2010 Events at a Glance
Staff
Dawn Donahue - Festival Director
Dawn Donahue, President and CEO, Go Golf Events Management, will lead the festival through to the next level of success. Dawn was invited to the Board of the Société West Coast Chocolate Festival Society in 2003. She has led the Board through the revised strategic planning, operational management, and volunteer management. Dawn created Chocolate Ce Soir in 2005, but stepped off the Board in 2007 due to time constraints. In 2009, she was invited by the Board to lead the 2009 West Coast Chocolate Festival as Festival Director. Dawn and her company, Go Golf Events, volunteered their time to create and administer the 2009 festival, producing 65 events, and managing over 200 volunteers. As festival director for 2010 and beyond, Dawn is excited to guide the festival in its revised mission and vision.
Dawn brings over 35 years of experience in hospitality and event production industry to the festival. Passionate about education, volunteerism, mentorship and our future, the combination of chocolate themed events, youth, arts and education is a perfect medium for her talents and leadership to shine.
Maria Schollen - Festival Event Director
Maria Schollen, a graduate from BCIT in event planning, an interior designer, floral designer, and is a mother of three fabulous children. She is married to Tony for 20 years.
Maria is the Executive Planner with Go Golf Events since 2006; responsible for the development, design and production of all Chocolate Festival Events. In 2009, Maria supervised over 65 festival events. Maria’s Go Golf events include award nominated BC Restaurant Hall of Fame Galas, CareCruiser Dinner, Shriners Golf Tournaments, BC Hospitality Foundation Golf and Gala, and feted Founders Dinners.
Maria’s keen eye for colour and detail always takes events to the next level. Her design and events plan are always youthful, innovative and fashion forward. With a love of food, wine, cheese and chocolate, Maria is a perfect producer for the West Coast Chocolate Festival.
Mahin Rashid - Volunteer Mentor
Mahin Rashid comes to the festival this year as the volunteer mentor, teaching and guiding the youth in completing tasks. She recently graduated from SFU with a Bachelor of Arts and is currently working at the Canadian Cancer Society in fundraising. Mahin is really passionate about the chocolate festival and feels that she has grown and benefited from it.
Tanya Chu - Volunteer Mentor
Tanya Chu has an extensive background in business, an English Literature degree and TESL Diploma from UBC. Her impressive portfolio of work consists of 9 years of Executive Assistant experience, several years of Self-Employment experience in the Financial Service and Real Estate Investing industries, and Project Management experience in real estate, restaurant, and retail. Tanya makes an invaluable asset to the Festival Interns as a business woman who loves teaching. She is delighted in sharing her knowledge with her Interns and helping them succeed. From her positive experience in working with the Festival team, Tanya looks forward to volunteering and educating the Interns for many years to come.
Sean Farrell – Marketing Mentor, Strategic Planning Advisor and Website Content Development Manager
Sean Farrell plays a major role in the festival by leading the organization’s new fundraising and marketing teams by his marketing agency, NG Farrell. He assisted the Board of Directors by facilitating a strategic planning session with fundraising as a major component this year.
Wil Laxa – Website Creator
Wil Laxa is an application Developer, PHP Programmer, and Project Manager in a wide variety of business applications. He is particularly interested in Content and Account Management systems that streamline day to day tasks between staff and their clients. Wil is always interested in developing applications that allows users to accomplish tasks with minimal effort so they can proceed in dedicating time elsewhere.
