Mike Edwards Email & Phone Number

Canada

Retained as Advisor by WPFG Federation following 2023 event; consult on strategy and operations for future Host Societies Business planning and host games operations.

Business consulting services focusing on organizational and project strategy development, tourism strategies and programs, sport, event and facility operations, sport event hosting, major event bid development and project management.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Appointed as CEO/COO to create an end-to-end business plan for the 2023 edition of a 10-day biennial multi-sport competition covering 63 sports with 5,500 active and retired first responders from 69 countries. Built and led a 65-person team across operations, strategy, marketing, and more.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Successfully delivered the 2023 World Police & Fire Games in 2.5 years vs. the traditional 4-5 years, while setting streaming records and winning Canadian Sport Tourism… Show more Appointed as CEO/COO to create an end-to-end business plan for the 2023 edition of a 10-day biennial multi-sport competition covering 63 sports with 5,500 active and retired first responders from 69 countries. Built and led a 65-person team across operations, strategy, marketing, and more.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Successfully delivered the 2023 World Police & Fire Games in 2.5 years vs. the traditional 4-5 years, while setting streaming records and winning Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance’s International Event of the Year award).• Attracted millions in funding through corporate sponsorships from Pepsi, Air Canada, RBC, Rogers, Bell, Bass Pro Shops, Cisco, KPMG, and others, as well as 7 figures in government/private bursaries and grants. Targeted first responder-related industries with a tailored pitch, ranking near-top in revenue generation as the 20th edition.• Surpassed 1M+ views for the first time in the games’ history, streaming 50%+ of the competition to a global audience.• Named Event of the Year - Tourism Winnipeg/Travel Manitoba at 2023 Tourism Awards and received Premier’s Volunteer Service Award from Premier of Manitoba/Volunteer Manitoba based on community/economic impact and event quality.• Reduced costs 18% by consolidating venues, optimizing vendor contracts, and maximizing use of fundraising budget.• Shifted from low-ROI event strategy to lucrative Manitoba public lottery, as well as globalizing merchandise e-commerce.• Drove international public and athlete engagement/awareness through social media, establishing a consistent brand. Show less

Regina, Saskatchewan

Successfully planned the 2020 CFL Grey Cup amid Covid confusion with an effective operations plan adopted for future editions. Plans executed for 2022 Grey Cup.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Oversaw 14 staff and 22 volunteers. Drove millions in sponsorship revenue with community-tailored marketing strategies that attracted sponsor partnerships with Molson Coors, SaskTel, Kubota, Brant, and others. • Reduced costs 14% with a proactive approach to efficiency across events, sites… Show more Successfully planned the 2020 CFL Grey Cup amid Covid confusion with an effective operations plan adopted for future editions. Plans executed for 2022 Grey Cup.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Oversaw 14 staff and 22 volunteers. Drove millions in sponsorship revenue with community-tailored marketing strategies that attracted sponsor partnerships with Molson Coors, SaskTel, Kubota, Brant, and others. • Reduced costs 14% with a proactive approach to efficiency across events, sites, rentals, marketing, vendors, and more. Show less

Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Effectively led 9 staff and 60+ volunteers in full-scale operations, strategy, and logistics across 20+ venues before and during the 15-day Canada Winter Games (featuring 36 different sports with 3,800 participating athletes).DELIVERED RESULTS:• Successfully delivered $60M in new builds and facility upgrades for the Canadian Sport Event of the Year (awarded by Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance), including alpine, cross-country ski, and curling venues, university sports facility… Show more Effectively led 9 staff and 60+ volunteers in full-scale operations, strategy, and logistics across 20+ venues before and during the 15-day Canada Winter Games (featuring 36 different sports with 3,800 participating athletes).DELIVERED RESULTS:• Successfully delivered $60M in new builds and facility upgrades for the Canadian Sport Event of the Year (awarded by Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance), including alpine, cross-country ski, and curling venues, university sports facility, and more.• Created an operations playbook now used as Canada Games benchmark, cutting costs 15% by standardizing venue fit-outs. Show less

Edmonton, Canada Area

Oversaw city departments in the coordination of city service delivery, including venue operations, policing, medical, and more as a key liaison for Alberta’s capital city, which has a population of nearly 1 million residents.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Liaised with organizers of the city’s largest sports and culture events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and U20 World Cup (which drove $78M economic impact for Alberta), World Triathlon Championship, the first Canadian edition of… Show more Oversaw city departments in the coordination of city service delivery, including venue operations, policing, medical, and more as a key liaison for Alberta’s capital city, which has a population of nearly 1 million residents.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Liaised with organizers of the city’s largest sports and culture events, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and U20 World Cup (which drove $78M economic impact for Alberta), World Triathlon Championship, the first Canadian edition of FISE (world’s biggest action sports festival), Edmonton Heritage Festival (world’s largest multicultural event), and more.• Established a still-used model for operations and strategy, applied to 200 events+ including the city’s largest. Show less

Airdrie Ab.

Built and executed a full business and operational plan to successfully launch the games on time, budget, and major incident-free. Created a lean 10-person team and recruited/onboarded 70+ leadership volunteers, minimizing costs for the 10-day event covering 15 sports with 2,400 participating athletes.DELIVERED RESULTS:• Delivered $8M impact for Alberta and secured 7-figure corporate sponsorship, while reducing total spend 22%.

St. Albert Ab

Flawlessly launched 6-day event with 1,800 athletes participating in 11 sports on time and budget with 0 major incidents. Built and executed a business/operations plan and strategy still used by Special Olympics Canada Games. Established a new fundraising program and secured high-six-figure sponsorship.

Vancouver, Canada Area

Oversaw accreditations, system implementations, client support, and QA for the Olympic Family of participating countries.

Richmond, Bc. Canada

Developed sport, community, and corporate event processes at 8,000-capacity arena built for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Edmonton, Canada Area

Managed operations (marketing, partnerships, sponsorship opportunities, and member relations). Seconded to Canada Soccer as Project Manager of game-day venue operations during the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup.

Bachelors Of Sport Management (Bsm), Sports Management

Post Graduate Diploma (Pdip), Sport And Event Marketing