Doug Ball named OMSSA Executive Director

December 4, 2018

OMSSA's Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Doug Ball as OMSSA’s Executive Director, effective January 2, 2019.

Doug comes to the Association from the County of Lambton, where he served most recently as the County’s Manager of Social Planning and Children's Services. He brings more than 19 years of experience in municipal government, with a focus on integrated and strategic service delivery in a way that is innovative and responsive to community needs.

In his time at the County of Lambton, Doug’s portfolio expanded to include the Lambton Shared Services Centre facility and partnership, social planning, poverty reduction, homelessness prevention, Lambton’s Circles initiative, the Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), Ontario Works eligibility review and verification, as well as Child Care and Children's Services. 

Prior to joining the County of Lambton, Doug served as Director of Operations with the Chatham YMCA, and the Executive Director of a non-profit organization for five years.

Doug is a graduate of the University of Windsor where he studied Kinesiology, Sports Administration and Business Administration. He was a member of the University of Windsor’s varsity football team and has been active in his community as a local football, hockey and basketball coach. Doug has also sat on the Board of Directors at children’s treatment centres and his local curling club.

Doug joined us at OMSSA’s Policy Conference in Toronto this morning to share a few words of introduction, where he expressed his excitement at joining the organization, assuring members and delegates that:

“I get it – because I’m one of you. I understand the role of the receptionist as they’re greeting a client – and how that interaction can escalate or de-escalate, and set the right tone.

I understand the frustration that a caseworker feels when they can’t help a client because of a local rule – and the joy that comes from knowing they've made a real impact in their clients’ lives.

I understand the role of the manager or director, striving to make the best possible decisions for their community.

I understand your environment, and over the next few months, I’m looking forward to getting to know more of OMSSA’s members and working with them more closely.”

Doug joins the Association at an exciting time, and will leverage his forward-thinking leadership and strong municipal and human services knowledge to build continued momentum on the heels of the strong and steady leadership of OMSSA’s outgoing Executive Director Elisa McFarlane.

OMSSA’s Board congratulates Doug and looks forward to working in tandem with him to lead the Association into its next phase.

Sincerely,

Elaine Baxter-Trahair
OMSSA President