Fort Erie selects its new CAO, a long-time Niagara Regional worker

Fort Erie has selected it new CAO and he’s a person who has extensive experience at the Niagara Region level.

Chris McQueen was chosen by the three-person Recruitment Committee that consisted of Mayor Wayne Redekop, Councillor Marina Butler and Councillor George McDermott. He’ll be taking over for the interim CAO Jonathan Janzen on May 2.

McQueen is currently the Vice President, Operations at Vineland Research & Innovation Centre. He previously founded and operated a management consulting firm, Disruptive Ideology Inc., that provided management consulting across municipal, health care and not-for-profit sectors.

However, he has extensive municipal experience in Niagara politics as a former City Councillor, Chief Administrative Officer, and has held several senior management roles at Niagara Region including Operating Officer (Health), Regional Treasurer and Director positions in Financial Management, Organizational Performance and Administration.

In fact, he did enough in his various positions at Niagara Region that he made the “Sunshine List” (municipal employees above the $100,000 annual salary) 11 years straight from 2008 to 2018. He peaked in 2014 at $158,954 as the Director of Organizational Performance.

“The position of CAO is not only extremely demanding, it is paramount to how our Town functions,” said Redekop. “It was vital that the Recruitment Committee and Town Council select the right candidate to fill the most important administrative position with the Town.”

We are confident that Chris will meet the position’s demands and bring a fresh perspective to the Town of Fort Erie,” Redekop added.

Redekop said in addition to having the ability to build trust and compassion, McQueen brings a “leadership style that will foster positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, promote diversity and inclusiveness, and the proven ability to build strong relationships with the community.”