Certifiable

I love to learn. After university and a couple of years in the work place, I felt a strong desire to learn more about my profession. I had plateaued. There weren't any mentors in my profession available where I lived and I began to feel a sense of professional isolation.

I decided to look into my professional associations (the Economic Developers Association of Canada and the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) and see what they had to offer.

I was sold. When my employer wouldn't assist with my professional development, I decided to do it on my own.

After having embarked on that journey, I feel more educated and enlightened. I have already used some of the tools, principles and practices that I have picked-up through seminars and networking to benefit my clients and my own economic development consulting practice.

As an added benefit, I recently received word that I have obtained not one, but two professional economic development designations. I am now a Certified Economic Developer (Ec.D) and a Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer (PAED) - the only person in the Yukon to have the Ec.D and, by extension, the only person in the Yukon to have both.

Yup, I'm certifiable and don't mind it one bit.