Breakout – Tariffs, Trade & Turmoil: A Strategy Workshop for Canadian Economic Developers
The U.S. administration’s chaotic back-and-forth on proposed and actual tariffs on Canadian goods has created serious challenges for our communities, businesses, and workers. Since January, we’ve seen a variety of responses from governments, industries and economic development organizations, some of which have been more prescient and effective than others. We now have data and on-the-ground experiences to assess and refine our strategic approach. Facilitated by Alissa Sklar, Ph.D., an economic development consultant and author of Economic Development Marketing & Priorities (Financial Times, 2024), this session will begin with a review focusing on the context, impact, forecasts, and resources available to EDOs, and case studies from various communities. This will be followed by an interactive, hands-on workshop and guided open-mic session.
About the Speaker
Alissa Sklar, Ph.D.
Alissa Sklar, Ph.D.
Dr. Alissa Sklar is a communications strategy consultant with expertise in economic development, digital marketing, and social media. Based in Montréal, she works with agencies, organizations, and businesses to develop strategic messaging closely aligned with business development objectives. She specializes in content marketing and establishing thought leadership for brand awareness, focusing on white papers, blogs, webinars, podcasts, and conference presentations. Using a customized, collaborative approach with client teams, Dr. Sklar works to expand the reach of location brands in the highly competitive field of economic development.
Dr. Sklar’s clients have included ResearchFDI, British Columbia Economic Development (BCEDA), the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Research (CIER), Florida Power & Light (FPL), Oakland County Economic Development (MI), Bermuda Development Agency, and Golden Shovel Agency. She spent 11 years as the vice president of content marketing for GIS Planning and the fDi Intelligence Portfolio, a service from the Financial Times, where she led their marketing efforts, authored the copy for a complete website redesign, developed marketing collateral, conference presentations, webinars, and client support materials. Alissa is the co-author with Anatalio Ubalde of Economic Development Marketing & Priorities (2024), published by the Financial Times. Her recent white papers include Brain Gain: Workforce Attraction Strategies forU.S. Medical & Scientific Workforce in Crisis and How to Prepare Your EDO’s Tactical TariffToolkit.
Dr. Sklar has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication and Cultural Studies from the University of
Massachusetts at Amherst, and held a SSHRC post-doctoral fellowship with Concordia University’s School of Community & Public Affairs. She has worked extensively in both private and academic sectors, serving as a social media consultant for economic development agencies, a full-time faculty member at Concordia University’s Department of Communication Studies, a research faculty at McGill University, a blogger, and multiple award-winning journalist.
