DONNA MAYER

Accomplished affordable housing professional with a robust track record of collaborating with all three levels of government, the private sector, and the full spectrum of community housing – non-profit, public, and co-operative organizations. Proven expertise in housing development, complex project management, and strategic planning. Passionate about integrating energy-efficient solutions to drive cost efficiencies in community housing.

Demonstrated leadership in financial analysis, budgeting, partnerships, negotiation, policy development, curriculum planning, and advocacy for equitable, sustainable housing.

• Initiated and produced a federal government Business Television training program on the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homeless Initiative: managed all content and subject matter expertise among three government departments. (Human Resources and Development Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)
• Negotiated and expedited the development of the City of Ottawa’s affordable housing pilot project, Richmond Inn: a privately-owned conversion project in a rural community providing 16 affordable housing units.
• Successfully facilitated the transformation of a fragmented emergency shelter service provider network through the creation of a service-systems action plan, integrating once hostile community organizations into a managed system. Honoured with first-ever Certificate of Appreciation from the Social Services Administration Board.
• Conceived, produced and delivered CMHC’s first simultaneous web and face-to-face housing development training forum. (In partnership with Ontario Aboriginal Housing and Support Services.)

• Excellent facilitation skills yielding positive working relationships and outcomes among a wide variety of stakeholders, partners, government officials, and media
• Experienced writer, researcher, interviewer, journalist and editor
• Quantitative and qualitative research experience; published researcher
• Extensive policy development experience including procedures, by-laws, and statements of principles
• Experienced in the development of newspaper, radio and television productions
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong media relationships
• Experienced in all phases of the design and print production processes
• Experienced in database design, web site development; high aptitude for information technology
• Ability to adapt writing style to a variety of specific audiences and purposes, including plain language writing

• Certified adult educator; delivered successful, animated workshops to a variety of audiences
• Trained hundreds of people in housing development, democratic functioning, board management, human rights, and media relations
• Facilitated dozens of community- and small group initiatives
• Designed and developed a range of training courses for government, community groups, and special initiatives, including extensive use of web forums.

• Direct experience in all types of social housing: public, non-profit and co-operative, in a range of capacities: front-line, program design and delivery, and senior management.
• Facilitated the development of hundreds of units of affordable and social housing, in a variety of roles including as a federal and municipal official, and a non-profit developer.
• Successfully negotiated first municipal affordable housing agreement and land lease with a non-profit developer in the City of Ottawa under new Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program.
• Successfully managed and executed municipal Request for Proposals processes including coordination of technical project teams for evaluation of all relevant components: project design, financial viability, and the capacity of the project to meet the City’s affordability objectives.
• Co-directed and negotiated a community regeneration plan for a 400-unit public housing project, with 92% demonstrated resident support.
• As founding President, initiated and managed the successful development and operation of Horizon Co-operative Homes, a 60-unit housing co-operative in Sudbury, Ontario

• Effective human resources manager, with exceptional skills in staff development
• Proven analytical, problem solving and negotiation skills
• Superior verbal and written communications skills
• Chair and president of several boards of directors, committees and community forums
• Extensive experience with non-profit boards, committees, community stakeholders and governments
• Successful management of a wide range of projects including residential housing development, lobby and media campaigns