- Organization: City of Orillia
- Posted: March 4th, 2020
Orillia city council would like to introduce Jennifer Ruff as the new Director of Business Development and Communications for the City of Orillia.
Council authorized the hiring of Ms. Ruff at a Special Meeting of council on March 2, 2020, on the recommendation of the recruitment panel, which consisted of Mayor Steve Clarke, Coun. Ted Emond, Coun. Pat Hehn, Chief Administrative Officer Gayle Jackson, Director of Human Resources Lori Bolton, and Director of Business Development Richard Bertolo.
“I would like to congratulate Ms. Ruff on being named the new Director of Business Development and Communications,” said Mayor Clarke. “Ms. Ruff has clearly demonstrated her ability to lead and has a vast knowledge of the corporation and its ongoing initiatives, which allows her to hit the ground running. I have no doubt that Ms. Ruff will bring a great energy and dynamic to the newly combined department, which includes business development, communications, marketing, and tourism.”
Ms. Ruff has worked for the City of Orillia as Manager of Communications since 2013 and has been a key player in many high-profile corporate initiatives such as the Hydro One transaction, council’s Strategic Plan development, new visual identity implementation, and tourism initiatives such as the Municipal Accommodation Tax and a revamped visitor information service model. As Manager of Communications, she led the Corporate Communications and Tourism Division which is now merging with economic development staff as part of the corporate-wide reorganization. Ms. Ruff will start in her new role on March 16.
“The City of Orillia is undergoing a period of significant change, both at city hall and throughout the community as a whole. Ms. Ruff’s corporate knowledge and commitment to positive leadership, innovative thinking, and her results-oriented approach is exactly the type of director we need for the future-focused organization structure being implemented. I would like to welcome her as a member of the city’s Senior Leadership Team,” said Jackson.
“Orillia is going through a significant period of transformation and I am excited to be a part of it. I look forward to building on the momentum the city has established in the Economic Development Department and the Corporate Communications and Tourism Division and carrying that over to our new department,” said Ruff. “Orillia is a great city with so much to offer and I know the Business Development and Communications Department will do a great job of sharing that message.”
