From 1989, Susan moved progressively through increasing layers of responsibility at VisionTV, from Controller, to Director of Finance and Administration, to Chief Operating Officer, as the organization grew from $2.5m to $22m in operations and the staffing complement grew from 18 to 70.
In 2001 after serving over a decade as the senior financial officer developing and managing the organization’s business operations, Susan took the lead for developing strategic planning by assuming the position of Executive Director of Strategic and Organizational Development.
In her executive capacity VisionTV Susan led many change initiatives including:
• Provided business plan to secure bank financing, shareholder investment, and regulatory approval for new specialty channel, one of 16 new English language services authorized for mandatory carriage on the digital platform.
• Led organization in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan and developed a corporate scorecard for aligning VisionTV’s evolution from breakeven to surplus building, from access to audience mandate, and from mission to accountability.
• Led VisionTV’s Cultural Diversity Plan, a human resource development initiative for continued commitment to employment equity; this plan is recognized by the CRTC as exemplary for the industry
Group Facilitation and Facilitated Planning ICA, January/February 2004
Foundations of Appreciative Inquiry, with Jane MacGruder Watkins, June 2003
Managing Strategic Change, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, 2002, a seven-month intensive program combining studies in the theory and practice of Change Management
Alliance Atlantis Banff Television Executive Training Program, Banff Centre for Management, 2001
Outcome Evaluation: Using the Balanced Scorecard, Schulich School of Business, York University, 1999
Negotiation Workshop, Alternative Dispute Resolution, University of Windsor, 1999
Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Ontario, 1992
Bachelor of Philosophy/Psychology, Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA 1979