2023-2024 Director at Large Election

Nina Lecic, CMO, Dipl. M.A., Dipl. M.M., CMM III 

Manager, Legislative and Legal Services/Deputy Clerk, Town of Milton (Zone 3)

I have worked in the municipal sector for the past 14 years, including working for three municipalities of very different sizes, budgets and organizational goals. An endless champion of change, I have led and been involved in many organization-wide initiatives and have tremendously enjoyed learning from my colleagues. A recipient of several informal mentorships, empowering those around me and positively contributing to their success is the highlight of my days. 

Beyond my work, I am a huge advocate of continuing education and professional development. Through AMCTO, I have completed my Diploma of Municipal Administration, my Executive Diploma in Municipal Management, and have obtained my CMO and AOMC designations. I am currently enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program through Western University. 

Lastly, volunteering and giving back to our sector is very important to me. I have served on many AMCTO Committees such as Conference Planning Committee, CMO Review Committee, and CMO Accreditation Program Review Committee. For the past two years, I have also served on the Western Local Government Alumni Society Executive. 

Why do you want to serve on the AMCTO Board?

I have served on the AMCTO Board for the past three years and have found the experience extremely rewarding. I am proud of the work the association has done over the past three years, and I feel lucky for my involvement in the change management the association has seen. At the core of why I enjoy being on the Board is a heartfelt commitment to serve the public and represent municipalities across Ontario. Having worked for municipalities of very different sizes (from a small, rural community of 8,000 to the fastest growing municipality in Ontario), I bring unique perspective and I understand the challenges and opportunities facing communities of different sizes. This is why the Director at Large position continues to appeal to me. My experience as well as all the knowledge I have accumulated the past three years on the Board continue to make me a valuable Board member. 

What three skills do you possess that will greatly contribute to the AMCTO Board?

My energy, passion and commitment to my work and to the communities I serve are usually evident to anyone that meets me. This passion extends to my involvement on the Board and to my interactions with our members. I make many efforts to communicate to members through various means, and to share my energy and passion for the Board’s activities. 

Second, I have incredibly dedicated work ethic. I seldom miss Board meetings, I prepare and bring meaningful dialogue and I rarely miss opportunities to participate. A significant portion of my past term on the Board was simultaneous to my parental leave and I continued to be an active member and prioritize my role on the Board. 

Having started my career in the municipal sector quite early, I have benefitted tremendously from my early involvement in AMCTO. As such, my dedication to fostering and building the next generation of municipal professionals is very important to me. I advocate on behalf of AMCTO actively and look for meaningful ways to promote local government careers to new professionals.

AMCTO is striving to become a more diverse and inclusive organization. How do you feel you can support AMCTO in achieving this goal?

I have often shared with my coworkers my own personal story of coming to Canada when I was 10 years old and the many years of navigating a new country, and a new language. As a first generation immigrant, and a woman, I can speak frankly and honestly to the challenges and opportunities around diversity and inclusivity. I have come to understand how much value my heritage, background and experiences bring to the table. Assimilating, while also staying true to my roots, has been a long and challenging process. This perspective and the empathy I have as a result from that journey make me an important advocate for diversity and inclusivity.

Kyle Pratt, MPA, CMM III, CHRL, CMO

Chief Administrative Officer/Deputy Clerk, Town of Tillsonburg (Zone 3)

Kyle began his career in municipal government over 15 years ago, as an AMCTO Municipal Management Intern with the County of Hastings, where he worked in various departments. 

Over this time, he has been actively involved with AMCTO initiatives serving on Zone 1 and 3 Executives, Legislative Committee, Ethics Advisory Committee, Awards Review Committee, New Professionals Working Group, Chair of the Legislative and Policy Advisory Committee, Board of Directors, actively participated in the development of AMCTO’s current Strategic Plan (2022-2026), and participates in the Mentorship Program. 

What is more, Kyle has participated in various speaking engagements, including, but not limited to: CMO Webinar Series, 2017 Leadership Forum, 2018 AMCTO Conference, 2021 Leadership Forum, 2022 AMCTO Conference, and has moderated a variety of forums - Leadership Forum, Clerks Forum, Finance Forum, and Information, Access, and Privacy Forum. 

He has experience participating on other boards, serving as the Secretary-Treasurer of the London and District Human Resources Professional Association Chapter Executive. 

Kyle is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Public Administration (local government). He holds the Certified Municipal Officer (CMO), Certified Municipal Manager – Human Resources Professional (CMM III) and Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designations. He is also the recipient of the AMCTO Municipal Law award, has completed his AMCTO Diploma in Municipal Administration, the AMCTO-Ivey Executive Leadership Program, Leadership Certificate from University of Western Ontario and Certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo.

