New EEDC President Appointed

[booster]

http://www.edmonton.com/eedc-corporate/3896.aspx

His name is Brad Ferguson. Don't know anything about him but I hope he is an improvement. I guess time will tell.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by booster

http://www.edmonton.com/eedc-corporate/3896.aspx

His name is Brad Ferguson. Don't know anything about him but I hope he is an improvement. I guess time will tell.

Just Googled him in a number of variations and don't know any more than before.

So I too hope he is an improvement

Tom

[booster]

I googled just now and it looks like he's the co chair of Start Up Edmonton as well as being on the board of the Symphony. So he has linkages to the local tech industry and the art scene. His background seems to lean towards management consulting. Hopefully his expertise is in change management and organizational behaviour. Sadly this announcement is effectively flying under the radar based on the amount of comments (Only Tom and I). This person is the big head for Economic development and tourism for the city of Edmonton. This is the person who can help chart the course for the city, of which true leadership seems to have been lacking in the past.

[Alex.L]

Didn't this news break a while ago? I definitely recall reading that name in a Journal story about EEDC a while back.

**EDIT** Upon further investigation I may have recalled his name from something about Start-Up Edmonton.

[jbubble]

I seem to recall that he was heavily involved on the keep open City Centre Airport with connections through Alberta Enterprise Group. Also former supporter of Mark Norris PC leadership bid.

[FlyFlyAway]

Business background: Management Consultant
Strategy Summit
Former KPMG, recently Managing Director @ PWC.
From a U of A forum bio:

Mr. Ferguson has been involved in a number of Alberta government initiatives over the past several years including the Alberta Nanotechnology Strategy, the Alberta ICT Strategy, the Alberta Agriculture Research Strategy and the design of the Alberta Innovates research and innovation system. Brad has also led policy initiatives on export market diversification and strategic international investment, and played a facilitative role with the Premier’s Council for Economic Strategy.

Local guy anyways....

[The_Cat]

Originally Posted by booster

Sadly this announcement is effectively flying under the radar based on the amount of comments (Only Tom and I). This person is the big head for Economic development and tourism for the city of Edmonton. This is the person who can help chart the course for the city, of which true leadership seems to have been lacking in the past.

I think the response from the general public is "Who Cares?" EEDC hasn't done anything significant, and nobody takes them seriously.

[RiverWalker]

If he has half the drive as his father John, and as much passion for this great city, we will be in good hands. Brad supported Horner in the PC leadership campaign. Read the bio of his father....

http://www.suncor.com/en/about/809.aspx

http://www.business.ualberta.ca/en/A...nFerguson.aspx

[Blueline]

I can only hope that Mr Ferguson has the ability to turn this "group" into something that is effective and also is able to be in the eye of the business public of River City

[The_Cat]

He had some good arguments on Indy sponsorship:

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...771/story.html

[MylesC]

Here's hoping that the place gets a thorough ringing out.

I feel that the EEDC has for far too long been a semi-useless boys club that basically exists to give jobs to friends.

As The_Cat mentioned, the EEDC hasn't done much that's noticable in the public eye.

[The_Cat]

I'd like to see if there has been any significant recruitment in new members over the years. The EEDC could get new business for downtown, or at least create a climate that would facilitate it. Are people turned off of EEDC?

[RiverWalker]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

...Are people turned off of EEDC?

They might be after the diatribe that came of of the mouth of new President Brad Ferguson re: sponsorships and the Edmonton Indy. He was full of statements about cause but offered ZIP suggestions to resolve the issues he spoke of...offered no support from EEDC to turn the situation around - but was quick to finger point blame elsewhere. No leadership on the issue at all. Frankly I am appalled at his lack of tact addressing the issue and so are others I have spoke with. He could have championed this and stepped forward with a strong support role. Fortunately he has a few weeks to recover from his misstep. Octane may need help...so help them (and Edmonton).

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...771/story.html

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Edmonton can’t afford complacency, says new head of EEDC
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...125/story.html

EDMONTON - Edmonton will have to work hard to prosper in an increasingly competitive world economy, says the new head the city’s business development organization.

