Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Inc. is all set for when its longtime manager Gord Horth retires this fall.
The CREST board selected current operations manager Al Marston to step in Oct. 1.
CREST provides and maintains emergency communications equipment and infrastructure for more than 50 agencies across the south Island including municipal police departments, RCMP, fire departments, BC Ambulance, and BC Transit from the Gulf Islands to Port Renfrew.
“Gord has consistently built strong relationships anchored in trust, and early on, he committed the organization to consistently measuring performance results to maintain that trust. In doing so, Gord and his team ensure that CREST performs optimally for the multiple agencies who rely on the network to keep themselves and the public safe every day. We are grateful for Gord’s leadership and guidance. He has built a strong foundation for the future of CREST,” board chair Tim Morrison said in a news release.
With the support of Horth, the board has been preparing for leadership succession for the past year.
“Al has worked closely with Gord for over a decade,” Morrison said. “As operations manager, Al’s responsibilities have included employee development, infrastructure procurement, contract management, and project management of the region-wide, digital network upgrade that was completed in 2020. His technical knowledge, his tactical approach and his familiarity with the more than 50 user groups on the CREST network ensure a smooth leadership transition in October.”
Prior to Horth’s departure, he and Marston will work with the board to update the organization’s strategic plan, charting the course for the next five years.
At the helm since 2006, Horth leaves behind a high-performing organization focused on providing resilient, reliable emergency communications services for the first responder and public service communities across the Capital Region. He credits the success of CREST to the small group of professionals who make up the CREST team.
“If you hire good people, and you build a culture around shared values and a common purpose, you generally get good results,” he said.
