About Eric Pratum

Today

  • Eric Pratum is Associate Director of Digital Strategy and Analysis at Grizzard Communications Group, one of the largest marketing and fundraising firms focusing specifically on nonprofits and the largest third largest direct mailer. Eric is the primary contributor to Grizzard’s blog, Twitter account, etc. If you would like marketing- and nonprofit-related updates and conversation, please follow those accounts. On his blog, Eric primarily posts everything else that is of interest to him.

Where I’ve Been

  • As a child, I was lucky to live all up and down the West Coast of the US. In college, I was lucky enough to live in Europe on two separate occasions before coming back to the US to finish 2 master’s degree. After that, I moved to the big city, started trying to make my way, and eventually landed in the South, where I am today.

Education

  • After the of course fine compulsory schooling that I received as a child, I went on to college in Washington state to study German. Being very driven and loving learning languages, I finished my bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years, lived in Europe for a short time, and then moved back to the US to begin a master’s degree in Germanics. While studying for that, I was lucky enough to live in Europe again before coming back to finish my degree and eventually studying for my MBA.

Work History

  • The varied and packed career that I have had has been a spectacular ride. From working the maximum legally allowable 10-12 hours as a child to eventually working 4 jobs at once while in college and then to full-time agency work and outside consulting, I have had a thirst for knowledge and experience that has taken me down paths that may not have made sense to people on the outside initially, but that have made me so much stronger as a teammate and collaborator.

Skills and Experience

  • Because my parents are so active, I had a strong example from a young age of how to get a lot accomplished, be highly productive, and do it all while making sure I’m living up to my potential without burning myself out. In the last few years, I have focused largely on the online world, but also on the socialization of personal and corporate messages, missions, values, and more. As a result, my strengths currently are heavy on the digital and social side.

Interests and Hobbies

  • Since a young age, I have been lucky enough to be a musician of one stripe or another…a hobby or skill that I would not give up for the life of me. At the same time, I have been physically active since around the age of 14. This was probably motivated by me being a little chubby or overweight until that age, but I picked up both team and individual sports that I really love and continue to this day.