Brad Ferguson, who starts Aug. 1 as president and CEO of the Edmonton Economic Development Corp. (EEDC), says international growth will probably be slow for at least a decade and everyone will be fighting for a piece of the action.

The city’s strong economy could be hurt by these global changes unless it takes steps now, Ferguson says.

“Things have been very good for a long time, and we need to get competitive,” he says.

“Our number 1 enemy is complacency. We don’t have to do anything right now, (but) we will regret it in five years. … We will have great businesses here, that employ people, that aren’t making money.”

While he sees a need for Edmonton to attract innovative companies in the energy sector, from exploration to distribution, he’d also like to diversify by drawing in new industries and helping find new customers for existing firms.

In addition, the city is a logistics and transportation hub, and he supports work by Port Alberta to cement that role by linking rail, air, trucking, warehousing, government and other groups.

Tourism is another important part of the local economy. He thinks there are huge opportunities in China as that country’s growing wealth means more people can afford to travel.

The EEDC will be guided by The Way We Prosper, the city’s economic development plan, which over the next 10 years wants to make Edmonton an innovative, vibrant, internationally renowned industrial powerhouse.

To achieve this goal, the document proposes such moves as building the city’s profile in medical research and manufacturing, more training for youth, aboriginal and other under-represented workers, and expanded transit.

Ferguson will collaborate on these plans with local businesses, the capital region and the provincial government, saying the EEDC helps bring people together to deal with issues until they can carry on this work by themselves.

While he’ll listen to the concerns of industry rather than telling other leaders what to do, he has a clear vision of the challenges ahead.

“I’m a competitive bugger, and the world is a competitive place, and it’s going to get more competitive. Manufacturing costs here are high,” he says.

“We can’t be sloppy. We need to know how to compete. I look forward to changing the language a little bit. … If you can create the entrepreneurship, the innovation and the competitiveness, it could forever differentiate this city.”

[Alex.L]

This guy seems like he's going to be a lot more visible. I didn't even recognize the old CEO's name.

[Glenco]

Saying all the right things. Seems like a breath of fresh air.

[RiverWalker]

Originally Posted by Glenco

Saying all the right things. Seems like a breath of fresh air.

Talk yes...leadership on these issues is quite another thing. Lets see what he ACTUALLY accomplishes in the first 60 and 100 days.

[jagators63]

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/10/1...-in-good-hands

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Ouch, but true

EEDC: "On a scale of 10, we're one and a half"

Some harsh words from the head of Edmonton Economic Development Corporation on how our city is performing when it comes to trying to attract people here to invest.

CEO Brad Ferguson offered a blunt statement to a question from Councillor Amarjeet Sohi.

"How much are we known to the world that we have all these advantages, and that we're open for business and it's great to invest in the capital region?" Sohi asked during a meeting of council's executive committee which was reviewing Edmonton's economic development game plan.

"On a scale of ten, we're a one and a half," replied Ferguson.

"I'm not going to sugar coat that at all. We have a long way to go to put our brand on the map, and then to have it align with something that differentiates us. 'Why do you come here? Why do you build your family here? Your career, your home, your life, your opportunity, your vacation?' We have a long way to go in positioning the city."

When comparing Edmonton's economy and business opportunity, he says the time is right to act now, especially with the world economy struggling.

[The_Cat]

I'm glad to see Ferguson doesn't sugar-coat things. We have a lot to do.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Journal article: Edmonton’s brand barely visible globally, EEDC says

Mayor Stephen Mandel wondered whether Edmonton should send recruiters to Toronto, which receives the most immigrants to Canada, and try to lure some of those newcomers west to the high incomes and low unemployment.

He’s concerned Edmonton residents don’t do enough to promote their own city, saying while headquarters of companies such as Shaw have left, PCL, Stantec, Liquor Depot and other big firms are still based in the capital.

“I could (probably) name 100 companies that have their head office here. We probably have as many as Calgary, but we negate them.”

Coun. Karen Leibovici wants to broaden the focus on supporting the energy industry to sectors that could have growing importance in the future, such as services, film and agribusiness.

She also had a marketing suggestion.

