Bruce Graham

Value Proposition

Bruce is an organizational architect and leader with 20+ years of senior management experience establishing and exceeding objectives. He has a proven ability to build and engage top-performing teams, boards of directors and partners, work under pressure, exercise diplomacy in the decision-making process and demonstrate leadership that exceeds client aspirations. He has extensive experience working as a CEO, business developer and consensus builder on major community projects on and with business, community, cultural, and advisory boards and task forces.

Selected Achievements

As a CEO, over a 12-year period, reconstituted a not-for-profit economic development organization with a team of six and an initial budget of $2.4 million to a nation-leading organization with a team of 35 and an operating budget of $7.8 million.
Led business development and marketing organizations that garnered more than 150 industry marketing awards.
Spearheaded the development and implementation of two city-wide multi-stakeholder economic strategies that engaged and informed over a dozen community stakeholder organizations.
Established a new entity to oversee the construction and operations for a $28 million purpose-built film studio facility in support of a $100 million regional film and television industry.
Facilitated more than 180 business investment projects including the building of The Bow Tower, relocation of Imperial Oil’s headquarters, and the development of Quarry Park, Calgary’s first large-scale office park.
Created a not-for-profit community sponsorship program that increased revenues from 10% to 38% of the annual operating budget and recognized as the most successful sponsorship program amongst its Canadian peers.
Developed marketing and communications strategies achieving more than 500 media hits annually and signature business events that elevated organization profile and media attention.
Led more than a dozen national and international trade missions and business delegations with measurable outcomes achieved by participating delegates.
Founded a national business investment organization that fostered collaborative marketing and business development efforts on behalf of Canada’s largest cities and the Government of Canada.

Experience

Senior Advisor: Osborne Interim Management (2018 – Present)
Executive Director: Friends of CABR (Calgary Airport – Banff Rail) (2021 – Present)
Director of Sponsorship & Fulfillment: World Petroleum Congress (March – October 2023)
Consultant: Cochrane to Rocky Mountain House Tourism Development Zone (March – December 2022)
Director: Rotary Club of Calgary, Downtown (July 2021 – June 2023)
Director: Swift River Farms, Farmland Acquisition and Edible Bean Production (2016 – 2023)
Business Development Advisor: Utility Source Inc. (2018 – 2019)
CEO: Airdrie Health Benefits Cooperative Inc. (2017 – 2018)
Director: Watt Consulting Group, consulting engineers (2016 – 2019)
President & CEO: Calgary Economic Development Ltd. (2003 – 2015)
Founding Chair & Director: Consider Canada City Alliance (2011 – 2015)
Director: Theatre Calgary (2010 – 2017)
President & Director: Calgary Film Centre Corporation (2009 – 2015)
Member: Calgary Sports Tourism Authority (2007 – 2015)
Member: Calgary Airport Authority (2003 – 2015)

Qualifications

Directors Education Program – Institute of Corporate Directors, University of Calgary
Bachelor of Environmental Studies – University of Waterloo
Business Diploma – Wilfred Laurier University

Volunteerism

Member, Rotary Club of Calgary, Downtown
Member, Dean’s Advisory Council, Lazaridis School of Business & Economics, Wilfrid Laurier University

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Articles Written By and Featuring Bruce

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Our Wishes for 2023

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Our Wishes for 2022

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