Charlie Quimby

Charlie Quimby divides his time between Minnesota and Colorado — writing, consulting, cycling and doing volunteer work with homeless people.

He was president of Words At Work, the Minneapolis marketing communications firm he founded, from 1988 to 2005. During that period, his speechwriting and annual reports won national awards, and he co-authored books on urban planning, quality management, influencing defense policy and design education. His independent consultancy, Quimby+Quimby, focuses on assisting nonprofit organizations with development, marketing and education campaigns — often working in partnership with Marketing That Matters.

He started writing Across the Great Divide in late 2004 to address the widening political divide in the country and failed beyond his wildest dreams. He has since turned to writing fiction and still occasionally blogs about his experiences with homeless children and adults.

In addition, he is a Communications Fellow at Growth & Justice, a progressive Minnesota think tank that focuses on public policy related to economic and social justice. As an independent Fellow, he blogs and writes policy papers and op/eds related to taxation. economic development, transportation and education.

During 11 years at Honeywell, he produced management, customer and employee communications, and wrote an article that won the McKinsey Award from Harvard Business Review. He has served on a number of professional and nonprofit boards. Recent community service includes chairing the Board of Minnesota Center for Book Arts and serving on advisory groups that developed and introduced a community vision for the city of Golden Valley. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Playwrights' Center, the nation's leading advocate for playwrights and new plays.

A graduate of Carleton College, he received the school's Sigrid Larsen Award given annually to the student producing the most memorable or distinguished work in Creative and Performing Arts. He's the author of two produced plays and a co-author of Planning to Stay (Milkweed Editions, 1994, reissued in 2000).

Disclosure Statement:
I am not being paid for any blog posting here. Across the Great Divide reflects my personal interests and opinions only.

I use the Fellow title in publications, blog posts and other writing that draws upon Growth & Justice research and its agenda. Otherwise, what appears under my name is my work and reflects my opinions alone.

I consider myself a political progressive, but not a political activist, preferring for more than 35 years to volunteer and give money to non-partisan cultural, educational, social service and community organizations.

I'm not anti-capitalist, but I do believe a community free of war, poverty, ignorance and environmental degradation offers the ultimate pro-business climate.