A high profile director for L&M Engineering is leaving her position to join a City of Prince George arm's length corporation dedicated to stimulating the economy.
Heather Oland, who also once worked in the city's planning department, has joined Initiatives Prince George Development Corporation (IPG), the organization announced today.
Effective Sept. 8, Oland will assume the position of vice president, strategic initiatives at IPG, according to a press release.
Oland was in the news in April for her abrupt resignation from the board of the downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA) during its annual general meeting, along with numerous other board members. At the time she said she resigned when the meeting became clouded by a "climate of hostility and negativity" from "veiled accusations that seemed to be spread through the room."
The tension arose when some members of the association leveled accusations of financial impropriety and conflict of interest towards the BIA. A professional audit that goes along with the annual general meeting shed no light on the allegations, which have never been publicly resolved.
In her new position with IPG, Oland will work on a number of files including business recruitment and retention, addressing skills shortages, advancing the transportation hub in Prince George, working on a campaign to promote Prince George's advantages in advance of the 2015 Canada Winter Games, and representing IPG on the northern innovation and entrepreneurship partnership.
"Heather Oland has exceptional public and private sector experience and a track-record of getting results. Heather will be a terrific addition to our team as we continue to aggressively implement our three year strategic plan," stated IPG's president and chief executive officer Tim McEwan in a press release.
IPG also announced today the appointment of Tara Bogh assumes the role of director, downtown initiatives and economic analysis effective immediately.
Bogh will help implement the recommendations of the mayor's task force report on a better downtown. She will also market Prince George's downtown, and provide staff support for the work of the downtown partnership.
Bogh will maintain responsibility for economic and market analysis and will also lead IPG's work with the Regional District of Fraser Fort George on their industrial lands strategy.
"Tara will also maintain core responsibility for economic and market research, a role that she has excelled at during her three years with IPG," said McEwan.