“I thought our brand could be ‘The Most Liveable City,’ not just in Canada, but worldwide,” she said.

“ ‘One Of The Top 10 Mid-Sized Cities’ is too much verbiage.”

[Edmcowboy11]

So now the trick is to identify what is needed to do to attract business, etc... We have the problem but now we have to deal with it properly. I think desirability of the city will grow with our new developments in the city but what else can we do to improve things?

[Thomas Hinderks]

I am quite impressed to see the new Pres lay it out so clearly.

Yes we do have problems to overcome but rather than try and paint ourselves as some brand from the random brand generator we should be promoting what we are, what are provable advantages are and what makes Edmonton unique.

In my highly biased personal opinion

[The_Cat]

I think Edmonton seems to have a culture of making a quick buck rather than plan for the future. The general mentality is that, "I'm only going to stay here a few years, then I'll go home." This is short-term and selfish thinking.

[IanO]

^that is a huge problem, although I think many people who have said that are long term Edmontonians now.

That said, even with the economic opportunities here, most friends would not move here or return (expats) due to the climate and distance to other things.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Lamphier: Money, co-ordination could solve Edmonton’s long-standing image problem

Nothing new here, but I'm starting to like this guy:

In an interview Wednesday, Ferguson reiterated his blunt message. It’s time for the city to take its image problems far more seriously, he says. And that means adopting a more strategic approach toward branding, messaging and marketing.

“If this city was a company, we’d spend one to two per cent of our revenues on marketing. That would give us about $12 million a year. But we operate at about a quarter of that today and the monies are distributed to different groups that aren’t aligned.”

The result, he says, is that the city, key local companies and organizations don’t project a simple, coherent ‘take home’ message, leaving outsiders scratching their heads and wondering what Edmonton is all about.

“I’ve been here at EEDC for about three months now and I’ve welcomed six or seven foreign ambassadors or consul generals to this region during that time,” says Ferguson.

“All of them but one told me: ‘You know, I didn’t know what was here.’ They said they knew about Calgary and Fort McMurray, but they didn’t understand the strategic importance of Edmonton,” he notes.

“But they became quite excited about it when they were here, and now they want to come back. So it’s clear that we’ve got some work to do and that’s really why I made that statement (to city council’s executive committee).

“I didn’t just throw it out there. I want to raise the bar in terms of what it’s going to take for us to be competitive. And it’s going to take alignment and it’s going to take money.”

[Bill]

EEDC President after President, and the message is not getting through.

I believe Mr. Ferguson's job is an extremely difficult one here in Edmonton.

Good luck.

[kcantor]

Originally Posted by Bill

EEDC President after President, and the message is not getting through.

I believe Mr. Ferguson's job is an extremely difficult one here in Edmonton.

Good luck.

i too wish him good luck. but we all need to step back and wake up to the fact it is not just his job - it is a job we have collectively all failed at. what edmonton "is" and what edmonton is "seen as" are two very different things even to most edmontonians. our perception elsewhere will change when all of us start to discuss how great this city really is - faults notwithstanding - instead of picking at the scabs over those faults while ignoring everything of else. yes we have to "heal the wounds" and fix those things that don't work or that need to be done better but it is long last the point where those things alone are allowed to define us.

[IanO]

Exactly Ken.

[booster]

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ongue-lashing/

These rebuttals are more of what we need to start the process of Edmonton's perceived negative image to those outside the capital city.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Sure, Edmonton is attracting workers from other provinces. But are they here to stay, or they here just long enough to make their money and go home? How many of them are blue-collar hardhats? White-collar professionals? Researchers?

Sure, Edmonton is attracting workers from other cities, but what is being done to attract any head offices in other cities who wish to relocate? What is being done to attract more tourism? or more direct international flights? or more investment?

[McBoo]

Originally Posted by booster

http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/201...ongue-lashing/

These rebuttals are more of what we need to start the process of Edmonton's perceived negative image to those outside the capital city.

The growth and economic ststics are nice. What Lamphier (and the new EEDC boss) are trying to say is much, much more.

The royal we aren't getting it. Sad to say, we're often our own biggest enemies when it comes to selling Big E as a destination.