Debora L. Ritchie

*** ***** *****

Waterloo, Ontario N2K 3Y3

Home 519-***-**** Cell 519-***-****

Email: acgkiw@r.postjobfree.com

MARKETING/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

Results driven, goal oriented marketing and business development professional who combines

experience, skills and a passion for people, marketing and sales creating positive outcomes and

results.

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Well respected and motivated leader and manager committed to business ethics, goals and

1.

leadership

2. Energetic, upbeat, tenacious team player with excellent people skills

1. Known for presentation, communication, organizational skills and event creation

• Ability to influence, persuade and advise on strategic issues

1. Consistently produces results on time and within budget

1. Outstanding relationship building skills with a high degree of responsiveness and integrity

2. Demonstrated track record achieving measurable sales, marketing and communication goals

CAREER EXPERIENCES

Director of Corporate Affairs (contract position) 2011-2014

Larrek Investigations, Kitchener, Ontario

Responsible for all internal and external communications,events, social media, marketing, media, sales

and business development for the growth and development of the firm. Larrek Investigations is a full

service Private Investigation firm with 7 locations across Ontario.

• Lead the marketing/business development team providing coaching and mentoring

• Acted as the brand guardian and continuously worked to elevate the brand

• Introduced and implemented seminars and events successfully as part of marketing strategies

• Cultivated and built key relationships with senior executives in the legal and insurance industries

• Project manager on securing and opening 6 new locations in 2 years

• Recruited senior management staff and administration team

• Implemented strategic marketing and business plans resulting in increased growth and revenues

• Introduced and created company policies and procedures relating to social media, file

management and new staff guidelines handbook

• Instrumental in the account planning, budgeting and related decisions of the management team

Business Development Manager – Southwestern Ontario 2009 – 2011

King-Reed & Associates LP, Waterloo, Ontario

Directed marketing and business development management for a full service national investigative and

risk management firm with over 160 professionals across Canada, interacting with corporations, lawyers,

insurance companies and clients providing resources and building key stakeholder relationships

• Cultivated relationships for King-Reed primarily within the legal, insurance and business community

• Introduced and created customized marketing materials, programs, seminars and events for

business and client development for King-Reed to broaden the client base generating increased sales

and revenues

• Researched, developed and introduced sponsorship policies, media and PR campaigns to King-Reed

including the implementation of social media for the first time to King-Reed.

• Introduced and developed an internal campaign to a more environmentally friendly company saving

King-Reed time, money and resources

• Researched and submitted RFP’s on behalf of the firm

• Developed and implemented business and marketing plans to increase brand awareness and client

base of King-Reed through strategic planning and increasing market share making King-Reed the

premier investigative firm in the Ontario market

• Plan and executed all major events for King-Reed including seminars, trade shows and client

appreciation functions

Business Development Manager – Southwestern Ontario 2004 – 2009

Miller Thomson LLP/Mtech, Waterloo, Ontario

Directed marketing and business development management for a full service national law firm with over

450 professionals in 11 locations across Canada, interacting with managing partners, lawyers, articling

students and clients providing resources and support as appropriate.

• Introduced and created customized marketing materials, programs, seminars and events for

business and client development relating to specialty practice groups and individual lawyers including

the implementation of a customized CRM system

• Researched, developed and launched the initiative, MTech, introducing the pilot project in KW in

2006. MTech generated increased brand awareness of Miller Thomson, cultivated new clients and

revenue for the firm, winning numerous awards and media attention locally, nationally and

internationally

• Developed and implemented media, PR and sponsorship campaigns to increase brand awareness of

Miller Thomson through strategic planning and targeted marketing efforts to increasing market share

of the local legal business making Miller Thomson the premier law firm in SWO.

• Planned and executed all events at Miller Thomson including seminars, trade shows and client

appreciation events including the 150th Anniversary celebration with over 600 attendees

• Introduced internal lunch and learns such as Dress for Success, Tips for Blogging for lawyers and

staff to increase productivity, personal and professional development, effecting positive internal

morale.

National Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing (Contract Position) 2001 - 2004

KIN Canada, Cambridge, Ontario

Accountable for managing all internal and external corporate communications including Public Relations,

Media Relations, publications and marketing initiatives, for over 700 Kinsmen and Kinettes Clubs across

Canada.

• Coordinated all marketing materials, media, events and public relations for the association

• Responsible for the advertising, content and production of Kin Mag

• Initiated and implemented the first advertising programs for KIN Magazine, resulting in a positive

financial situation for the magazine for the first time in over 10 years

• Successfully recruited Susan Hay, Global TV personality to become KIN’s first National

Spokesperson resulting in national media coverage for the association

• Established and implemented sponsorship and membership benefit programs that grew to over 45

partnerships with businesses nationwide in less than 18 months including: Holiday Inn, Moore’s

Clothing, Coca Cola, Molsons

• Attracted national media attention with the Guiness Book of Records project, BBQ Canada, a national

project of KIN Canada to support and profile the ailing beef industry in Canada in 2003

• Pivotal role in the creation and management of the alumni program and KIN Foundation, securing

government financial support for the creation of two FT positions to research and continue work on

the alumni program and KIN Foundation

Manager, Marketing and Sales 1999 - 2001

Activa Group/Decora Homes, Waterloo, Ontario

Responsible for managing the overall operations of the marketing and sales initiatives related to land

development and new homes sales in Columbia Forest and Laurentian Forest including project

management and the management of model homes, sales and design teams.

