Gail Scott Email & Phone Number

Central Okanagan Region, Bc

Community & Economic Development Specialist … helping you get to where you want to beWe offer the following services: Public Consultation; Partnership Development; Strategic Business Planning; Event Planning & Management; Group Facilitation - Visioning & Profiling; Research & Analysis - Performance Measurement, Evaluation & Assessment; Marketing & Promotion - Communication & Awareness; Proposal & Funding Development; Project Management; Program Development & Delivery; Work Force Planning & Development; and Change ManagementWe are a Western Canadian based community economic development consulting practice that was established in 1997. Through a broad range of services, we help regions, communities, organizations and businesses make it happen by helping them define and advance their objectives within a framework of consultation, analysis and informed decision-making. Our mandate is to "Help clients narrow the gap between where they are now and where they want to be”. Our principles are based on the belief that:• Communities must first make a sound investment into itself before it can attract outside investment in support of economic growth;• Revitalization is a top priority for communities to attract ‘new economy’ business investors; • Economic, social and environmental needs of an community are met during all stages of strategic planning and development;• Self-sustaining partnerships are a product of a community’s ability to maintain effective involvement, commitment, team building and leadership;• Not for Profits are an integral part of a community’s economic need to meet its societal goals; and• Economic swings are balanced by industry diversification and long-term strategies designed to address labour market and workforce issues and trends.

Osoyoos, Bc

Reporting to a Board of Directors and funded by the Town of Osoyoos and the Hotel Tax, my role involved day to day management of operations, reporting, and key performance indicators associated with economic development, tourism, marketing, and community development events and services. During my tenure, Destination Osoyoos was recognized and awarded the top Destination Marketing Organization in BC for communities under 20,000 population by Destination BC; and the top Marketing Campaign Award for our Wintering in Osoyoos Snowbird Attraction Campaign by the BC Economic Development Association.

Leduc, Alberta

• Reporting to the Board, I oversaw the day to day operational management for the LNEDA – staffing, budgets, marketing, communications and business services. During my tenure and under my direction we delivered 5 high profile quarterly economic development partnership breakfasts that attracted more than 750 businesses and politicians, generated more than 20 new corporate sponsorships, and set the platform to introduce Edmonton's International Airport's partnership with FedEx, the Alberta Government's introduction of their Lean Manufacturing & Productivity Alberta Programs, and the Agri-Food industry's 'Food Inventory Tracking' system. Other significant initiatives during my tenure included the development and implementation of a 23 member private/public regional workforce development task team in support of addressing local labour market issues and challenges; and the organizational structure change from a two community joint venture to a Not for Profit status. Others tasks included: • Facilitated the development and implementation of strategic plans and business plans designed to grow the region and sustain the organization;• Nurtured existing and developed new strategic public / private partnership agreements aimed at business retention, expansion and investment attraction; • Generated innovative new revenue streams for the purpose of becoming more self-sustaining and lessening the dependency on municipal funding; and• Participation at International Oil and Gas Trade Shows, hosting of International Business Trade Mission in cooperation with the Federal Government DFAIT department, and the collaboration of a National Manufacturing Business Trade Mission from the Niagara Region.

Olds. Alberta

• Reporting to the Board for the OICRD, I oversaw the day to day operational management of the community economic development office for the Town of Olds. During my tenure with the OICRD and under my direction we were successful in receiving 5 significant economic development awards for collaboration, impact and innovation, we successfully garnered $85,000 in additional grant dollars to investigate the viability of a local public market and a eco-industrial park development for the Town, and we successfully launched our own energy retailing company - Mountainview Power - designed as a social return on investment approach - profits would be re-invested into community economic development for the Town. Other tasks included development and implementation of strategic plans, marketing and communication plans, coordination of programs and initiatives to attract business investment and support business retention and expansion; and the development of new revenue streams and strategic corporate partnerships agreements. In addition, I provided assistance to the Town related to the implementation of their Sustainable Community Plan initiatives.

Kamloops, Bc

• Reporting to the Board, I oversaw the day to day operational management for the City’s Economic Development Agency. During my tenure and under my direction we successfully implemented a new Corporate Partners Program which generated 1000% increase in revenue intake from the previous year in its first 3 months; we produced a 17 page community economic development marketing profile that was distributed world wide; we spearheaded a community economic driver's collaboration with Shaw TV to pilot a community vibrancy program about economic development programs and services to create awareness at the local level; and we successfully coordinated a Provincial award winning Foreign Direct Investment Business Development Program with China resulting in 7 signed agreements. Other tasks included ensuring that the strategic goals of business attraction, business retention and expansion, and marketing Kamloops were successfully implemented and resulted in measureable outcomes.

Victoria, Bc

• As second in charge, I was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the branch with the objective of disseminating a $9m Community Business Development and Community Capacity Building grant throughout the Province of BC. Within the first 18 months, over $6m in grants had been approved resulting in more than 260 business development projects in BC. Other duties included supervision of a staff of 7 and management of 8 outsourced contractors located in each of the regions within the province; Developed business processes to manage, control, and communicate awareness of the grant application and approval process; Implemented a client management tracking system to support reporting requirements; Managed several project consulting Request for Proposal processes including the evaluation processes; Liaised with inter-ministry branches relative to communication of announcements and issues management; and Travelled BC extensively to build supporting partnerships through the marketing and promotion of the program.

Victoria, Bc And Cranbook, Bc

 Regional Economic Development Officer (4 yr.)• Acted as the regional liaison for senior government officials for the purpose of addressing strategic priorities in support of strengthening local economies within the Kootenay Regional Boundary. Managed a portfolio of multiple contracts within various industry sectors including approval of a $1.4m community transition grant for the Elk Valley due to the closure of the West Star Mine and the loss of 2100 jobs to the Valley. Business Information Centre Manager, (2yr.) • Set up and managed the day-to- day operations of a Victoria based flag ship Business Info Centre (BIC) for the Ministry resulting in more than 2000 transactions per month with a staff of 1.5. Small Business Program Administrator, (2 yr.) • Administered the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program and the BC Student Venture Loans Program resulting in the regional delivery of 360 loans in the first 9 months. Traveled extensively throughout BC to ensure uptake of the program.

Evening Management Certificate, Business Administrations Management / Personnel Concentration Program

Year 2 Completed, Professional Economic Development Certificaiton

Ced Certificate, Ced Online Certificate