Bethany Lee Email & Phone Number

East Gwillimbury, Ontario, Canada

Proud to lead as Communications Director for Peel Region, a leading and award-winning government organization. Our outstanding Communication Division consists of Communications, Digital, Design, Call Centre, Service Experience, and our Peel Art Gallery and Museum. We are responsible for strategic communications and engagements with 1.5 million residents, and support communications to a staff team of ~7,000 employees. In this leadership role I'm also pleased to support initiatives such as Digital Peel (Advisory Committee) and Peel's Diversity & Inclusion Committee (Advisory Committee), and be a member of our Corporate Services Leadership Team.

I provide strategic counsel to support senior leaders in Corporate and Enterprise Services (including Finance, Service Excellence and Innovation, Culture and Inclusion, Human Resources, Clerk's divisions) on communications initiatives and key business decisions relating to reputational risk and issues management. I am responsible for guiding overall strategy to help the departments deliver on their program outcomes and work closely with all members of the Leadership team to support the needs of our citizens. This role supports the Communications and Marketing division's vision of providing high-level, strategy to partner groups across the Region, and leads a team of communications professionals.

Caledon, Ontario

Highlights: Reported to CAO as a member of the Senior Management Team, responsible for managing team and controlling departmental budget, Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC), recipient of 2015 Award of Excellence, President of Toastmasters Club.Led strategic communications and managed expectations for internal and external stakeholder groups in a municipality of 70,000+ residents, aligned to organizational objectives resulting in increase in messaging channels, shift in community conversations from negative to positive Led Town-wide survey in 2015 to refocus communication channels to better suit citizen needsDrafted and delivered communications for all Strategic Priorities and Issue Management touch points, resulting in consistency in key messaging and branding across multiple divisions, partnerships and locations within the corporation, including partnering with Caledon OPP and Caledon Fire & Emergency ServicesChampioned Emergency Management and community safety through role of CEMC, resulting in bridging communications gap between traditional emergency services and Town Hall, increasing awareness, leadership and guidance before, during and after Emergencies, launch of new Community Emergency Response Plan (CERP) and Hazardous Incident Risk Assessment (HIRA)Built and managed team of professionals for design/content of all print materials, advertising, website, social media and mobile app content, resulting in increased and improved consistency in communications programs and materials, budget savings for corporation through centralized approach, delivery of social media Policy and Procedures, cross-departmental media training Energized internal and external stakeholders for the TORONTO2015 Pan Am Games in Caledon, resulting in “CBC’s Pan Am Day in Canada” being hosted in Caledon and on the world stage, resulting in millions of viewers via national and international media generating positive earned media coverage for the Town.

Now in its 30th year, In the Hills is an independent, locally owned publication that has earned its reputation as the best-read, best-loved magazine in the Headwaters region, north of the Greater Toronto Area. In the Hills is a “must read” for everyone who cherishes these hills as home. My column, Headwaters Nest, appears in each issue of the print magazine.

Highlights: Reported to Manager of Communications; developed online engagement strategies for the Authority, resulting in successful funding for community projects; increased audience and media channelsDeveloped communication strategies for various authority initiatives, resulting in increased participation in community outreach initiativesLaunched The Source, an online monthly news source for citizens who live, work and play in the Credit River watershed, resulting in a new way to engage audiences to protect, restore and manage the natural resources of the Credit RiverCoordinated media communications, including monitoring, message development, resulting in consistent messaging on the value of the Credit River Watershed, local safety during flood events, natural heritage and cultural valuesAdvised on the Authority’s first social media use and policy formation, resulting in increased engagement through social media interaction, including successful grant from Shell Canada for the “Bridge the Gap” campaign run primarily through social media channels.

Highlights: Owner and Lead Principal of interdisciplinary communications consultancy; winner of Headwaters Region 2008 Best Professional Service; provided cost-effective solutions for graphic design, earned editorial, corporate communications projects; led in media team for opening of adventure lodge in Northwest Territories Tourism where HRH Prince Andrew launched the once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.Managed communications campaigns for small- to medium-sized businesses, providing full-service strategic marketing in a wide variety of sectors including government (eg. Ontario Ministry of Health) and not-for-profits (Terry Fox Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society), working within manageable budgets and delivering on-time with creative flairProvided value to clients by combining skills of visual perception, knowledge of printing and internet technologies, resulting in early adoption of effective social media use, multiple brand launchesInspired and empowered business professionals through various speaking engagements including Marketing for Small Business, Website Design and Social Media, Effective Business Writing, equipping professionals to embark on campaigns, with extremely positive results for Focus on Media client roster.

Highlights: Reporting to General Manager of Communications and Cultural Affairs, built communications team of professionals at Canada’s largest airport while undergoing North America’s largest construction project; provided media and communications for Toronto Pearson on 9/11, SARS and ‘Mad Cow’ disease outbreaks (2003).Supervised all publications and communications for Canada’s largest and busiest airport, including the production of the Annual Financial Report, resulting in multiple communications and marketing awards and positive recognition among aviation community and travel industryCommunicated challenging logistical transitions and community health and safety programs including airline moves from the retiring Terminals 1 and 2 to the new Terminal 1, road and runway closures, Taxi and Limo service alerts, SARS virus and ‘mad cow’ disease updates and process changes, security changes and improvement fees post-9/11Created branding program for the airport, including all aspects for the new Terminal 1, the LINK train service, mapping, signage, resulting in compliance with accessibility standards, and awareness for the airport authority as the service provider to the airport community.

Masters Certificate In Municipal Leadership, Municipal Leadership

Emergency Operations Centre Management And Emergency Site Management, Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management

Ba, Sociology

Post-Graduate Diploma, Journalism

Activities and Societies: Editor in Chief, The Et CeteraOntario Community Newspaper Award - winner for best newpaper design

Marketing

Certificate, Indigenous Canada