Type Of Business:
Not for Profit, Charity
Expertise:
Psychology; Injury prevention
Major Product/SVS:
Injury prevention
Favorite Business Publication:
I enjoy Dan Pallotta's comments in the Harvard Business Review and especially through his online blogs.
Hobbies/Sports:
Amateur magician; Traveling; Reading; Cooking; Bartending
Education Degrees:
Ph.D. in Psychology, University of Toronto, Canada (2001)
Affiliations Awards:
Canadian Evaluation Society; Canadian Psychological Association; Canadian Public Health Association; American Psychological Association; Canadian Association of Magicians; International Brotherhood of Magicians
Place of Birth:
Kitchener, Ontario
Children's Names:
We are in the process of adopting our first child.
Work History:
Lecturer at University of Toronto, York University, and Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/
Researcher with Canadian Policy Research Networks.
Researcher with Health and Everything.
Director, Research and Evaluation at SMARTRISK.
Career Achievements:
After nine years as Director, Research and Evaluation at SMARTRISK to be asked by the board of directors to assume the role of President and CEO during a particularly turbulent period of change.
Spouse's Name:
Dr. Mary Desrocher, PhD
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
Helping to lead my organization toward merger with the other three leading injury prevention NGOs in Canada. This new partnership will create a strong, unified voice for injury in both public and policy circles.
Charity:
In addition to my work at SMARTRISK I support the Canadian Liver Foundation, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Number Of Years In Profession:
10
Number Of Years In Current Position:
1
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
He attributes his success to positive attitude, being smart, ability to deal well with people and hard work.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
I became involved in the field of injury prevention, as most do, through indirect means. While completing my doctoral degree in psychology I took on some part time work doing health policy research with Dr. Sholom Glouberman, then the head of the Health Network of Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN). I continued to work with him, even after he’d left CPRN to set up his own health policy research shop, called Health and Everything. One client we took with us during the transition was SMARTRISK. They had hired us to do some research on the relationship between the concepts of population health, sustainable development and risk management—to investigate how solid injury prevention work could alleviate some of the growing burden on the health care system. In the end, for a variety of reasons, SMARTRISK didn’t like the report I produced, but they did like the way I conducted myself—so they offered me the position of Manager, Research Development, which quickly became Director, Research and Evaluation. I served in that capacity for nine years before the Board of Directors asked me to assume the role of President and CEO in the fall of 2010.
Extended Bio Profile:
Dr. Groff is very friendly with a positive attitude and eager to achieve more, he is open to new ideas and opportunities to move his cause forward.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Overseeing all strategic aspects of organization including fund development and stewardship, public and media relations, planning of research, evaluation and injury prevention interventions; Fostering strong new relationships; Cementing old relationships to remain strong
Education Certifications:
Credentialed Evaluator (Canadian Evaluation Society)
Awards/Honors:
None, as yet, related to my current position or work.
Where Will You Be In 5 Years:
In five years, Dr. Groff wants to see the field of injury prevention catch up to other health areas, making it better understood and visible to all.