Linda Thomas

Linda is a 20+ year career executive with a solid history of not-for-profit management at the local, regional, provincial and national levels. She has consulted on projects in the area of strategic planning, organizational development, research analysis, event planning, etc.  Linda has also been an instructor at Sheridan College in the area of planning/research development and at Humber College teaching Board Governance and leadership.  She has been recognized for possessing the skills, motivation, determination and initiative to move any organization forward towards its goals.

Linda's achievements include:

• Facilitated strategic planning sessions with a number of Volunteer Boards with focus on:

     - organizational/operational restructuring in relation to identified services areas
     - motivation & creative thinking techniques
     - situational analysis
     - evaluation & planning
     - stakeholder and marketing analysis

Developed and implemented workable and achievable marketing plans including the development of strategic partnerships and alliances.

Initiated the re-building of an organization which included:       
      - communication & motivation techniques
      - negotiation & crisis management (creative problem solving)
      - teambuilding which resulted in a culture of mutual trust

Initiated & directed a successful development program with the following results:
       - 200% income growth by Yr. 2
       - diversification of the funding base
       - successful distribution of revenues based on specific criteria

Implemented successful team building techniques creating mutual respect and a strong commitment to shared goals; strong belief in the benefits of networking, relationship building and collaboration.

Created opportunities for collaboration and partnership in a diverse community through sharing information, skills, knowledge, ability and resources

Responsible for all human resource needs including recruiting, discipline, performance evaluation, dismissal, etc.

Strongly encouraged the sharing of the passion concerning the arts in Mississauga through a general marketing campaign (IT’S HERE!!), including public speaking and the embedding of the message in our everyday work.

Experienced with the process of the distribution of grant dollars to community groups including development of application, criteria, reporting, application review & distribution.

Experience with community and social development including economic development, youth programming, mental health, community engagement and grassroots governance.

Linda is an active member in broader community/provincial initiatives such as: Leadership Peel, United Way of Peel's Outcome Measurement Project, Community Arts Ontario's Leadership in the Arts: Building Effective Governance program as a regional mentor, Mississauga Board of Trade, Sheridan College/UTM Art & Art History Program: member of the Program Advisory.