Leann’s leadership ability was identified early when she was nominated and selected to participate in the United States International Visitors Program. This program involved future leaders from 20 different countries, 19 from Europe. Its focus was Trade and Economic Development, and included meetings with government, unions, community organizations and corporate America.
Leann worked as an Executive Assistant, Community & Economic Development to the Mayor of Calgary for over 10 years; managed several federal, provincial and municipal election campaigns; developed and lead key initiatives in the corporate, public and not-for profit sector; provided business development services to the States of Mississippi and Georgia; provided leadership for the Organization of Women in International Trade; hosted numerous high level international trade delegations; initiated greater working relationships with provincial and international economic development groups; developed business and marketing plans for small-medium sized enterprises; and worked on a number of high profile community investment projects.
Since 2009, Leann has served as the Chief Executive Officer for Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) which is Alberta’s economic development network. It has over 300 members, who are involved in economic development activities including business retention & expansion, business and investment attraction, opportunity identification, tourism, workforce development, business and economic recovery, and industry sector development. At the end of 2014, Leann completed an Economic Disaster Recovery Project (EDRP) with 10 Alberta communities and Treaty 7 Community Futures (Siksika/Stoney); in partnership with BCEDA and IEDC, The Government of Alberta (Innovation & Advanced Education), Shell, RBC Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross and the US Consulate in Calgary. As part of this project, Leann spearheaded the production of a community toolkit to help them prepare and respond to future economic disruptions. In May 2016, Leann started working with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) on their business and economic recovery efforts, post wildfire; which included setting up and running the Wood Buffalo Business Recovery Hotline and validating businesses for Red Cross emergency relief. Over 3000 businesses were registered, and almost $3.5 million provided to small businesses in Fort McMurray. She also lead a 10-member technical assistance team to the RMWB, and completed a report with over 50 recommendations on business and economic recovery that was released in June 2017.
Leann has her own consulting firm, HackmanCarty and Associates. At the end of December 2017, she released her first series of guidebooks on www.amazon.com. The “Master Your Disaster” series is designed to help individuals, businesses and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In 2018, she plans to expand her services to podcasts and online training programs. She is also the 2018 recipient of Public Safety Canada’s Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award-Resilient Communities.
Leann is Managing Director (Alberta) for GroYourBiz, which sets up peer advisory boards across the province for women entrepreneurs wanting to grow their businesses, and has served on a number of non-profit boards. In Alberta, there are currently two boards operating in Calgary, and soon to be Grande Prairie, Foothills and Edmonton.
A well-respected professional in her field, she has lead public, private and non-profit organizations through eras of change to new levels of growth and stability. She is a sincere advocate with an aptitude for bridging conflicting interests, motivating staff and volunteers, and influencing key stakeholders.
Throughout her career, her leadership, entrepreneurial drive and broad network of contacts have enabled her to establish partnerships across various sectors, industries and borders; anticipate emerging and ongoing business needs; design new ways of providing goods and/or services; as well as conceptualize, plan and implement innovative initiatives. Her desire to make a positive impact, whether small or large, is evident in her personal and professional life.