Bruce Graham | Business Development

Value Proposition

Bruce is an organizational architect and leader with 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. 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)
Business Development Advisor: Utility Source Inc. (2018 – 2019)
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

Volunteerism

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

DOWNLOAD PROFILE AS A PDF

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS - CONTACT US

Articles Written By and Featuring Bruce

The Globe and Mail Op-Ed by Bruce Graham: To kick-start Alberta’s return to the global economy, we need to think local first

Bruce Graham is a senior adviser with Osborne Interim Management and the founding president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development. The COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating and has left Canadians feeling desperate. Albertans, especially, have been shaken by the continued plunge of the price of oil. But now, as we look at how we can [...]

Open For Business – Considering our Post Pandemic Economic Recovery

There is an old saying – "never let a good crisis go to waste". As our attention turns to reopening the economy as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, nothing could be closer to the truth. As we reopen of our economy, let’s be inspired by the many opportunities which are now presenting themselves while [...]

In the News – Senior Advisor Bruce Graham

Build off your strengths – diversification is a long game; Bruce Graham talks about the competitive advantages Calgary needs to promote to attract business investment.

What Hosting the 2026 Olympics Can Mean to Calgarians and Canadians

Like many Calgarians, I was disappointed by the delays and the political drama that has led to the current funding formula for hosting the Games. The last-minute compromise, combined with the general skepticism of recession-weary Calgarians, has created a sense of frustration with the whole process. However, now that City Council has voted NOT to […]