Oxford County Welcomes Newly Hired Manager of Strategic Initiatives

Wednesday, 20 November 2019 07:27

Manager of Strategic Initiatives - Dennis Guy (submitted)

The new Manager of Strategic Initiatives for Oxford County will be tasked with advancing County's Future Oxford Goals. Dennis Guy will start with the County in the New Year.

OXFORD COUNTY - Oxford County has hired a new Manager of Strategic Initiatives.

Dennis Guy will start his new role on January 2nd, and he will play a key role in advancing the County's Future Oxford Goals of achieving 100% renewable energy, zero waste and zero poverty, as well as the evolving strategy to address Oxford’s housing crisis. Guy says he embraces the challenge.

"I think from my role is to embrace some of the aggressiveness in the targets and starting to define the steps towards them, so we can look at bite size chunks, over a period of time as we progress towards them and be able to show that ongoing incremental progress."

Guy is currently working for the City of Hamilton as the Manager of Customer Experience and Innovation where he oversees the most comprehensive engagement campaign in the Transit’s more than 100-year history. His past roles at the City of Hamilton have included positions in the City Manager’s Office, waste management, and corporate communications.

Guy says he was really impressed with a lot of the work that Oxford County is doing.

"The first thing that came to my mind as I started to research the County was wow, this county is really progressive. I think that was a pleasant surprise, not that I doubted it but coming in and not knowing, I was really impressed with how far along they currently are. I have been involved in similar things here in Hamilton, throughout my career and it seems like Oxford is a step ahead of others in terms of development in these areas and committed to the three priorities of waste, energy and poverty."

He actually already lives in South West Oxford with his wife Carrie and their three children, Scarlett, Lincoln and Gibson. Guy and his wife relocated to Oxford County to raise their family in a community known for its welcoming atmosphere and commitment to sustainable practices for current and future generations.

CAO for Oxford County Peter Crockett says they are really excited to bring Guy on board.

“Council has demonstrated time and again that Oxford County is not a community to sit back and wait for solutions from others. Whether it’s poverty, the housing crisis, transportation challenges, climate change or other issues that affect our community’s wellbeing, Oxford is committed to taking action and achieving results. Dennis’s past success in fostering, nurturing, developing and leveraging organizational and community interest will play a key role in more actively engaging our community to work towards better quality of life for current and future generations.”