Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
City of Guelph
"While our ultimate goal [in municipal government] is to serve and support the communities we work in, sometimes our work isn't always front facing but that doesn't make it less important."
About Me:
I am a proud University of Guelph alum and am a volunteer on the Friends of Gryphon Football (FoGF). Having played football in university, it has been nice to join an organization that is supporting student-athletes as they progress through their academic journey. My wife and two kids also enjoy attending the odd game throughout the season.
I'm also active with my family - we enjoy skiing in the winter, taking our dog, Scout, on walks throughout the various trails in Guelph, and I try to stay physically active through my time at the local CrossFit affiliate in Guelph, CrossFit 1827.
How did you get involved in local government?
I started in local government through AMCTOs municipal management internship program. I was paired with a local municipality in Bruce County called Northern Bruce Peninsula. I look back fondly on that introduction to local government and truly believe that it served as the ideal foundation to my career. My time in local government has been challenging items, but overall, it has been nothing short of fulfilling and fun.
What is one thing members of the public would be surprised to learn about your role?
Municipalities are complex organizations. Those of us who work in local government know this and know that our focus is on public service. That being said, municipalities require many 'internal' supports and services. These range from HR, IT, legal or strategic communications supports. In my role, ensuring these internal services are in place and robust to then, in turn, support strong public facing services is key.
What do you enjoy most about working in local government?
I enjoy the public service aspect of our work. Seeing the outcomes of our work actually come to fruition in the community is so very rewarding. Municipalities are continually being tasked with playing an integral role in solving the big challenges we face as a society and that keeps things dynamic and interesting.