By Ashley Thompson
THE HANTS JOURNAL
NovaNewsNow.com
Ryan MacNeil is back from China, home in Windsor and open for business.
A former executive director of the Hants Regional Development Authority, MacNeil is lending his leadership expertise to businesses and organizations aspiring to be more effective.
“The whole concept of the business is that I can continue my work building communities by supporting the leaders and organizations that are building the communities,” MacNeil explained.
“Authentic leaders and strong organizations are the foundation of vibrant communities.”
Two weeks ago, MacNeil was named one of about 182 certified economic developers in the country by the Economic Developers Association of Canada. He says he took the fast track - earning the accreditation in half the time it takes some people - by obtaining a master’s degree in local economic development at the University of Waterloo, and working at the Hants RDA after graduation.
“I’ve always had this passion for trying to make a difference,” he confessed.
MacNeil’s passion for community building landed him in China twice in the past year. He travelled first to the growing city of Beijing, then migrated West, making field visits to developing communities within the Gansu and Sichuan provinces.
Although MacNeil’s stints in China were brief, neither exceeding two weeks, the training he provided was designed to leave a lasting impression.
“Atlantic Canada is recognized as a model internationally for entrepreneurship and community development,” he stated.
“I helped Chinese communities learn how to build their own successful organizations to support entrepreneurship and community development.”
MacNeil, who grew interested in building communities while working with the Western Valley Development Authority at the age of 16, describes his experiences associated with the China Project as “eye opening.”
“China has incredible human and financial resources but, ultimately, it is the attitudes and determination of the Chinese people driving the country's rapid development.”
“The Chinese know they can do anything they set their minds to, and the most successful communities in Canada share that 'can-do' attitude.”
Back in Windsor, MacNeil is using the tailored know-how that sent him to China, combined with his experience abroad, to run a consultancy business from the comforts of his own home.
Now that his commute to work is significantly less time consuming with his office and kitchen merely a staircase away, he’s able to offer coaching sessions to more clients, at flexible hours. His services – leadership coaching, strategic planning and organizational development - remain accessible to international clients through teleconference.
To learn how Ryan MacNeil can help your business or organization visit www.ryanmacneil.com.
