MARISA CARPINO SPOTLIGHT

MARISA CARPINO

Making history as Pickering’s first female CAO

STORY BY: Audra Leslie | PHOTO BY: David Leyes

“While Marisa’s distinguished career and significant number of accomplishments here at the City are to be lauded, I truly believe that she is only getting started,” Mayor Dave Ryan said of her February 2021 appointment. “With her leadership, we fully expect the corporation to achieve even greater results.”

When Marisa Carpino landed an entrylevel job at the City of Pickering in 1995 after completing graduate studies in recreation and leisure services, she never imagined she’d one day become its Chief Administrative Officer.

“I believed in myself and was determined to work my way up in the organization,” Marisa says of the job that served as a building block in a rewarding career in municipal government. “I committed to seizing every opportunity that came my way and accepted new responsibilities and challenges with an open mind and a curious attitude.” More than 25 years later, that signature tenacity and curiosity continue to serve Marisa – and the City of Pickering – well. She has achieved admirable results in everything from service delivery, financial management and strategic planning to organizational reviews and audits, earning the respect of her colleagues and community along the way. In her roles as Deputy CAO and Interim CAO, Marisa proved herself up for a challenge unlike any other. She led Pickering’s COVID-19 response and oversaw the seamless transition of City Hall to an online business and service model while also advancing several key economic and community initiatives, including the development of the Anti-Black Racism Taskforce, and the launch of the City’s new digital community engagement platform, LetsTalkPickering.ca. When it came time to appoint a permanent CAO in early 2021, an executive search consultant conducted a nation-wide search that attracted nearly 100 candidates. Marisa’s proven track record and her vision for a progressive, prosperous and inclusive Pickering earned the Mayor and City Council’s stamp of approval.

The CAO is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Corporation of the City of Pickering and works in consultation with City Council, the community and various Over the past 25 years, partners to strengthen the city in the manner in which it delivers services and programs to I have experienced residents and stakeholders. “I recognize that a supportive work environment, built on mutual respect Pickering’s evolution and accountability, is critical to the development of a into one of the dynamic, effective and productive staff team and that is how I will lead as CAO,” Marisa says. most dynamic cities Marisa continues to champion opportunities for in all of Ontario. meaningful community engagement, prioritizing collaboration with members of the public and stakeholder groups in shaping the Pickering of the future. Namely, the City’s Facebook Live Events and virtual Speaker Series events have been wildly popular as the community conversation continues around the new services, programs, facilities, and developments that are introducing a never-before-seen energy and dynamic to Pickering. The City of Pickering is developing a Corporate Workplan & Strategic Plan that will be instrumental in creating a blueprint for municipal activities and priorities and informing our allocation of resources. Marisa’s to-do list includes overseeing several exciting projects that will further transform our city into one that’s even more connected, vibrant and sustainable. “Over the past 25 years, I have experienced Pickering’s evolution into one of the most dynamic cities in all of Ontario,” she says. “Pickering is on the cusp of tremendous growth and opportunity due to transformative development projects such as Seaton, Durham Live and the Innovation Corridor, to name only a few,” Marisa notes. Pickering City Centre is undergoing a bold transformation that will include a performing arts centre, a relocated and expanded central library, a combined seniors’ and youth centre, condominium towers, and a vibrant public square. “The City Centre project is one that is going to bring the city to new levels, encompassing an age-in-place theory where we can all live, work and play throughout your lifetime,” Marisa enthuses. Her can-do attitude and commitment to Pickering ensures we all have something to look forward to in the city we’re proud to call home.