The president and CEO of Promoting Calgary Inc. says she’s considering her career options after announcing plans to step down from the embattled economic development agency.

Georgine Ulmer

Following months of public criticism and a recent report by the Calgary office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP to Mayor Dave Bronconnier questioning the leadership, mandate and performance of the office, Georgine Ulmer revealed last week that she is preparing to move on at the end of this month.

The report also recommended taking corrective action including steps to address leadership issues.

“Certainly it’s been surprising,” Ulmer said of the
criticism, some of it originating from within Calgary’s business community.

“But when you are changing the way one does things – it was almost a cultural shift in terms of how we did economic development – it wasn’t unexpected. I think it just takes time for people to understand those changes and how they will impact the community positively, and that takes time.”

Ulmer defended her four-year record – she’s been at the helm of Promoting Calgary Inc. for three years and headed the Calgary Economic Development Authority for one year – saying her original challenge of creating a sustainable foundation for the future has been met.

She was appointed to the position under the tenure of former mayor Al Duerr, and oversaw an $8.6-million budget, although that amount was questioned last fall by aldermen and some funds were withheld.

“I really felt . . . it was time to move on and allow someone with new energy and new creativity to come and take the organization to the next level,” Ulmer said.

“I think the organization will have to move forward. The city of Calgary as a community is very dynamic and every organization has to have a dynamic approach to how they’re going to unfold their business.”

When asked if the PriceWaterhouseCoopers report had any influence in her decision to leave, Ulmer replied: “For me, it was a good time personally to move on. It was opportune for somebody to come in and take it forward . . . It’s hard to say. It really is.”

Calgary Inc. reports to a 15-member volunteer board of directors representing the community, and is the lead marketing agency responsible for promoting the city as a world-class business investment opportunity.

Its sister agencies include Calgary Technologies Inc., Tourism Calgary and the Calgary Convention Centre Authority.