Darrell Toma has over 28 years of professional experience as an economics and management expert on over 370 assignments.  He was a Principal with Deloitte & Touche, Edmonton for 13 years and has had a specialized consulting firm since 1991.  He focuses on economics, market research, strategic/business planning and project analysis.  He has consulted to associations, public and private clients.  He has authored publications, led professional workshops and been featured as a business/ economics/ trade expert in the media (TV, radio, print).  He has published a book chapter on traits of volunteer leaders (Advances in Psychology Research, 2006) and The Knowledge Guide:  Best Management Practices (2006) among many articles and reports.

Darrell has worked in Australia, Canada, the U.S.A., Mexico, Korea, Egypt and Hong Kong, and traveled in Romania and Japan.  He has completed many industry studies and macro economic analyses of new policies, economic trends and industry outlooks.  Darrell has been heavily involved in Western Canada's value added developments and technology assessments in functional foods, foods, bioproducts and agriculture.  Some of Darrell's accomplishments include:

• Board member or President of:  Alberta Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta, Canadian Consulting Agrologists, Economics Society of Northern Alberta, Agricultural Institute of Canada, Riverbend Community League, Alberta Watersmart
• Keynote speaker in Australia, Texas, Toronto, Alberta and Saskatchewan
• New concepts implemented for growth from his work - Alberta value added strategies, Olds College Centre for Innovation, R&D Strategy for Alberta, value chain program, Best Practice research, Bioproducts Alberta, AVAC Ltd.
• Many economic development plans for agencies including CAEP, PEP, Southgrow, PREDA, Two Hills Country/ Highway 45, GROWTH, WED, AED and others
• Work with municipal governments including County of Thorhild on a new landfill.

He is Past-President of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce and Past-Chair, Edmonton Chamber Economic Development Task Force.  He has several awards including the "Distinguished Agrologists Award" in 1997, "Make It Happen Performance" Award from the CCAA and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service in 2003.   In 2005 he was given the Alberta Centennial Medal from the Premier.

His main interests in professional matters include:  business strategy and economics, developing collaborations, industry analysis and competitiveness issues.  He has 4 boys and enjoys sports in his spare time.  The firm website is www.tomaandbouma.com.