Peterborough County Economic Development Leadership

Peterborough, ON - Peterborough County is pleased to announce the appointment of Rhonda Keenan as the new General Manager of Economic Development. Joining her is Sarah Budd, who will step into the role of Manager of Community Development. Together, they will be integral members of the County's leadership team, driving forward economic growth, community development, and tourism in the region.

The duo joins forces with Tracie Bertrand, the County’s General Manager of Tourism and Communications, to form a trifecta of excellence. With their wealth of local knowledge, years of expertise, and established presence in the business community, Rhonda, Sarah, and Tracie are well-positioned to lead Peterborough County towards a bright and prosperous future.
“These faces will be familiar to those in our business community and bring continuity and years of local knowledge and expertise to their roles,” said Peterborough County Warden Bonnie Clark. “Together, this team will work collaboratively with our townships, First Nations, and the City to ensure that our County businesses are supported – whether through retention, expansion, or bringing new enterprises to our area.”

Rhonda, Sarah and Tracie will be based in the County’s new Economic and Tourism Lakefield office, which is set to open soon. This office will serve as the central hub in a ‘hub and spoke’ model that will provide services to businesses and residents across the County, including satellite locations in the various townships.

The team’s efforts will focus on fostering collaboration across the region, ensuring that local businesses have the resources they need to thrive, and attracting new opportunities to the area. Their combined experience and strategic vision will be key in advancing the County’s economic development initiatives.

“As the CAO for Peterborough County, I couldn’t be more excited about the exceptional team of professionals we’ve engaged to support economic development and tourism in the County, townships, and First Nations. I am thrilled for our businesses, residents, and visitors as we move The Kawarthas forward.” - Sheridan Graham

"On behalf of the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) Board of Directors and our staff and stakeholders, I am very pleased that Rhonda will continue to serve the region and help drive economic development forward in this new role," noted Burton Lee, PKED Board Chair. "It is bittersweet to lose Rhonda while PKED completes its economic development and tourism transition over the coming months, but as PKED President & CEO she has cemented herself as one of the most effective and efficient economic development professionals in Canada and we applaud Peterborough County for giving Rhonda a platform to continue her impactful work."

"I am truly thrilled to be part of such a dedicated and forward-thinking team and excited to work with Rhonda and Sarah. Working with Peterborough County, its eight Townships, and two First Nations has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I look forward to continuing our collaboration to drive positive change and growth in the region. Together, we are making a real impact, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead as we work to strengthen prosperity through tourism and economic development." - Tracie Bertrand

“I am thrilled to be joining the Peterborough County team. The County has an excellent corporate culture, is poised for growth, and offers the ideal mix of opportunity and lifestyle – the perfect combination for any economic developer. I am excited to get to work with this amazing team and continue to help support sustainable economic growth across Peterborough County.” - Rhonda Kennan

"Although I love my position as President and CEO of the Peterborough & Kawartha Chamber of Commerce, I could not pass up the opportunity to join Peterborough County's new economic development division and to learn and work with the highly respected and successful Rhonda Keenan". - Sarah Budd

For further information, please contact Sheridan Graham at sgraham@ptbocounty.ca or Tracie Bertrand at tbertrand@ptbocounty.ca.

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Released:  September 27, 2024

OFFICIAL STATEMENT: PETERBOROUGH & THE KAWARTHAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PRESIDENT & CEO ACCEPTS POSITION AS GENERAL MANAGER, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR PETERBOROUGH COUNTY

Earlier today, Peterborough County announced the appointment of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development’s (PKED) President & CEO, Rhonda Keenan as the new General Manager of Economic Development. PKED’s Board of Directors and staff wish to congratulate Peterborough County on the announcement of their new Economic Development team.

"For nearly a decade, Rhonda has been a key driving force behind economic development in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. As PKED's President & CEO, she has built a dynamic team of overachievers who have worked hard to propel our region forward," noted PKED Board Chair, Burton Lee. "As PKED continues to support our municipal partners as they prepare to take on the responsibility of economic development and tourism services, our top priority is a smooth transition to ensure the valuable work of our organization can be carried on. The appointment of Rhonda Keenan to lead economic development in the County of Peterborough is a positive step in the right direction, and we are thrilled that the business community will continue to benefit from her knowledge and leadership.”

In June, PKED’s Board of Directors announced the organization’s impending dissolution on December 31st, 2024, as the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County begin to take over delivery of economic development and tourism services in the region. PKED remains committed to continuing to support businesses and visitors in the region until the end of the current tri-party memorandum of understanding which expires on December 31st, 2024.  For your information, this is the Official Dissolution Statement.

For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Jessup, Director of Marketing & Communications, at kjessup@investptbo.ca. For updates on this matter, please visit www.investptbo.ca/status.