Heather Lalonde , EDCO’s chief executive officer Economic development: Professional standards, education and an increasingly attractive career path for women Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Heather Lalonde, the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO)’s chief executive officer, indi- cates the economic development field has changed in the past two decades with an increasing focus on professional standards and educa- tion. In earlier years, individuals evolved into the career. Now they seek it out as a professional opportunity, she said. Lalonde started out in municipal government before taking on economic development challenges for the City of Peterborough. She started her EDCO career in 1997. “There is a greater understanding now for the need for economic development and it has become more widely known as a profession and one people seek out, rather than evolving into,” she said. “Technology both allows and demands greater re- sponsiveness,” Lalonde said. “It used to be we would get an inquiry and have a week to respond. Now, if we aren’t responding within 24 hours we risk not making the short list.” Lalonde says a competitive market also comes into play with the tighter response times and determines the kind of people who will succeed in the industry. “You def- initely have to be a Type A personality to thrive in this field,” she said. “One day is never like the next, except that it involves multi-tasking, thinking outside the box and living in a constant state of flux.” Lalonde says that variety and flexibility is one of the things she loves about the job but is not for everyone. “I think of economic development like parenting. You have to be an event manager, understand financial issues, be able to handle logistics, be detail oriented, and go into work every day thinking the day is going to be about one thing and find it is completely turned around.” Lalonde recalls that there were only a few women in the economic development field when she started. Now she has many peers. “I think 20 years ago many people fell into the field, as I did,” she said. “Now people are seeking it. With the global marketplace opening up there are opportunities 26 – Winter 2014 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report for international trade missions, regional collaboration… The field itself is not now what it was then.” Perhaps the strongest indicator of the growing role of women is the Women in Economic Development Con- ference. Organized by The Consultants Forum, this year marks the third such event and, according to the event website ‘brings together women from economic devel- opment, corporate real estate and site location consult- ing backgrounds to discuss the unique issues, opportunities and challenges facing women in economic development today.” “I’m fascinated by this event,” says Lalonde. “The fact that someone has identified this as a niche and is bring- ing women together to discuss and share shows the focus and attention the profession is now getting.” Though economic development touches all sectors and involves both private and public partners, Lalonde says many people still don’t understand the profession. “There are many people I know who know I am in eco- nomic development but if you asked, they would have no idea of what I do.”