“When you think about it, this [emergency preparedness] truly is about saving lives, saving livelihoods and saving quality of life in the community.” – Leann Hackman-Carty For almost thirty years Leann Hackman-Carty has led public, private and non-profit organizations through eras of change into new levels of growth and stability through her specialties in community economic development, business and economic recovery and entrepreneurship.
In 2014, the year after Southern Alberta experienced some of the worst floods in 100 years, Leann completed an Economic Disaster Recovery Project with 10 Southern Alberta flood impacted communities and Treaty 7 Community Futures (Siksika/Stoney). As part of this, she organized 11 technical assistance teams and completed individual business and economic recovery reports. She also Canadianized the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)’s Recovery and Resiliency Roadmap: A Toolkit for Economic Preparedness which helps communities prepare for and recover from economic disruptions, whether natural or manmade.
A second major disaster in Alberta, the devastating fires in the city of Fort McMurray, brought Leann to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to work on their business and economic recovery efforts, including setting up and running the Wood Buffalo Business Recovery Hotline; validating businesses for Canadian Red Cross emergency relief; and leading a 10-member economic development team to complete an economic recovery assessment.
As a result of her work in emergency relief and economic recovery, Leann has authored three books under the umbrella of Master Your Disaster. The three books are themed for individual, business and community emergency preparedness and recovery. Leann also launched a pilot project to bring IEDC’s Economic Resilience Training for Community and Regional Leaders course to four Alberta communities, and will be one of the key trainers participating. Upon completion, the training will be made available to all Canadian communities.
Leann served as the Mayor of Calgary’s Executive Assistant, Community & Economic Development for over a decade; managed several political election campaigns; provided business development services to the States of Mississippi and Georgia; provided leadership for the Organization of Women in International Trade; offered innovative community business and economic recovery services; hosted numerous high level international trade delegations; built peer advisory boards for women entrepreneurs; and initiated greater working relationships with provincial and international economic development groups. Since 2009, she has served as CEO of Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) which is Alberta’s economic development network. In this role she works very closely with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and their Restore Your Economy division.
Show Notes [02:00] Patrick introduces his next guest to The Everyday Millionaire: Leann Hackman-Carty [04:00] Leann and Patrick get rolling with her elevator pitch! [04:38] Leann expands on the devastating catalyst that drew her to be of contribution to her Alberta community and coin the term “Master of Disaster.” [05:52] Leann and Patrick explain the unexpected events that unfolded in southern Alberta during the floods of 2013. [07:45] Leann’s focus in disaster relief stemmed from her work with Economic Developers Alberta and the realization that once the good work of emergency responders was finished, how were people and businesses going to be supported in recovery. [09:08] The compelling reasons {and fundamental brain wiring} behind Leann’s call to action in the wake of two natural disasters. [11:30] Patrick and Leann discuss the fires in Fort McMurray which spurred an action plan to support business owners, plus a broader understanding of the impacts facing renters and property owners around expectations, economic recovery and business continuity in the face of...