Pictou County enterprise network searching for CEO
The Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network is working toward its mandate of strengthening and supporting economic growth in the region.
Recently incorporated, the PCREN has appointed a board of directors and is currently in the process of hiring a chief executive officer.
“The PCREN joins a network of like-minded organizations situated throughout the province,” said Graham MacNeil, chair of the Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network. “The board’s short-term objectives for 2018 were to establish a formal CEO recruitment strategy and to fulfill start-up operational requirements as required.”
In addition to MacNeil, other board members include vicechair Desarai Mosher, Jim Bate, Stuart Cresswell, Joe Fiander, Ryan Fraser, Shaun Briand, Dr. Nancy MacLean and Lindsay Shaw.
The PCREN is a private sectorled entity, sponsored jointly by two levels of government with a five-year agreement ensuring a sustainable and intermediate term approach to economic development and growth in Pictou County.
Board members were selected by a Liaison and Oversight Committee of municipal leaders from the six Pictou County municipalities as well as Pictou Landing First Nation ensuring there was a balance of age, interests, disciplines and experiences.
Lennie White, chair of the Liaison and Oversight Committee, said the formation of PCREN is a significant step for Pictou County.
“It is the culmination of over three years of collaboration by all six municipalities and the Pictou Landing First Nations,” he said. “In addition to its importance for the development of regional economic planning and access to provincial programs and funding, it shows that all units can work together to achieve a common goal when everyone is at the table.”
As the name suggests, the Liaison and Oversight Committee’s functions are to review the activities of the board with respect to its business plan and operations and act as the communication link between the PCREN and its partners.
MacNeil said he’s excited about Pictou County’s potential but cautions success will require innovative thinking.
“The cornerstones for sustainable economic growth are already in place, he said. “We started with a precedent-setting, five-year agreement uniting Pictou County’s municipal governments under a common economic development umbrella, an abundance of encouraging and insightful support and direction from provincial partners and the added benefit of established Pictou County development agencies, each playing a distinctive role in economic development.”