr 2015

  Associate Quality Assurance Analyst

  • Worked with a team in an agile development environment to ensure quality of financial software products• Responsible for testing performance and accuracy of financial software products• Assisted with offering aesthetic review of software design from a user perspective

• 

  GRAEF

  Jun 2016 - Jan 2022

  Urban Planning Consultant

  • Served as project manager in providing on-going planning support for Wisconsin municipalities in a client-facing role • Developed/reviewed land use policies to support sustainable development• Generated/performed updates to comprehensive plans, strategic plans, and zoning codes• Researched smart city technologies, best practices, and academic studies to support innovative approaches to planning• Presented at regional and national conferences (APA-Wisconsin, APA-National)

• 

  Groundwork Milwaukee

  Jun 2021 - Sept 2021

  Urban Agriculture Apprenticeship Program

  • Gained first-hand experience operating a small urban farm• Learned about approaches to sustainable growing practices, issues of resilience, and community building

• 

  WisBrand Plants

  Dec 2021 - May 2023

  Business Partner

  • Served as partner in business development of wholesale flower greenhouse• Managed employees and assisted with general operations (planting, maintenance of plants, sales, deliveries, and customer relations)• Created website, crafted graphics and branding, managed inventory and invoicing

• 

  Fork Farms

  Feb 2024 - now

  Partnership Development Leader