Barb Higgins Leaving CFCN

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Bunk

If you're looking for most direct business qualifications:

Naheed Nenshi spent a lot of years as consultant with global firm McKinsey & Co. Now teaches how to run non-profits, which is basically exactly what the City of Calgary is.

etc.

I'm genuinely interested in this statement.
Could you expand?

As a layman, I notice that the City's Operations are divided into 'business units'.
Enmax is pretty profitable, I'd think.
Maybe you mean that at the end of the day, the City is supposed to subsidize things that don't earn money with it's profits from other areas?
TIA.

[alltherage]

Originally Posted by Bunk

If you're looking for most direct business qualifications:

Naheed Nenshi spent a lot of years as consultant with global firm McKinsey & Co. Now teaches how to run non-profits, which is basically exactly what the City of Calgary is. Also was chair of the Epcor Centre.

Ric McIver worked as a sales manager for a food company before becoming Alderman.

Wayne Stewart was a Shell Executive.

Jon Lord owns Casablanca Video

Alnoor Kassam stole people's money from Nigerian Banks.. runs hotels.

etc.

Yeah really. I know for sure there are a few candidates that will not be getting my vote.

I like Barb. She's hot.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by algernon

I'm genuinely interested in this statement.
Could you expand?

As a layman, I notice that the City's Operations are divided into 'business units'.
Enmax is pretty profitable, I'd think.
Maybe you mean that at the end of the day, the City is supposed to subsidize things that don't earn money with it's profits from other areas?
TIA.

Earning revenue does not equate to "profits". Many NPO's even earn profits (aka surpluses).

If the city earns a profit (surplus) it keeps it to spend next year. Its not a regular corporation that is there to earn profits and distribute cash flows back to its investors.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by alltherage

I like Barb. She's hot.

Lets Duer!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bunk

If you're looking for most direct business qualifications:

Naheed Nenshi spent a lot of years as consultant with global firm McKinsey & Co. Now teaches how to run non-profits, which is basically exactly what the City of Calgary is. Also was chair of the Epcor Centre.

Ric McIver worked as a sales manager for a food company before becoming Alderman.

Wayne Stewart was a Shell Executive.

Jon Lord owns Casablanca Video

Alnoor Kassam stole people's money from Nigerian Banks.. runs hotels.

etc.

When you put it like that I would have to say that Nenshi is one of the least qualified. Political experience has to count for something in the mix, as well as some real world experience. Nenshi has no political experience whatsoever (which I'm sure you're planning on spinning as a good thing because he's new, yada, yada, yada). His other experience teaching is great, but what does that say for his corporate and business acumen? I wouldn't qualify the city as a non-profit in any sense...

I'm not so sure that we should have a guy in there who is totally green, politically speaking. I'm not supporting Mciver, but you can't really take a shot at a guy who was elected and served two terms for his ward. He has kind of worked his way up here...if the voters decide he is worthy and has learned enough to be mayor. Same has to be said about Connelly and Jon Lord. Of course my preferred is in the conversation here, with that being Kent Hehr.

[Knalus]

One thing that we know is that she is a very professional person, and has conducted herself well with regards to her job. The fact that she is interested in politics points this out - her role at CFCN required her to be impartial, which she was. So much so that it's hard to tell what her position is going to be. That shows a considerable amount of professional conduct to me. The fact that she did not take the opportunity during her farewell show to announce her candidacy, well, that showed professionalism as well as a significant amount of class. That's something most politicians seem to be missing.

If she does become mayor, at this point it would be hard to tell what she would do, but it wouldn't be hard to tell how she would conduct herself.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by fotze

I dunno about 'whatsoever', I believe he was the U of C students union president when I went to school. If there is a more bullchit political job in the world I'd like to hear it.

Also, hearing he worked at Mckinsey, they don't hire dummies.

Actually he was on the union executive one year, but never president as far as I remember. Everyone expected him to run as president the next year, and other potential candidates pretty much assumed he'd wipe the floor with them in an election, so the only person who ran that year was someone with the inside scoop that Nenshi wasn't running. I can't remember why he decided not to run. He was certainly highly respected at the university back then though.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Ashartus

Actually he was on the union executive one year, but never president as far as I remember. Everyone expected him to run as president the next year, and other potential candidates pretty much assumed he'd wipe the floor with them in an election, so the only person who ran that year was someone with the inside scoop that Nenshi wasn't running. I can't remember why he decided not to run. He was certainly highly respected at the university back then though.

Among the 2% of students who respect anyone in the SU.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by fotze

I dunno about 'whatsoever', I believe he was the U of C students union president when I went to school. If there is a more bullchit political job in the world I'd like to hear it.

Also, hearing he worked at Mckinsey, they don't hire dummies.

Naheed is a smart guy, no question. I've said before that if Kent weren't in the race I would vote for him.

If you want to qualify SU politics as experience though I'll just counter with the thought that his "real world" political experience was a destruction at the hands of Ray Jones in an aldermanic race.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by fotze

I dunno about 'whatsoever', I believe he was the U of C students union president when I went to school. If there is a more bullchit political job in the world I'd like to hear it.

Also, hearing he worked at Mckinsey, they don't hire dummies.

BS as in the SU is nothing?

You get more political experience in a steering committee in a corporation than in a SU.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Knalus

One thing that we know is that she is a very professional person, and has conducted herself well with regards to her job. The fact that she is interested in politics points this out - her role at CFCN required her to be impartial, which she was. So much so that it's hard to tell what her position is going to be. That shows a considerable amount of professional conduct to me. The fact that she did not take the opportunity during her farewell show to announce her candidacy, well, that showed professionalism as well as a significant amount of class. That's something most politicians seem to be missing.

If she does become mayor, at this point it would be hard to tell what she would do, but it wouldn't be hard to tell how she would conduct herself.

Unless you have heard Barb speak in person, or seen her work crowds in person, don't count her out. And I agree fully with 4x4, how much business experience and education do you need? Is it the mayor's job to run the business or mainly to oversee it and empower city employees to run the business?

I have heard her speak at many functions where they raise money for breast cancer and the like. She speaks from the heart, she speaks with compassion, and when she speaks, you can feel her dedication to the cause.

You only have to see her work the crowds during Stampede week to know she is genuinely a people person, who takes the time to listen to people and intermingle with people. If that is enough to get her elected, I do not know. But I do know that her entry into the race makes it just a tad more heated... and perhaps more Calgary citizens will actually follow the municipal elections and get out and vote.

[FireInTheHole]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Lisa Lamii?

Lisa was a...errrr....friend and colleague of mine years earlier in the 'Bridge.

Dont remember if she ever got the evening gig with Janz, but she was definately a CFCN girl in that time frame.

Ahh yes.. Lisa Lammi. I believe she went to school at the U of L, right? Last I heard she was doing PR for the Edmonton Police. I don't think she was ever the 6pm anchor - didn't she do the late night news?