Kyle is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town of Tillsonburg. He has held the position of CAO for over 13 years, in three different municipalities, all varying in size and services provided. Kyle has also held the position of Deputy Clerk and worked in various roles in the Finance Department. 

For additional information, please visit Kyle Pratt | LinkedIn.

Why do you want to serve on the AMCTO Board?

AMCTO has afforded me so many opportunities and has been instrumental in contributing to the success of my career. I want to give back to the organization and my peers who have assisted me throughout the years and have made Municipal government such a great sector to work in!

AMCTO’s Mission to “deliver professional growth, networks, advocacy, and leadership to support and strengthen the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of municipal professionals now and into the future” resonates with me because we have some really great municipal professionals in the Province already and I’m always looking for ways in which we can help support each other and elevate our reputation as municipal experts. As a board member, I will continue to ensure that I use this lens when making decisions about advocacy and educational opportunities.

Furthermore, leading up to 2022, I was afforded the opportunity, like many of you, to participate in the development of AMCTO’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan and want to remain active and engaged in carrying out the goals and activities in this plan. With my strategic thinking and decision making abilities, I continue to make positive contributions while listening to and understanding what the membership as a whole would like to see. In 2023, 28 actions, with a variety focused on growing and engaging membership have been defined for implementation.

What three skills do you possess that will greatly contribute to the AMCTO Board?

Passion – A passion for municipal government and assisting my fellow peers. We have some really awesome and talented people in our association and I would like the opportunity to continue to meet more members and help our members ensure they have the tools and foundation required to not only do their job but to find success in their career. 

Experience – Has various leadership experiences within the municipal profession (i.e. team building, staff-council relations, and human resources), has numerous experiences with AMCTO, has thorough knowledge of AMCTO, and has experience interacting with a diverse set of professionals. While this experience is very important, I can still recall the early days of my career and the opportunities and challenges that I faced and can relate to new professionals just starting their careers.

Strategic thinking and Decision making – Ability to consider the big picture while being goal/future-oriented, not getting caught in minutiae. Ability to process large amounts of information; synthesize and incorporate multiple viewpoints and perspectives. Ability to think independently and critically (including using research data, asking questions, challenging unsubstantiated information). Ability to make informed decisions efficiently and take action when needed. Ability to be objective at all times about what is best for the whole of the association rather than what is best for a particular constituency. This strategic decision making has been and will continue to be an asset as our association embarks on the implementation of the new Strategic Plan. 

AMCTO is striving to become a more diverse and inclusive organization. How do you feel you can support AMCTO in achieving this goal?

Diversity and Inclusion is an organizational best practice that brings out the most from our teams, adds the best to our cultures, and allows us to perform at the highest levels. More than anything, a strong and fully integrated Diversity and Inclusion Program is the right thing to do.

Successful organizations engage many different aspects of diversity. However, without real inclusion, individual diversity can’t shine, and can’t contribute to organizational and cultural well-being.

The Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), which I am also an engaged member, remains a leader in Diversity and Inclusion, and supports the best and latest thinking in this area.

I will continue to support AMCTO in achieving their goal to become a more diverse and inclusive organization by applying my experience as a HR Professional and lessons learned from HRPA. I will support and work with AMCTO to ensure that Diversity and Inclusion is fully integrated into new and existing programs, processes, and values.

It is my personal commitment to the membership that this will be a priority of mine and I am committed to working with AMCTO to make incredible strides to ensure that Diversity and Inclusion is part of everything we do.

As the voice of municipal professionals, AMCTO has made positive strides demonstrating leadership on and supporting municipal professionals in addressing emerging issues in the sector, including equity, diversity, and inclusion; accessibility; and Truth and Reconciliation. AMCTO must continue to lead by example, rooting decision-making in its core Principles and Code of Ethics.

Madison Zuppa, CMO, Dipl.M.A.

Deputy City Clerk, City of Sault Ste. Marie (Zone 7)

My name is Madison Zuppa and I want to be your next Director-at-Large.

In 2013 I received an email from Sault Ste. Marie’s City Clerk offering AMCTO’s Municipal Administration Program. As a lifelong learner I thought this was right up my alley. This course single-handedly changed my career trajectory. I fell in love with the idea of working in the City Clerk’s Office and went on to complete my diploma in Municipal Administration. 

I became a full member of AMCTO in 2015 and have sought every opportunity to engage with members. My colleagues would describe me as an extrovert, but even that is probably an understatement. I felt very welcomed at my first Zone 7 meeting in 2015, returned as both a participant and presenter, and am now the Zone Secretary. 

Sault Ste. Marie is a single tier municipality in Zone 7 with a population of 73,000. It is nestled in the heart of the Great Lakes. It’s my hometown. I was born and raised in northern Ontario, but found a second home in Guelph while completing my undergraduate degree. Go Gryphons! I commuted to Waterloo to work on my graduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier and developed a love for travel during my field season in the Yukon. 

