Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network searching for CEO

Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network Chair Graham MacNeil, left, and Liaison and Oversight Committee Chair Lennie White work towards a common goal of strengthening economic development in Pictou County.

NEW GLASGOW, N.S. - The Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network is working towards 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 Mr. MacNeil, other board members include Desarai Mosher (vice-chair); Jim Bate, Stuart Cresswell, Joe Fiander, Ryan Fraser, Shaun Briand, Dr. Nancy MacLean and Lindsay Shaw.

The PCREN is a private sector led 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 Nations 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 forward for Pictou County.

“It is the culmination of over three years of collaboration by all six municipalities and the Pictou Landing First Nations. 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 in regards to its business plan and operations as well as act as the communication link between the PCREN and its partners.

“The Liaison and Oversight Committee is very pleased to have been able to recruit a volunteer board of extremely qualified and committed individuals,” said Mr. White.

Mr. MacNeil said he is excited about Pictou County's potential, but cautions that success will require innovative thinking.

 "The cornerstones for sustainable Economic Growth are already in place. 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. We look forward to developing a solid understanding of where we are now and then being a productive partner in future strategy development and implementation. No one of us is better than all of us!”