Pickering CAO Marisa Carpino: Municipal World's CAO of the Year
Marisa Carpino began her professional career at the City of Pickering, Ont., some 29 years ago as a fitness supervisor. Today, she is also the inaugural Municipal World CAO of the Year honouree. Photo: Marisa Carpino
Local Government Awards
Marisa Carpino began her professional career at the City of Pickering, Ont., some 29 years ago as a fitness supervisor. Today, she is CAO of that same municipality, one of the fastest growing communities in Durham Region.
Carpino is also the inaugural Municipal World CAO of the Year honouree. It is a recognition she is “tremendously honoured” to receive – even if she doesn’t fully actually understand how she was chosen for it.
Perhaps only half-jokingly, Carpino said she can’t imagine how she would be selected among so many of her peers who are doing exceptional work in their own municipalities.
Carpino acknowledges there’s merit in identifying the great work that is being done by municipal leaders across Canada, but she also wants people to know what is being recognized.
“It’s a means of not having them stand out amongst the rest but having them be an example of what could be achieved,” Carpino said. “I’m a firm believer in municipal best practice. We are not in a business. There are many examples of other municipalities doing the work that we’re doing, and we should leverage that opportunity, not shy away from it.”
Praise From the Mayor’s Office
Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe was eager to celebrate Carpino’s recognition as CAO of the Year.
Saying, “We are thrilled, though not at all surprised,” Ashe said the award is “a tremendous honour” that underscores Carpino’s outstanding leadership and strategic vision
“Her contributions have been pivotal in helping to shape Pickering’s transformation into a more vibrant, innovative, and livable community,” Ashe said. “This recognition as the top CAO in Canada affirms the extraordinary impact of her work on our city’s bright, burgeoning, and prosperous future.”
Celebrating the Team
Carpino said she sees herself kind of like a captain or a coach. It is her responsibility to lead the team toward implementation of whatever goal council sets for the future.
It is perhaps a bit ironic that working with the team to achieve those goals is what makes coming to work every day exciting and fulfilling.
City of Pickering staff aren’t just people she spends time with at work. They’re people she said she would enjoy spending time with outside of work – if they didn’t already spend so much time together at work.
“We share a common goal, but we laugh at meetings. We try and find moments where we can applaud each other’s achievements,” Carpino said. “I take great pride in those successes that I can see every day.”
Time for Family
Outside of work, Carpino said her purpose is her family. That is where she focuses her attention at every opportunity.
Carpino said, again in half-joking kind of way, that she doesn’t have any “interesting hobbies.” Instead, it is all about work and home.
“Balancing my work life with my home life and the commitment that I have with my family, it’s very difficult to do,” Carpino said. “That’s the hard part, trying to find that balance. And the way that I do that is of course, when I’m not at work spending my time with them. I’m not looking for other things to do or taking off and doing things on my own, my time not at work is with them.” MW
✯ Municipal World Executive and Essentials Plus Members: You might also be interested in David Arbuckle’s article: Career path for better succession planning.
Sean Meyer is digital content editor for Municipal World.
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