Bruce Graham
Senior Advisor
Value Proposition
Bruce is an organizational architect and leader with over 18 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. Bruce 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 33 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.
Prior Experience
- President & CEO: Calgary Economic Development Ltd. (2003 – 2015)
- CEO: Airdrie Health Benefits Cooperative Inc. (2017 – 2018)
- Director: Watt Consulting Group, consulting engineers (2016 – Present)
- Director: Swift River Farms, farmland acquisition and edible bean production (2016 – Present)
- 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
News & Articles
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To learn more about Bruce please contact Managing Principal Gord Forbes.
Phone: (403) 264-8195 ext.1006
Toll Free: (888) 282-8450
Email: gforbes@osborneinterim.com
