Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Laura MCDOWELL PEng

Holland Landing,ON

Summary

Collaborative leader with dedication to partnering with coworkers to promote engaged, empowering work culture. Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.

Overview

31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

General Manager Operations and Services

Regional Municipality Of York
05.2023 - Current
  • Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
  • Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
  • Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
  • Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
  • Maximized efficiency by coaching and mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, company procedures, and technology systems.
  • Maximized operational excellence mentoring personnel on management principles, industry practices, and company procedures.
  • Managed budget implementations, employee evaluations, and contract details.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
  • Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
  • Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
  • Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
  • Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
  • Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
  • Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.

Acting General Manager Environmental Services

Regional Municipality Of York
05.2022 - 05.2023
  • Developed and implemented strategies to increase sales and profitability.
  • Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
  • Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
  • Drove year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with customers and suppliers through account development.
  • Provided thoughtful guidance to personnel in navigating and resolving snags in productivity.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop innovative solutions.
  • Provided strategic oversight of marketing and promotional campaigns to keep campaigns aligned with overall goals and objectives.
  • Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
  • Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
  • Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
  • Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
  • Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.

Director Environmental Promotion and Protection

Regional Municipality Of York
08.2008 - 05.2022
  • Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
  • Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
  • Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
  • Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
  • Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
  • Formed strategic partnerships and connected with potential clients to drive business development.
  • Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
  • Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue and effectively targeting new markets.
  • Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.

Manager Engineering York Durham Sewage System

Regional Municipality Of York
07.2005 - 08.2008
  • Reporting to the Director managed and coordinate engineering services required to deliver the 10 year YDSS program, which at the time represented over 0.5 Billion
  • YDSS included a series of pumping stations, forcemains and over 120 kms of sewer pipe that services the majority of wastewater generated in York Region and treated at the co-owned Duffin Creek WPCP
  • Supervised project management staff, monitored progress of complex projects, and maintained quality assurance for services provided
  • Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.
  • Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.

Senior Project Manager, Water and Wastewater

Regional Municipality Of York
03.2002 - 07.2005
  • Managed various sensitive and complex capital projects including treatment works and the York Durham Sewage Sanitary Interceptor Project
  • Developed capital budgets and coordinated with developemnt finance for project funding and inclusion in the 10 year capital plan
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and implemented corrective measures to acquire success.
  • Coordinated cross-functional teams to determine timely delivery and compliance of project requirements.
  • Maintained schedules to meet key milestones at every project phase.
  • Directed changes to project scope and cost and implemented appropriate change management processes to keep project on track.
  • Communicated project plans and progress to key stakeholders and project contributors.
  • Provided outstanding service to clients through effective communication and prompt issue resolution to facilitate future business opportunities.
  • Oversaw large portfolio of projects to support teams, report progress, and influence positive outcomes for key stakeholders.
  • Developed and maintained project budgets to control costs and meet organizational and project goals.
  • Partnered with project team members to identify and quickly address problems.
  • Updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks.
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
  • Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution.

Project Manager

Regional Municipality Of York
09.1998 - 03.2002
  • Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
  • Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
  • Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
  • Achieved project deadlines by coordinating with contractors to manage performance.
  • Delivered various water and wastewater captial project including pumping stations, treatment works, watermains and forcemains
  • Responsible for delivering complex projects including desing build expansion of Sutton Sewage Treatment Plant and Georgina Water Supply projects
  • Liaised with public, developers, local municipalities and review agencies during various project phases
  • Developed and initiated projects, managed costs, and monitored performance.
  • Managed projects from procurement to commission.
  • Negotiated and managed third-party contracts related to project deliverables.
  • Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
  • Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.

Project Engineer

Marshall Macklin Monaghan
04.1993 - 09.1998
  • Created detailed reports on engineering activities and findings.
  • Developed comprehensive engineering documents for all projects.
  • Analyzed and interpreted customer requirements to develop engineering solutions.
  • Conducted research to identify and evaluate new technologies and concepts.
  • Gained experience on various municipal and private sector assignments including environmental site assessments, landfill gas monitoring, design of various water and wastewater pumping stations including preparation of contract documents and specifications as well as acquiring approvals

Education

Workplace Mental Health Leadership Certificate

Queens University
Richmond Hill, ON
01.2019

Master Certificate, Municipal Leadrship

York University
Toronto, ON
01.2008

Bachelor of Science - Biological Engineering

University of Guelph
Guelph, ON
01.1992

Skills

  • Career Profile
  • Management Philosophy
  • Leadership Style

Accomplishments

  • Recognized by Ontario Public Works Association as Public Works Leader of the Year for 2020 for outstanding and dedicated career in Public Service

Affiliations

  • APWA
  • OPWA
  • OWWA

Certification

Queens University

York University

Timeline

General Manager Operations and Services

Regional Municipality Of York
05.2023 - Current

Acting General Manager Environmental Services

Regional Municipality Of York
05.2022 - 05.2023

Director Environmental Promotion and Protection

Regional Municipality Of York
08.2008 - 05.2022

Manager Engineering York Durham Sewage System

Regional Municipality Of York
07.2005 - 08.2008

Senior Project Manager, Water and Wastewater

Regional Municipality Of York
03.2002 - 07.2005

Project Manager

Regional Municipality Of York
09.1998 - 03.2002

Project Engineer

Marshall Macklin Monaghan
04.1993 - 09.1998

Workplace Mental Health Leadership Certificate

Queens University

Master Certificate, Municipal Leadrship

York University

Bachelor of Science - Biological Engineering

University of Guelph

Queens University

York University

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Laura MCDOWELL PEng