Making Economic Resiliency and Recovery the New Norm
Presenting Organizations: Cando & BCEDA
Description
If your community has not been impacted before, and even if it has, it is not “if” it is “when” the disaster will happen. However, a community that is prepared to respond to the economic impacts of any disaster will recover faster. This session will explain the ten key steps your community can take to develop a plan to be better prepared to respond to the economic impacts of the disaster that will come to your community soon. Colleen and Dale will explain these ten steps while highlighting what they have witnessed firsthand in working with communities impacted by natural and man-made disasters. You will leave the session with a key elements to develop a plan for your economic recovery after a disaster.
Speakers
- Dale Wheeldon and Colleen Bond, BC Economic Development Association
Speaker Bios
Dale Wheeldon brings 27 years of knowledge and a varied background in economic development. Dale has his Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and has been the recipient of numerous awards for his contribution to communities and those involved in economic development.
Until February 2007, Dale managed a team of professionals in Chilliwack, BC working with a variety of industries to locate and expand. He developed the North American winner of the 2007 Business Retention International Program Awards. In 2007, he was asked to take on the role as the President and CEO of the BC Economic Development Association. In addition, Dale and his business partner, Colleen Bond, run ECDC Consulting providing strategic planning, business retention and expansion program development and other economic development services throughout North America. His working relationships with all levels of government and industry associations have helped to increase the profile of EDO's and the importance of the profession in BC. Dale is a regular speaker and instructor for IEDC and started the Economic Development for Local Leaders program that has been delivered throughout British Columbia, Alaska and in other parts of Canada and introduced Economic Disaster Recovery Programs in Canada in 2012.
Colleen is a partner with EDCD and has over 25 years economic development experience. She has her diploma in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and is a certified Economic Developer. Colleen has extensive knowledge in building economic development programs and delivering practical and realistic strategic plans. Colleen’s skills, practical guidance and results-oriented approach have helped clients across Canada develop innovative economic development solutions. She has facilitated workshops on economic development essentials including strategic planning, business retention and expansion, business attraction, and economic recovery from disasters. Economic development troubleshooting and community development strategies have become a specialty for Colleen and she specializes in providing elected officials and community leaders with the right information to make decisions for their businesses and communities to grow.