Tammy McCormick Ferguson is one of Early Childhood Community Development Centre’s (ECCDC) founders and has been its Executive Director since its inception in April 1993. She has led its development cross-dimensionally and helped position it as a national and regional model for delivering community service-directed child care resources, referrals and support. Her leadership skills and innovative and entrepreneurial spirit combined with 27 years of experience as a Director of a women's shelter, Child and Youth Councillor for abused children, Pre-school Teacher, Child Care Director, Child Care Consultant, college ECE faculty and Executive Director have won her expert status with a number of provincial and local organizations who have called upon her for advice and counsel. Tammy has delivered 8 key note addresses and conducted over 50 professional development workshops across the country. Topics included Leadership in the 21st Century, Mentoring, Voluntary Management, Cutting the Cost of Work/Family Conflict, Recruiting, Orienting and Training Staff, and Strengthening Our Child Care Workforce.
Tammy brings social entrepreneurship to the next level. Tammy has developed ECCDC's annual strategic plans and has overseen its twenty-fold growth. Cross-culturally sensitive, her signature values include encouraging Board members and funding decision-makers to stretch their perceptions of social potential. The ECCDC is one of the most forward-looking and functional child care organizations because of its focus on the healthy development of children, the wellness of families, and the prosperity of communities.
Tammy’s integrative leadership is balanced by realism and she has a corporate record of developmental excellence in infrastructure, operations, fundraising and strategic alliance networking. She has personally composed a number of landmark Early Learning and Child Care proposals funded by the federal and provincial governments and various foundations. Tammy was also intensely involved in devising the parameters for the Early Years Action Group Niagara (started in 1999 and now functioning as a dynamic community coalition). Quantitavely, she developed, designed and led over a dozen National, Provincial and Local child care professional and community development initiatives. Major projects included: Mentoring Pairs for Child Care -- created and led the development and implementation of an Ontario-based mentoring initiative for Child Care Supervisors (2009-present). Examination of Governance in Canadian Early Childhood Care Organizations -- developed a model of governance for Child Care in Canada (2001-2003) and Partners in Practice Mentoring Research Project -- developed a mentoring model for Child Care in Canada (1996-2003). In addition to policy development and articulation skills, Tammy's practical skill set includes art- and copy-directing creation, production and distribution of annual reports, brochures, newsletters and collateral. Since 1999, she has authored and co-authored over a dozen articles, has been published in several industry related journals and self published 5 publications on Mentoring.
There is no one accomplishment that outshines the others, but Ms. McCormick Ferguson is particularly gratified to have functioned as a national resource and planning forum facilitator for a number of professional groups including the Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association and Nova Scotia's Child Care Information Services. She has received training in and now functions as an expert in policy governance. Despite an intense workload, Tammy is actively involved in outreach at every level. She is currently: Board Member, Association of Early Childhood Educators, Ontario; Chair, Mentoring Pairs for Child Care Ontario Provincial Advisory Committee; Board Member, Partners In Practice National Mentoring Organization; Committee Member, Niagara Children's Planning Council; Committee Member, Hub Development Committee; Member, Niagara Child Care Sector; Member, Advisory Committee, Niagara College, Early Childhood Education Department. Past volunteer commitments include: Past Chair, B.V. Neighbourhood Park Development Committee; Past Chair, Children's Rights Advisory Committee; Past Member, Attraction & Retention Working Group, Ontario Best Start Quality and Human Resources Expert Panel; Past Member, Education & Advocacy Committee, Early Years Action Group Niagara; Past Board Member, Big Sister's Fort Erie; and Past Board Member, Niagara Women in Crisis.
Social entrepreneur, human capatical analyst, humanitarian, and organization development & operations dynamo -- how does one come to have so much energy? It helps to be gifted with multitasking, road-mapping and self-organization skills. But love of children and love of community are prerequisites. Ms. Tammy McCormick Ferguson received her Early Childhood Eduction Diploma from Niagara College in 1986 and Psychology Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University in 1996 and has maintained continuous professional development training and mentor relationships thereafter.