Experience & Education

Experienced, Educated and Engaged

Experienced

Leadership that comes from experience — not just a title.

I believe experience matters when choosing the person who will lead our Village.

I have had the privilege of serving Point Edward as Deputy Mayor for two terms, after topping the polls in both the 2018 and 2022 municipal elections. Nearly eight years at the Council table has given me a deep understanding of our Village, our residents, our municipal operations and the opportunities and challenges that come with being a progressively independent community.

As Point Edward’s alternate representative to Lambton County Council, I have also attended County Council meetings on behalf of the Mayor, participating in debate and voting on matters affecting our community. This experience has given me valuable insight into upper-tier municipal government and the importance of working effectively with neighbouring municipalities and other levels of government.

My municipal experience extends beyond the Council table. I have served as Chair of the OPP Detachment Board and Chair of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority, gaining valuable experience in governance, accountability, strategic planning and working with diverse groups to achieve common goals. I have also been appointed to the Bill 97 transition committee, supporting the transition required by the Province for conservation authorities in southwestern Ontario.

Before entering municipal politics, I spent decades in senior leadership with Rogers Communications, retiring as Director of Operations for Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland & Labrador. My career was built around operational excellence, managing people and resources, setting and managing budgets, delivering capital projects, improving performance and ensuring that complex initiatives were completed effectively.

That experience taught me an important lesson: good leadership is about turning plans into results. It requires setting clear expectations, listening to people, understanding the facts, making difficult decisions when necessary and holding yourself and others accountable for delivering on commitments.

My experience has also been strengthened through extensive professional education and training in leadership, operational excellence, negotiation, human resources, finance, budgeting, organizational management and continuous improvement.

I have also continued to develop my leadership through community service. As a volunteer with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, I progressed to Unit Leader and now serve as Director for District 3, supporting marine search and rescue operations and volunteer units across the southwestern Ontario shoreline from Port Bruce on Lake Erie to Goderich on Lake Huron.

Why does experience matter?

Because the Mayor needs to understand more than how Council meetings work.

The Mayor needs to understand people, budgets, operations, governance, projects, negotiations and accountability. They need to be able to work with Council, staff, residents, businesses, developers and other levels of government — sometimes when interests don't initially align.

Most importantly, the Mayor needs to be prepared to make informed decisions, provide steady leadership and keep the Village focused on where it wants to go.

I believe my nearly eight years at the Council table, decades of professional leadership, continued education and extensive community service have prepared me to take the next step and serve Point Edward as Mayor.

Educated

Continuous learning. Better decisions.

I believe good leadership requires more than experience. It requires a willingness to keep learning, ask questions, understand the issues and continually improve.

Throughout my professional career, I actively pursued education and professional development in areas that were essential to effective leadership and operational management. My training included leadership, operational excellence, negotiation, human resources, finance, budgeting, organizational management and continuous improvement.

These were not simply courses taken to check a box. They provided practical knowledge that I used throughout my career to lead teams, manage resources, resolve issues, negotiate solutions, improve processes and deliver results.

That commitment to learning has continued throughout my public service.

As Deputy Mayor, I have gained a deeper understanding of municipal governance, legislation, planning, infrastructure, budgeting, taxation, emergency services, environmental issues and the many competing priorities that Council must balance. Serving as Chair of the OPP Detachment Board and Chair of the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority has provided additional opportunities to learn about governance, oversight, strategic planning and working collaboratively with other municipalities and organizations.

I also believe that education means being willing to listen and learn from others.

Residents bring knowledge and perspectives that Council may not have. Municipal staff have expertise in the services they deliver. Developers, businesses and community organizations understand their own challenges and opportunities. Other municipalities can offer lessons from their successes — and their mistakes.

A good Mayor doesn't need to know everything. A good Mayor needs to know what questions to ask, where to find the answers, and how to use that information to make better decisions.

Preparing for the decisions ahead

Point Edward is entering an important period of change. We need to understand the financial pressures facing the Village, anticipate changes to revenue streams, manage increasing costs, plan infrastructure investments, encourage responsible development and protect the qualities that make our community unique.

That requires informed leadership and a commitment to evidence-based decision-making.

I will continue to learn, seek expert advice, listen to our residents and staff, and ensure Council has the information it needs to make thoughtful decisions.

Education is not something that ends when you leave a classroom. It is a commitment to continually learn, adapt and improve.

I have carried that philosophy throughout my professional career, my community service and my time on Council — and I will continue to do so as Mayor.

Knowledge gives you the tools. Experience teaches you how to use them. Good leadership brings the two together.

Engaged

Present. Accessible. Involved.

I believe being an elected official means more than attending Council meetings and casting votes. It means being engaged with the people you represent, understanding what is happening in the community, and being willing to listen, respond and act.

Throughout my two terms as Deputy Mayor, I have made it a priority to remain accessible to residents and involved in the community. I regularly hear directly from residents about their concerns, ideas and priorities, and I believe those conversations are an important part of making good municipal decisions.

Being engaged also means being willing to get involved when something needs attention.

Whether it is a concern about traffic and road safety, a property that has become a source of blight, a development opportunity, municipal communications, infrastructure, community events or the services residents rely on, I believe elected officials should ask questions, bring issues forward and work toward solutions.

Engagement means more than listening.

As Deputy Mayor, I have worked with residents, businesses, property owners, developers, municipal staff, community organizations, emergency services and other levels of government to help address issues and move opportunities forward.

I have also continued to serve our community outside of municipal government. My volunteer involvement has included the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Point Edward Minor Athletic Association, Victim Services, Auxiliary Police, the Canadian Red Cross, United Way and Crime Stoppers, among others.

My involvement with the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary has provided another important perspective on community leadership. As a volunteer Unit Leader and now Director for District 3, I work with volunteers and partner organizations across southwestern Ontario to support marine search and rescue, training, safety and regional coordination.

Listening. Communicating. Acting.

I believe residents should know what their municipality is doing and why decisions are being made. That is why I have advocated for stronger outbound communication through email, social media and a modernized Village website, giving residents better access to information about Council decisions, projects and community initiatives.

But engagement is a two-way street.

I want residents to feel comfortable approaching their Mayor, whether they have a concern, an idea or simply want to better understand an issue. I don't believe every resident will agree with every decision — but every resident deserves to be heard and treated with respect.

As Mayor, I will continue to be visible, accessible and willing to have the conversations that matter.

I will engage with residents before decisions are made, work collaboratively with Council and staff, and ensure that Point Edward continues to have a strong voice when working with businesses, developers, neighbouring municipalities and other levels of government.

Experienced
Educated
Engaged