A graduate of Guelph, Western, and Waterloo Universities, Susan has enjoyed a multi-facetted career as an Educator, Marketing and Advertising Consultant, and Municipal Manager of Economic Development, Tourism, and Recreation.

She is an award-winning Creative Director and Copywriter of several marketing campaigns that have garnered recognition from the Ottawa Carlton Homebuilders’ Association, as well as the Economic Development Association of Canada and the Economic Development Council of Ontario. She has worked with the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association Marketing Committee developing regional marketing campaigns, and has also served as President of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission to attract and nurture investment into eastern Ontario.  

She led the development of the Creative Economy in the Ottawa Valley, incorporating the Communities in Bloom program as part of the regional Cultural Asset Inventory, and she has been engaged as a public speaker to help develop support and encouragement for creative entrepreneurs. She has helped many municipalities develop branding programs and social media platforms that engage, educate, entertain, inform, and nurture civic pride. 

During her time with the City of Pembroke as the Manager of Economic Development, Tourism and Recreation, Susan was responsible for the initial implementation and development of the Communities in Bloom committee. She helped to lead the team of volunteers through progressively successful participation in the program, culminating in Pembroke winning the International competition in 2013. She is an avid supporter and advocate of CiB, recognizing the extensive benefits for the communities that participate in the program. She became a National Judge in 2018, and has been judging both nationally and internationally since then. She has also served as a consultant for CiB, travelling to South Korea in 2023 to help the Council of Sejong prepare for their entry into the International CiB program.

Susan became the National Chairperson of Communities in Bloom in Sept. 2020, and served 2 ½ terms, culminating in March, 2025. During that time, she helped create the Hope is Growing Campaign and implemented Growing Great Places Together as CiB’s slogan. She also helped with the development of a 3 year Strategic Plan that will ensure continued growth for CiB and continued program relevance that reflects on-going municipal challenges. She is now the current Past Chair, and continues to sit on the CiB Marketing, Sponsorship, and Communications Committee and the DEI Committee. She is also a Director on the Board of the Green Cities Foundation. In her spare time, Susan is an avid birder, who also loves, cooking, gardening, and travel.