John Cook

Background

About John Cook

My dad led SWAT teams and my mom was a Hippie. I took personality traits from both. This has served me well in my career with government agencies and local community organizations. With over 20 years of experience and a Master’s in Public Administration, I've combined my leadership and organizational skills with my passion for art and music while working toward the objective of improving my local community. My diverse background includes writing grants, giving lectures, producing plays, conducting orchestras, coaching soccer teams and directing statewide Census awareness campaigns. Between my years of management experience and my time coaching youth soccer, I know how to lead a team to success - whether that's scoring the most points in a game or collecting statewide Census data in the midst of a pandemic. I've managed teams of over 100 people and coordinated staffing statewide to meet operational goals and ensure seamless project execution. Recently, I oversaw the data collection project that achieved the highest regional self-response rate for the 2020 Census in the Chicago, IL area and exceeded the national self-response rate by over 4%. During my time as Executive Director of the Iowa Youth Chorus, I administered over of grant applications and awards from local, state and federal agencies and oversaw a fundraising campaign that exceeded our fiscal target by over 36%. As a Certified Family Mediator, my interpersonal skills have assisted in managing relationships among citizens, donors, volunteers, staff and other key stakeholders. These communication skills, combined with my experience in both marketing and public speaking, have allowed me to successfully produce various community events throughout my career. I'm especially proud of my work with the Des Moines Public Schools, which expanded enrollment in the Children's Choir by 55% over the previous year. I'm energized by finding creative and innovative solutions to complex strategic challenges throughout state, federal and non-profit organizations. I love knowing that I’m playing a part in the future of my community, and I’m deeply fulfilled by roles that allow me to serve others. I'm looking forward to expanding my experience into a municipal government role that will allow me to make a greater impact on my local community. If you're interested in learning more about my experience and would like to get in touch, please contact me at: johneuelcook@gmail.com (515) 528-3700