I moved home in 2009 to begin my municipal career. I have proudly worked for the City for almost 15 years with progressively responsible experience and an award winning portfolio. I became the Deputy City Clerk in the fall of 2019 and have been learning all the ropes. I was brand new to the job when the pandemic hit, but what an incredible ride it has been adapting to an ever-evolving situation. Through the pandemic I successfully implemented hybrid meetings using an electronic meeting platform for Council and committees, and presented best practices as part of a panel at an AMCTO Clerks Forum. 

I have been involved in reviewing various policies related to record retention, procedure, and code of conduct to name a few. I am committed to public engagement and have recently produced a municipal podcast as an alternative channel to deliver key messages to the public. I also successfully carried out a voter engagement initiative for the 2022 municipal election. On October 24, 2022 I said to the City Clerk… “this is the best day ever”. If you haven’t guessed it, I love elections, and was thrilled to help plan the big event last year. 

AMCTO has been a big part of my success. I was selected to participate on the Legislative and Policy Advisory Committee for two terms where we worked on a number of important files relevant to the membership. I was selected as a mentee, and later a mentor, in the AMCTO Mentorship Program. I learned from the best and I am committed to passing on the experience. 

In 2022 I received my CMO designation, and now volunteer as a CMO mentor. I have actively supported AMCTO education programming and events as a participant, speaker, part of the organizing team, and as a marker. When I first joined AMCTO, I found a welcoming organization dedicated to supporting local governance by investing in people, and as your next Director, my priority will be to continue to build a welcoming AMCTO that is committed to investing in you.

If you would like to find out more please don’t hesitate to give me a ring, send me an email or connect with me on LinkedIn. Outside of work you can find me being a mom of two beautiful children on the shores of Lake Superior, skiing the slopes of the Canadian Shield or on the ice passing pucks with the Northern Knightmares hockey team.

Thank you for taking the time to read my biography and I would appreciate your vote!

Why do you want to serve on the AMCTO Board?

I want to serve on the AMCTO Board to give back to an organization that has been critical to my success. Municipal employees are consistently being asked to do more with less and I believe the professional development opportunities AMCTO provides will help our membership be better prepared to meet this challenge. 

I believe in the organization and what it represents. I am motivated to make AMCTO the “go-to” organization to foster expertise and excellence within the municipal sector and fulfill the goals for 2023 and beyond. I have a keen understanding of how strategic plans are critical to organizational success.

I am an enthusiastic AMCTO member and want to represent you in the same way when advocating for change. I want to amplify the influential voice that AMCTO has in the municipal sector. 

The current Board is a group of leaders that have the right skills to move us towards our strategic priorities. I feel I can add a unique perspective to the group with my cross-divisional municipal experience in northeastern Ontario.

What three skills do you possess that will greatly contribute to the AMCTO Board?

Governance Experience – I have extensive experience sitting on boards and committees in diverse roles. Volunteering on AMCTO’s Legislative and Policy Advisory Committee and Zone 7 Executive has been very rewarding. I was the Co-Chair of the City’s Environmental Initiatives Committee for 8 years and I am responsible for the administration of boards and committees of Council.  

Strategic Leadership – I am a forward-thinker driving continuous improvement. I successfully bring groups together to determine the best way to deliver services and find people focused solutions. I recognize the importance of a team approach to achieve success and inspire them to work towards the organization’s vision. With the municipal sector constantly evolving it is critical to have Board members who can look ahead and plan for the future.

Collaborative Relations – I am an enthusiastic collaborator and I can build networks. There is much to learn from other municipal professionals and an opportunity to share best practices. In every course I take or event I am at I try to create long-lasting connections with other municipal managers. I established a successful northern network of municipal professionals, with the help of a colleague in Thunder Bay, in order to share information, connect with guest speakers, and bounce around ideas. In addition to AMCTO I am a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, Institute of Public Administration of Canada, and engage with more informal groups like Apolitical and ELGL (Engaging Local Government Leaders).

AMCTO is striving to become a more diverse and inclusion organization. How do you feel you can support AMCTO in achieving this goal?

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the Board’s success. I can support AMCTO in achieving this goal by bringing my experience and perspectives from a geographically diverse region to the table. Additionally I bring allyship for individuals that are underrepresented or marginalized. I am continuously educating myself, using inclusive language, and recognizing my own personal biases.

I am passionate about working with AMCTO staff to review State of the Membership Survey data to explore potential opportunities for greater engagement. I am also interested in exploring a community of practice with resources and training for municipal employees to help move diversity and inclusion forward in their communities.

I value inclusion and want to create a welcoming and respectful environment where all members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and having their voices heard. It is important to have members involved in the decision-making process. I have first-hand experience with membership engagement through my work with Zone 7. Continuing to find and create ways to engage members to gain feedback and input is paramount.