Tracy Macgregor kicked off her career during her placement at Centennial and stayed there for a remarkable 13 years. She moved from reservations into product development and contracting, eventually taking on a Manager of Product Development role.
Tracy's professional repertoire also boasts over a decade in the Ontario Chamber network, where she received level three accreditation as a Chamber Executive, which is the highest level of achievement.
She has served as the Vice President of Member Services and Business Development at the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and as the President and CEO of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Tracy has over ten years of experience as a Senior Business Consultant, supporting large-scale enterprises. She has completed an Advanced Innovation Practitioner certificate, which has trained her to facilitate innovation sessions aimed at solving real challenges and problems and teaching others how to use the process and tools.
Currently, Tracy is leveraging her expertise as the Chief Operating Officer of Restaurants Canada, a position she assumed after serving as Vice President, Ontario. In that previous role, she advocated for food service operators with all levels of government for policy around helping ensure the continued vitality of the industry.
Tracy's active commitment through her community initiates is commendable. She has helped establish and manage Accelerate Newmarket, a business accelerator for start-up companies. She also initiated the Career Pathways Expo in York Region, aimed at introducing students in grades 7 to 12 and their educators to a wide range of career options beyond traditional university paths, including hospitality, skilled trades, and arts and culture.
Additionally, Tracy served as a Board Member for the Human Services Planning Board of York Region, providing strategic advice to the Regional Council on human service matters and initiatives. She also played a key role in creating a Shop Local support program in partnership with the municipal government, which aimed to assist businesses impacted by pandemic closures, particularly local restaurants unable to offer in-person dining.
Growing up in Muskoka, Ontario, played a role in Tracy pursuing the Hospitality and Tourism Administration program at Centennial. Muskoka is a tourism destination, so she spent time working in restaurants and resorts with the Muskoka Tourism Association. This experience and the skills she developed in her early years were a great way to prepare for the program at the college, which offered her skills that could be used within the industry and across several sectors.