Todd Letts Email & Phone Number

Waterloo, On, Ca

Paris, Île-De-France, France

Waterloo, On

I help organizations figure out what they need to do to grow...and grow faster. This includes strategies to get the best from their people, partners and prospects. Clients include manufacturers, chambers of commerce and NGOs with a development focus. Services include strategic planning, leadership development and revenue-generating program advisory services.

Brampton, Ontario

Brampton is Canada's fastest growing large city. As CEO for its Board of Trade, I led dedicated staff and business volunteers to shape positive regional economic change. Trade, transit and talent are key issues of focus. My team led programs and services that help enterprises to save time, money and bring opportunities for growth. My role also involved advocacy and government relations leadership for business members, customers and investors that employ more than 71,000 in economic sectors including manufacturing, food & beverage, retail administration & logistics, healthcare, ICT and other business services.

Chamber Executives of Ontario is the professional development association for senior management of Chambers of Commerce in the province. It is the fifth largest chamber executives association in North America. I created opportunities for executives to learn from their peers and North American industry experts.

I oversaw Ontario operations including leadership on programs and partnerships designed to bring business opportunities, intelligence and advocacy solutions to Canada's manufacturers and exporters.

My focus was business strategy and staff development for this growing firm. The challenge was to develop three business categories: strategic multimedia communications; custom software development; and IT services.I helped recruit key management team members, set business plans and management roles. I provided advice on investments, both financial and staffing, for all business lines, helped align policies and procedures for a recent acquisition and assessed strategies for future growth.

I led a talented team of staff professionals and dedicated corporate and small business leaders to build a nationally accredited chamber of commerce of over 1900 business members. During my time at the Chamber, membership increased by 17%, sponsorship revenue doubled and additional revenue streams were established to build a $1.9 million annual service delivery program. Together with outstanding community volunteers, I led a number of prosperity initiatives, supporting teams involved in developing our regional economy, recruiting doctors, investing in health care, encouraging immigrant employment and export development. During this time, our region saw a 27% increase in employment and 16% increase in employment income. Those working on these initiatives have helped position Waterloo Region as one of Canada’s most innovative and entrepreneurial economies.

Managing the Board’s municipal affairs government relations portfolio involved providing strategic advice and support to volunteer teams of approximately 70 influential corporate leaders. We researched and developed policies that helped local governments strengthen the Greater Toronto region's municipal governance, municipal finance, international tourism, infrastructure and energy portfolios.

Supported the launch of the new micro-loan product in the GTA and led authorizations in FY1998. Sold and supported consulting contracts that provided finance, marketing and cash flow training to entrepreneurs. Developed a clientele of export-intensive and knowledge-based companies for the downtown Toronto branch. Played a key role in the establishment of the new Entrepreneurship Centre in North York.

Worked with a fun group of city staff and downtown business people to create a corporate marketing program, and provincial award-winning newsletter. I also provided guidance to downtown community groups by advising on special events to generate and recruit new businessWorking with my colleagues in Clarington and across the Greater Toronto Area, I also co-chaired a committee of GTA economic development professionals at the Society of Automotive Engineers trade show in Detroit. This initiative preceeded the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, and represented the first time more than a dozen municipalities co-marketed under the GTA brand.

Developed this community's first business development marketing strategy designed to encourage local business growth, attract tourists and recruit companies from selected geographic markets and growing industrial sectors across North America.We were recognized with provincial Economic Development Council awards for (video, brochure and newsletter). These marketing pieces were part of a campaign that resulted in significant re-absorption of vacant industrial real estate.

Assignments included a review of the national commercial real estate industry with a Boston IT consulting firm. Our client was a Canadian-based international telecommunications company. I also taught association administration to community and business association executives at the Canadian Institute for Organization Management and facilitated strategic planning retreats for local boards of trade.

Working with enthusiastic group of civic boosters and Ministry of Municipal Affairs staff, we doubled provincial membership sales to local associations within 18 months. This included developing new sources of revenue through fee-for-service programs and publications. I visited communities throughout the province coaching downtown executives and had the privilege of representing Ontario by delivering executive presentations across North America on downtown marketing, management and revitalization.

I joined the team in a marketing role which eventually led to managing all operations, planning, government and public relations, marketing and business recruitment activities. I consulted with local property owners and the real estate community providing guidance on design and financial resources to better market their downtown property. I thoroughly enjoyed working with many small business owners and volunteers to attract U.S. tourists to the community.

Mba, Strategy And Organizational Dynamics

My time at Rotman allowed me to explore my interest in the science of human business interaction. I developed skills in the more complex.

Fellow, Regional Sustainable Development

This unique 18-month Fellowship provided hands-on training, peer knowledge exchange, research and examination of working models.

Cce, Certified Chamber Executive

Achieving this designation required me to develop a professional development portfolio demonstrating practical achievement.

Certificate, Canadian Securities Course

The Canadian Securities Course makes sense of a complex financial world by providing the knowledge required for smart investment.

Certificates In, Management Dynamics And Advanced Specialties

This Institute, formerly operated by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, brought approximately 80 chamber and trade association executives.

Certificate In, Downtown Revitalization

This designation involved completion of course and practical work in four executive development areas: organizational development.

Bachelor Of Science, Chemistry

I graduated in 1986 and continued on for another year studying business economics. Grateful for everything I learned in chemistry class.