About Dawn and GGEM
“Working to make a difference” is my passion in life ~ Dawn Donahue
Strategic Business Planning, Event Production and Management
Dawn Donahue, President and CEO, Go Golf Conference & Events Management Inc, has been involved in the event business since the 1978. Many years more, if you include her volunteer work in high school and university. Her company, GGEM, produces conferences, tradeshows and meetings across North America; adding a golf tournament production business to the company was a natural.
Dawn produced her first golf tournament in 1981 – a client appreciation event. With a hospitality background, Donahue ensured the tournament included a welcoming brunch, food and beverages on the golf course, followed by a great reception and dinner, with everyone leaving the event by 8 pm. The tournament was a fun, team building, Shamble format, the golfers gave rave reviews about the wonderful event – how different it was from any other golf tournament they had played in.
Donahue has produced over 1000 tournaments since then and fine-tuned her logistical expertise at the Air Canada Championship from 1996 – 2002. For the last few years of the ACC, she volunteered as the Canal Chair, which hosted 11 golf tournaments across from the PGA tour, on the Ridge Course. With a morning and afternoon shotgun, Dawn oversaw expo booths on all tee boxes, load in and load out, volunteer management, security, food and beverages, and awards. Liaising with 9 tournament chairs, and producing two stand-alone tournaments on the Wednesday, was an amazing experience. Each year these events raised close to one million for BC Charities.
As an educator, consultant and speaker, Dawn has donated thousands of hours to charities and not for profits across Canada. Leading seminars and workshops across Canada, she realized the need for an association focused on the niche skill set of producing golf tournaments.
Donahue is a Certified Golf Tournament Planner & Consultant, sits on the Advisory Board for the Golf Tournament Association of America, is a Certified Culinary Travel Professional, and a Certified Travel Consultant. Donahue is also a founding sponsor of the BC Hospitality Foundation and Chairs the Scholarship Committee.
“If ever there was an extraordinary woman connecting fundraising, success, events, food, community, empowerment, collaboration, and volunteering, it surely is Dawn Donahue.”
2022: Constantly updating knowledge and skill levels to better serve our clients.
Virtual Event & Meeting Management
Staying current with technology and services our clients depend on. Enjoyed this course so much – up to the minute content thanks to Brandt Kreuger (instructor) who produced current content every week, and amazing guest lecturers. #technology #virtual #skillset #stayingcurrent #professionalstudent #eventproducer
Travel and Culinary Certifications
Hootsuite Academy (Social Media Certifications)
