DUFFERIN COUNTY Nancy Tuckett leads Orangeville's economic development, planning and innovation Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature EDO Nancy Tuckett contributes to Dufferin County as di- rector of economic development, planning and innova- tion for the Town of Orangeville, its main community. Tuckett started her career in urban plan- ning and began working on economic de- velopment mid-way through her 27-year career. Since then she has worked for sev- eral communities throughout Ontario. She applies her planning and education de- grees to understand and assist people es- tablishing businesses through the maze of approvals and requirements. When she became director of economic development almost 20 years ago, she says there were fewer women in senior economic development management roles, however, this has changed consider- ably and both genders are equally represented at all lev- els now. Tuckett supports and implements the community's economic development and tourism strategies, a re- cently-approved cultural master plan and a directional way finding master plan. “My role is to be available to prospective and existing industries and business interests in the community, to provide requested information, contacts and respond in a way to enhance existing business success and secure new businesses to Orangeville,” she said. “I also lever- age opportunities by working with organizations in the community that have expertise that we can draw from to better the community.” The biggest challenge she says is not being able to satisfy everyone’s needs whether it be for land, changes to land usage or appropriate space. Her advice to young people considering the field is that it suits someone who likes a diverse, challenging work environment, working with all sectors of the community; someone who enjoys engaging people, supporting businesses in all of their needs, who is a problem solver, and solutions-ori- ented person. “Working with great people, staff and community-minded people who feel strongly about the town and wish to better the community from all facets is a great part of the job,” she says. “Seeing the results of efforts paying off, businesses expanding, new businesses locating to the community, and entrepreneurs launching their businesses and achieving success is what it’s all about.” Tuckett is a member of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario and the Economic Development As- sociation of Canada, as well as the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Ontario Professional Planning Institute. DUFFERIN COUNTY Sonya Pritchard: Dufferin County's chief administrative officer Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Sonya Pritchard, chief administrative officer (CAO) for the County of Dufferin, applies her accounting back- ground and municipal treasurer experience to serve as a liaison between community organizations and county council, offering support and feedback about new initiatives. She is also CAO liaison for the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus ultra-high speed broadband project. Named SWIFT (South West Integrated Fibre Technology Net- work), Pritchard says the project is focused on building the technology infrastructure necessary to move southwestern Ontario forward in the new economy. 24 – Winter 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report “As a CAO, my job is different every day,” she says. “This is the best part of the job and the most challenging. The Office of CAO is the bridge between policy making, legislation and administrative branches of county gov- ernment.” Pritchard says she strives to provide high-quality re- search and advice to council; ensure timely and effective implementation of council decisions; and she exercises general control and management of administration, personnel, budgeting, policy devel- opment, capital works and operations of all county functions. Many of these functions are in support of economic development initiatives and goals. Pritchard says her experience with economic development professionals is that the job requires energy and optimism and gender does not play into success.