I’m glad you’re asking! I know how important it is to understand “the who” in a decision to consider bringing someone into your organization to make a change or an enhancement to what exists today!
The short answer is +37 years of business leadership, influencing hundreds of staff, suppliers, partners
and customers including multi-national Corporate Chains and private Board of Directors reporting.
My extensive career as a General Manager of the two Delta Hotels in Halifax, NS provided me with a
fulsome understanding of corporate head office influences and the tug and pull to be creative and entrepreneurial while remaining within the established brand boundaries of a multi-national
organization.
As an Instructor for the Nova Scotia Community College I experienced the wonderment of many who
craved guidance and knowledge to find their place in the working world. It is at NSCC that I really
understood the idea of knowing your Geniuses (Strengths) so that I could guide the students to use their
innate talents, find learning and experience growth, that fed them with passion and joy. The “teaching”
of those with unbridled excitement, great fear of the unknown that students have, was a dream job for
me and allowed me to take that bottled enthusiasm with me to run a local company. Do you know what
your team is capable of? Where are the gaps in your organization? What is frustrating you? Is the
direction and expectation of individuals explicit enough to also allow for performance to be assigned to
those who will excel at the challenge?
My time (+7 yrs.) as Chief Operating Officer for Ambassatours Gray Line and Murphy’s on the Water,
provided me with the opportunity to see a single entrepreneur owner/operator’s perspective and lead a
team of hundreds to provide service and commitment to clients and customers. Without a big brand, to
establish the Standard Operating Procedures and Key Performance goals needed in the organization to
excel – to negotiate, without regret, the win/win between suppliers and partners and the needs of the
organization I led - to mitigate the challenges of establishing a single unit organization as a “player”
locally, and on the national stage, through insightful goal setting and practical execution of action plans
guided by the strong core values we established for the organization. If you’re an owner/operator of
your business and you are feeling frustrated or stuck – I know I can help! Be it clarifying with you that
which is dragging; find new ways; establishing processes that make things “easier” less complicated and
more fun than simply challenging.
The owner/operator of Ambassatours Gray Line decided to sell a significant portion of the business so as
I was in the final years of my working career, I remained with the building (a 32,000 sq.ft. office and bus
depot (mechanical shop) – which build I project managed with an exceptional builder, resulting on an
“on time and on budget” delivery), with the business and the staff, as the Halifax Vice President for the
new owners, Coach Atlantic Transportation Group. Within months COVID hit and buses were shuttered
for two years….and so, I retired.
Within the first month (in fact before I even left) I was asked to take a contract with Fox Harb’r Resort as
a consultant to address business challenges (recruiting, retention, Leadership Development, establishing
processes, SOPs and business flow) the direction was “determine what is broken and fix it”…..a passion
of mine that plays to my strengths and my consulting business was born.
So, that is “what I can bring to the table”…. It would be my humble pleasure to help you with “what is
needed in your organization” – Let’s explore the possibilities!
My greatest legacy within my hotel career was the impact that I established as a Leader to inspire staff in both a non-unionized and unionized environment that to this day provides me with great pride and accomplishment as many remain in-touch in person, by phone or email to tell me how they were influenced to be “the best they could be”.
Be it their memories of accountability, tough talks delivered with compassion and empathy or championing support – each connection has demonstrated to me that the time and effort spent with staff as a Leader is far more impactful than the last marketing plan initiative undertaken.
You might be looking to connect more genuinely with, hold accountable,
develop or train, recruit or retain, establish trust amongst and with team members - I know I can help!
Native of:
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, came to the Maritimes at age 2 years and by choice, have never left.
Personal Life
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mary@mdempster.com | 902-817-3878
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