Careers
Graduates of the Local Economic Development program have gone on to lead economic development departments or corporations and careers with municipal, regional or provincial governments.
Other graduates are hired to establish new Economic Development operations or to bring new skills to existing operations. A smaller group of graduates have been hired by community development organizations and private firms.
An alternative to the practicing professional career path is the academic career path. Anna Carr (MAES '89) was the first graduate of the program to complete her Ph.D. She subsequently taught and conducted research in Australia, the U.S.A. and U.K. Others continue to follow her example.
In some cases the internship in the LED program leads directly to further employment with the same organization.
Usually, 50% to 60% of graduates are initially employed in public sector economic development related positions, 10% continue their studies, and a further 25% to 30% pursue private sector careers in areas such as project management, human resources management, business development, and client relations.
Sample career paths
The career paths of past students have been organized according to the pertinent area of study. Please follow the links below to see some sample career paths in each area:
Millier Dickinson Blais survey:
2009 National Salary Survey of the Economic Development Profession
Where are our graduates now? LED alumni are employed in…
Private Companies
- Manager, Research Operation, IDC Canada Limited, Burlington, Ontario (Ms. Barbara Hall, graduated in 1994)
- Teacher's College candidate (Ms. Sandra Caravaggio, graduated in 1999)
- Manager of External Communications, CBRE (C. B. Richard Ellis), Toronto, Ontario (Ms. Denise Choi, graduated in 2003)
- Director, Roynat Capital Inc., Kitchener (Mr. Duane Morrison, graduated in 1995)
- Mutual Funds Transfer Officer, Toronto-Dominion Bank (Mr. Dale Blacklock, graduated in 1994)
- Real Estate Analyst GWL Realty Advisors Inc., Toronto (Mr. Chris Langstaff graduated 1994)
- Business Analyst, RBC Dexia, Toronto (Ms. Tina Ouyang graduated in 2000)
- Planner Giffels Design-Build Inc., Toronto (Mr. Mike Rajk Graduated in 2002)
- Vice President Operations, Medicure, Winnipeg (Mr. Dawson Reimer Graduated in 1997)
- IntelliResponse, Kitchener, ON (Mr. Sean Smith Graduated in 2000)
- Project Mgr. Malone, Given, Parsons Limited, Markham, ON (Mr. Daniel Van Kampen graduated in 2003)
- Project Manager, Northern Objects.Com, Toronto (Mr. John Wojciechowski Graduated in 2002)
- Consultant, Millier Dickinson Blais, Toronto (Mr. Court Ellingson is an MAES candidate)
- Associate Consultant, Millier Dickinson Blais, Toronto (Ms. Nicolina Basil graduated in 2009)
- Real Estate Supervisor, Wind Mobile, Toronto (Mr. Paul McCorquodale graduated in 2007)
- Portfolio Manager, Royal Bank of Canada, Oakville, Ontario (Mr. Joe Madill graduated in 1994)
- Renewable Program Manager, Nova Scotia Power (provincial electricity utility) (Mr. David MacLaughlin, graduated in 2008)
- Project Manager, NextEra Energy Canada (Mr. Tom Bird graduated in June, 2006)
- Owner,
Kenora's Li'l Antique Shoppe, Kenora, Ontario (Mr. Gerry Cariou graduated in 1995)
- Vice President Finance and Corporate Services , Canadian Urban Institute, Toronto (Mr. Christian Van Dooren, graduated in 2000)
- Associate Consultant, Yfactor Inc., Toronto (Mr. Pranab Shah is an MAES Candidate)
- Manager, Government and Public Affairs, Greater Toronto Airports Authority, Toronto Pearson International Airport (Mr. Aleem Kanji, graduated in 2002)
Sampling of current salaries: $92,000; $80,000; $135,000; $95,000
Industry Associations
- Executive Director, Sunset Country Travel Association, Kenora (Mr. Gerry Cariou, graduated in 1995)
- Policy Analyst, Ontario Federation of Agriculture (Mr. Darren Hannah, graduated in 1994)
- Executive Intex Industries (Xiamen) Co. Ltd. Haicang, Xiamen, China (Mr. John Chang graduated in 1995)
Company Owners
- Owner, Community Benchmarks, Kitchener (Mr. Paul Knafelc, graduated in 1995)
- General Manager/Owner, Anton Consultants Inc., Waterloo (Ms. Dale Van Looyen, graduated in 1997)
- EDP Consulting, Toronto (Ms. Kelly O'Brien graduated in 1998)
- Owner, L.R.T. International, Waterloo ON (Mr. Leonard Turvey graduated in 1995)
- Owner and Planning Consultant, Georgian Planning Solutions, Clarksburg, ON N0H 1J0 (Ms. Krystin Rennie Graduated in 1999)
- Owner, Ingenuity Consulting, Edmonton, AB (Ms. Melissa Scaman graduated in 2008)
Federal Government
- Policy Analyst, Environment Canada, Ottawa (Mr. Kyle Burns, graduated in 2001)
- Policy Analyst, Natural Resources Canada (Ms. Consuelo van Beek, graduated in 2003)