• Responsible for the execution of all marketing, advertising and budgets for new home sales

• Manage and lead the sales and design teams from multiple locations within Waterloo Region

• Negotiated and introduced the partnership with KOOL FM to build the Millennium Fantasy House

Giveaway

• Established policies and procedures for promotions including incentives for staff and real estate

agents who established relationships with Decora Homes

• Introduced a client relationship management system and home purchase aftercare program

Manager, Alumni Relations and Development 1982 - 1999

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

Built and managed a multi-functional team of staff and volunteers to implement and lead aspects and

phases of the planning, developing, marketing, promotion and implementation of fundraising and

development activities including capital and annual campaigns for one of Canada’s most innovative and

respected university.

• Managed fundraising campaigns and donor relation strategies for UW alumni

• Developed and implemented strategies to identify, cultivate and solicit prospects

• Implemented performance goals with measurable bench marks

• Coordinated events of interest and value to prospects, donors and students

• Identified, recruited and managed volunteers and staff to assist in fundraising and events

• Responsible for annual mail campaign for specific faculties, programs and colleges

• Liaison contact for alumni chapters across Canada and the US

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario

Organizational Leadership Certificate

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario

Executive Marketing Diploma

Queens University, Kingston, Ontario (Queens School of Business)

Media Relations Diploma

York University, Toronto, Ontario (Schulich School of Business)

Marketing Diploma

Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Laurier Institute for Business and Economic Studies)

Master Manager Diploma

Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario (Laurier Institute for Business and Economic Studies)

Business Management Studies Diploma

Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ontario (Ontario Management Development Program)

ACCISS

Sales and Business Development Program, The Achievement Centre, Kitchener, Ontario

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

• Member, Cambridge, Guelph and KW Chambers of Commerce serving on several committees

• Volunteer, Waterloo Region District School Board –Driftwood Park and Three Bridges Public Schools

• Initiated a bursary a at Conestoga College on behalf of the Waterloo Region Home Builder’s

Association

• Volunteer: Habitat for Humanity Projects, Rick Hansen Foundation, BBQ Canada, Relay for Life,

Juneau Beach Project, Hay West Project, Unsung Hero Fund Project for KW Community Foundation,

United Way

• Co-Chair and member of Outstanding Women of Laurier Annual Dinner and Fundraiser 2008-2010

• Chair, Friends of the Foundation (KW Community Foundation) 2008 - 2012

• Committee Member, UW Tech Park Golf Tournament and the CFCC Golf Tournament 2007-2009

• Business/Marketing Mentor for students at Conestoga College 2002 -2007

• Committee Member for strategic planning, Waterloo Region Small Business Centre 2005 -2007

• Co-Chair, iii Professional Development for Women Event 2008

• Creator of Random Act of Kindness Day, KW Community Foundation 2008

• Judge, Volunteer Action Centre Volunteer Awards 2009, 2010, 2013

• President’s Advisory Committee, WLU, 2008

• Committee member, WLU 100th Anniversary Committee, 2010 and 2011

• Board Member, Opportunities Waterloo Region 2012-2013

• Ambassador, Canada’s Technology Triangle 2013 - 2014

• Board Member, YWCA Kitchener-Waterloo 2014

RECOGNITION

• Profiled in Most Magazine’s first edition, April 2008 as an Outstanding Woman in Waterloo Region

• Miller Thomson marketing team named as Canada’s Best Marketing Team for Law firms, 2007

• Lyle Hallman Award winner, Waterloo Region Home Builder’s Association 2002

• Nominated for the KW Women of the Year Award by co-workers at Decora Homes

• 1999 Marketer of the Year Award at the Ontario Sales and Marketing Awards for the Millennium

Fantasy House Project in conjunction with KOOL FM Radio,

• 1998 and 1999 team member of over 9 Awards from the Waterloo Region Home Builders Sales and

Marketing Awards for excellence in sales and marketing

• 2001 3 IKON Awards for outstanding Advertising and Promotion shared with KOOL FM for the

Millennium Fantasy Home Project

• MTech, a Miller Thomson innovation, nominated as Innovation of the Year and Business Leader of the

Year- Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, 2006

• MTech, a Miller Thomson innovation, Guelph Chamber of Commerce, Business Innovation of the Year

Award 2008

• Nominee for Volunteer of the Year, Oktoberfest Woman of the Year Awards 2008

• Recognized by the KW Community Foundation for Outstanding Contribution to the Foundation for

Random Act of Kindness Day and as the chair of the Friends of the Foundation Group, 2008

• 2008 Recognized by KW United Way as an outstanding volunteer for 20 Years of Volunteerism

• MTech Profile, Rex Magazine, February 2009

• Laurier Alumni Magazine, Profile for Creating Random Act of Kindness Day in Canada 2013

• Stellar Volunteer of the Year Award for KW, Waterloo Region Volunteer Action Centre, 2013

• Above and Beyond Award, Rogers Radio Group, August 2013

• Women of Waterloo WOW Award, Community Engagement and Volunteerism, 2014

• Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, 2014

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