Lisa M. Smith
CEO / Innovator
With a proven track record of performance, experience, and innovation as a senior executive in the long-term care, healthcare, and community service space for three decades, Lisa emulates dynamic leadership paired with robust strategic management and motivation. Her greatest strengths match the credentials and competencies required to be visionary, effective, and influential with a mantra that consists of the two pillars that have guided and advanced her career over the past 30 plus years – professional ethics and moral integrity.
Possessing a Masters Degree in Public Administration, from Dalhousie University, as well as Bachelor Degrees in Business Administration and Social Work, from Mount St. Vincent and Dalhousie, Lisa champions an organization’s strategic priorities through vision, inspiring team building, best practices, innovation and high energy, offering positive impact and growth opportunities.
Lisa’s passion to be a difference maker is evident through her enduring volunteer contributions to countless organizations, and clearly demonstrates the great value she places on supporting her community to thrive. As a long serving Rotarian, she aligns her values to reflect the Four Way Test, living the motto ‘Service above Self’ as the foundation for all relationships, personal and professional. Lisa is a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow designation, a prestigious award presented to her by the New Glasgow Club in 2011, for her exceptional leadership as a Rotarian, for making an outstanding contribution to her community and upholding the Rotary’s values of service to the highest standard.
Lisa considered it a distinct honor to serve the elders of the community and their families by leading a transformation for Glen Haven Manor (an accredited nursing home) while building momentum and vitality in continuing care for 14 years.
Glen Haven and its team rose to be a nationally acclaimed leader in long term care and a community difference maker. Being surrounded by such a compassionate and caring team of leaders in their own roles who demonstrated extraordinary devotion and vigilance all played an important role on that journey in long term care. She is forever grateful for all the experiences, especially the residents, families, and staff she met along the way, the lessons learned and the collective successes, but most of all, Lisa cherishes the camaraderie, sense of community and shared purpose.
Lisa considered it a distinct honor to serve the elders of the community and their families by leading a transformation for Glen Haven Manor (an accredited nursing home) while building momentum and vitality in continuing care for 14 years.
Glen Haven and its team rose to be a nationally acclaimed leader in long term care and a community difference maker. Being surrounded by such a compassionate and caring team of leaders in their own roles who demonstrated extraordinary devotion and vigilance all played an important role on that journey in long term care. She is forever grateful for all the experiences, especially the residents, families, and staff she met along the way, the lessons learned and the collective successes, but most of all, Lisa cherishes the camaraderie, sense of community and shared purpose.
Lisa is a leader who identifies and implements five-star initiatives to propel an organization toward success. She expertly leads complex, fast-paced service-oriented organizations, leveraging her leadership experience to inspire team members, investing in a congenial, compassionate, supportive, and inclusive approach to ensure a world class experience for team members.
An executive who thrives in exciting, innovative and growth environments, with an aptitude for achieving harmony and cohesion by implementing idea generating and problem-solving techniques, while employing and nurturing flexibility and resilience, Lisa is a person of action with insight and commitment for the mission of the organization, designing vision and strategy around best practice.
An endorser of an authentic relationship building style with associates, partners, and stakeholders, with people focused rewards and solutions, Lisa also has a wealth of experience as a dependable and trusted advisor to the Board of Directors. She upholds open and honest communication to garner trust and respect, inspires high performance and fosters a culture of improvement and accountability.
On her personal life, Lisa revels in her role as Auntie to all of her nieces and nephews, those who are kin and those who are chosen, blessed by and delighting in the love, joy, and fun and commits whole heartedly to both long-standing and new friendships. She loves being at her cottage with family and friends, enjoying the scenic view of the Bay of Fundy, walking the beach with her life partner, Troy, and her best pal, Komatsu, a beautiful Golden Retriever.
Professional Credentials
Recent Professional Accomplishments
- Elevated Glen Haven Manor (nationally accredited nursing home) to a position of influence, provincially and nationally, establishing it as a recognized difference maker, innovator, and place of great pride within the community.
- Co-Founded the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association (NHNSA) serving as Chair and Executive Member; keynote speaker at inaugural virtual conference as a sector leader of best practices; key strategist on communications committee for highly successful provincial industry campaign.
- Pursued and effectively lead labor mobility as a complementary pathway for displaced talent (refugees) through the Economic Mobility Pathways Project (EMPP) as lead employer in a federal pilot project.
- Established key partnerships and networks critical to navigating the complex realities of global recruitment, leading to national and global opportunities for achieving solutions to meet the needs of newcomers and
employers worldwide.
Education
- Master of Public Administration Degree
School of Public Administration
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY - Bachelor of Social Work Degree
Maritime School of Social Work
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY - Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
MOUNT SAINT VINCENT UNIVERSITY
Affiliations – Outreach
ROTARY CLUB OF NEW GLASGOW
TEARMANN SOCIETY
SHIP’S COMPANY THEATRE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NURSING HOMES OF NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL SENIORS’ COUNCIL
NOVA SCOTIA ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS
PICTOU COUNTY BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
PICTOU COUNTY HELP LINE
PICTOU COUNTY PROGRESS CLUB
SHEPHERD’S LUNCHROOM
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SUMMER STREET FOUNDATION