Provincial Government
- Policy Analyst, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, Toronto (Mr. David Sudeyko, graduated in 2005)
- Director of the Research Branch , Ontario Ministry of Research & Innovation, Toronto (Mr. Craig Fowler, graduated in 2001)
- Team Lead - Finance and Corporate Initiatives (Acting), Rural Community Development Branch, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Guelph (Mr. Stephen Morris, graduated in 2001)
- Community Capers, Goderich, ON (Ms. Selena Anderson graduated in 2000 )
- VP, Operations and Human Resources, St. Jerome's University, Waterloo, ON (Mr. Darren Becks graduated in 2001)
- Sr. Business Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Small Business and Consumer Services, Kitchener, ON (Ms. Amy Britten Graduated in 1998)
- Niagara College, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism, St. Catharines (Mr. Ed Brooker Graduated in 1994)
- Sr. Policy Analyst, Government of Nova Scotia Finance Dept., Halifax (Mr. Angus MacDonald graduated in 1994)
- University of Waterloo, Director, Waterloo Student Success Office (Mr. Sean Van Koughnett graduated in 1996)
- Associate Faculty Conestoga College, Kitchener (Mr. Orlando Zelaya Olivas Graduated in 1999)
-
Economic Development Officer, South Central Enterprise Region Inc., Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Mr. Jonathan Eshun graduated in 2009)
- Senior Policy Advisor, PRESTO System Project (a Government of Ontario project in partnership with GTA transit agencies in Hamilton and Ottawa), Toronto (Mr. Jaspal (Robbie) Grewal graduated in 2005)
- Assistant Professor, University College of the North (Ms. Jaime Mishibinijima graduated in 2001)
Sampling of current salaries: $38,000-51,000; $120,000; $75,000
Regional Government
- Executive Director, Kings Community Economic Development Agency, Nova Scotia (Ms. Erin Beaudin, graduated in 2001)
- Senior Policy Advisor, Planning Services, Legislative and Planning Services, Halton Region, Oakville, Ontario (Ms. Gena Ali, graduated in 2000)
- Public Health Planner, Region of Waterloo (Mr. Sanjay Govindaraj, graduated in 2004)
- Planner Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario (Ms. Brooke Lambert graduated in 2007)
- Executive Director, Hants Regional Development Authority, Windsor NS (Mr. Ryan MacNeil graduated in 2006)
- Planner, Regional Municipality of Niagara, Thorold, Ontario (Ms. Lalita Paray graduated in 2009)
- Business and Economic Officer, Township of Huron-Kinloss (Ms. Taralyn Martin graduated in 2011)
Sampling of current salaries: $65,000; $67,000
Local Government
- Program Officer, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Ottawa (Mr. Devin Causley, graduated in 2007)
- Director, Dept of Economic Development, City of St. Catharines, Ontario (Mr. David Oakes, graduated in 2005)
- Director of Planning, Town of Orangeville (Mr. James Stiver, graduated in 2007)
- Research Analyst, The Corporation of the City of Mississauga ON (Mr. Myles Buck, graduated in 2006)
- Policy Planner/Economic Development Officer, Haldimand County, Cayuga, ON (Ms. Pam Duesling (nee Anderson), graduated in 2004
- Development Officer, City of Woodstock, ON (Mr. Brad Hammond, graduated in 2000)
- Economic Development Researcher, Town of Richmond Hill, ON (Mr. Preet Jaswal, graduated in 2003)
- Investment Advisor, City of Toronto (Ms. Christina Kakaflikas, graduated 1998)
- Economic Development Commissioner, Town of Tillsonburg, ON (Mr. Cephas Panschow, graduated in 2002)
- Research Analyst, Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance, Toronto (Ms. Stanislava Poch, graduated in 2003)
- General Manager, Port Colborne Economic and Tourism Development Corporation, Port Colborne, Ontario (Mr. Steve Thompson Graduated in 2001 )
- CEO, Toronto Zoo (Mr. John Tracogna graduated in 1996)
Sampling of current salaries: $52,200
International Development Agencies
- Environmental Consultant , United Nations Development Program, Rwanda (Mr. Toshikazu Mito, graduated in 2003)
- Chief of Party, IREX, Washington, DC (Mr. Naser Al Ardah, graduated in 2004)
- Programme Analyst, United Nations Development Programme Solomon Islands Sub-Office (Ms. Yoko Ebisawa, graduated in 2007)
Other Countries
- Full Time Faculty, Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan (Mr. Amir Khan, graduated in 2006)
- Associate Transportation Planner, Local Development - Intergovernmental Review Branch, Office of Transit and Community Planning, California Department of Transportation - District 4, Oakland, California (Mr. Yatman Kwan graduated in 2009)
- Environmental Consultant, Workforce Development Authority, Government of Rwanda (Ms. Yuri Mito, graduated in 2003)
