Who We Are
VS Municipal Solutions offers an extensive range of experience-based consulting services to municipalities through innovation and identification of the best use of limited resources. In order to achieve attainable results our team works with municipal staff and management as well as elected officials where required to identify opportunities and challenges within your organization and identify the best solutions and together how we can get you there.
Our unique approach provides you with a team that has the ability to jump into any project at any capacity. We understand that although there are significant similarities within each Municipality, there are also areas that require custom solutions. In these instances we have clients who require temporary administrative support in data entry during peak reporting times and other clients who require complete website development and IT support contracts.
With over 25 years of experience we are able to provide sound, quality service to municipalities by offering the flexibility that works for you and your team while pulling from our experience in working with others in similar situations!
Our Team
Vincent Shank – President
As a Senior Business Consultant with over 25 years of Senior Management and consulting experience Vince has guided quality, high value organizations in starting, maintaining and growing their operations both nationally and internationally. Serving as an Auditor for CRA for eight years early on in his career has provided him with special insight and diverse skills for helping clients in tax planning and representation matters. As an expert in business management and best practices he provides clients consulting and guidance based on experience, education and knowledge in dealing with a diverse client base and a variety of business models.
With the experience of being an internal CRA auditor he provides unique insight related to business growth, expansion and operations through his dealings with SME’s to Fortune 500 companies. With this unique range of experience and knowledge of municipal operations, he is able to bring staff and management to the table to find solutions that will work for everyone and improve the operations of the overall organization.
e: v.shank@vsgroup.ca
Jeff Celentano, M.P.A.
Jeff is a retired municipal management professional, with over 34 years of Local Government experience, all of it in Northeastern Ontario.
With a professional background as a retired Registered Professional Planner and a former Manager of Planning Services, Jeff also held positions in the Office of the C.A.O. and functioned as a generalist in the HR Department for the City of North Bay. For the last 4.5 years of his career, Jeff was the C.A.O./Clerk for the Municipality of Callander.
Jeff is also a Sessional Instructor in Local Government, Public Management, Local & Regional Economic Development, Transportation and Human Geography at Nipissing University. He is also a trained facilitator.
Jeff has also worked as a Facilitator/Trainer for municipal-sector not-for-profit organizations such as: the Ontario Good Roads Association, the Ontario Municipal Management Institute, the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors.
e: j.celetano@vsgroup.ca
Nicole Graham, R.G.D.
Nicole is a Registered Graphic Designer* (RGD) with over 20 years of experience in the Communications Industry. Nicole’s advanced communication skills and solid management skills give our team the ability to work at a high level of productivity and provide original, imaginative and creative solutions. Her experience is wide-ranging, from corporate identity, website development and social media to integrated marketing campaigns and online platfor UX design.
Nicole has the ability to sit down with Municipal staff and management and provide solutions to increase efficiencies while reducing the workload involved in day-to-day tasks through the development of internal and external communication tools. As a respected member of the communications industry, Nicole has sat as Chair of the Advisory Board for the Graphic Design Program at Canadore College, as well as a member of the Advisory Board for RGD Ontario as an ethics advocate.
e: n.graham@vsgroup.ca
Jennifer Cross, R.G.D.
With creative insight, Jennifer engages audiences through effective branding, messaging and distribution. She values consistent brand presence across all channels to successfully drive awareness and support brand image. Jennifer embraces new media and platforms and strives to balance between that and traditional methods for the optimum impact. With specialized training in Digital Marketing, monitoring techniques and an organic approach to communications. This allows for movement throughout campaigns to capitalize on opportunities as they arise, in addition collecting the necessary authentic and relevant audience.
As a Registered Graphic Designer she works to develop, maintain and continuously improve communications and competency in the areas of design principles, ethics, business and accessibility.