Staff Bios
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Jeff Garrah |
A graduate of Queen's University, Jeff began his career with the federal government in 1997 working as a Constituency Assistant to the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands. Garrah served as Special Assistant and then Senior Political Advisor to Mr. Milliken and in 2002, he was appointed Chief of Staff.
Garrah returned to his hometown in 2004 to join the Kingston Economic Development Corporation's senior management team as Director of Government Relations. In this position, he liaised with municipal, provincial, and federal governments to develop relationships and initiate funding support for Kingston businesses and capital development projects. In 2005, Garrah assumed the role of Interim President and in 2007, was appointed the Corporation's Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Garrah oversees a team of 18 staff in the Business Development and Tourism Marketing divisions. He has advanced initiatives which have seen over $1billion invested in capital projects in the community; taken a lead role in the servicing and sale of the municipality's industrial and business parkland; supported the growth of a knowledge-based cluster with specific focus on green and alternative technologies; and advanced the Corporation's vision to be the premier service provider for local business growth and investment. Garrah serves as an advisor to the Mayor of Kingston on designated files.
He has been actively involved in all aspects of the community working to support social, economic and environmental advancements for Kingston. Garrah has served on the Board of Directors for Correctional Services of Canada's Penitentiary Museum; as an Executive Member of the Downtown Kingston! Febfest Committee to support the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston; a Board Member for Volunteer and Information Kingston; a member of the City of Kingston's sub-committee for the Recruitment, Recognition, and Retention of Family Physicians; and, served on the Planning and Resources Committee for the Kingston General Hospital. Currently, he serves as a Governor of the Kingston General Hospital; a Board Member of the Kingston Technology Exchange Centre; and a member of the Innovation Park at Queen's University Advisory Board.
