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Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl Executive Director
Jim Donovan
From his days as an offensive lineman for the University of
Hawaii Warrior football team, to his current position as the
Executive Director of the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, Jim Donovan
has undoubtedly left his mark on the business, sports and
entertainment communities in Hawaii.
As an athletics administrator for nearly seventeen years,
Donovan tackled many challenges in a variety of capacities
for the University of Hawaii. In ten years as the # 2 administrator
in UH athletics, Donovan's primary function was the day-to-day
management of a $17 million, 350 person (full and part-time
employee) department. In addition, Donovan assisted in the
development of long-range plans to meet the challenges in
the ever-changing world of college athletics.
To remain competitive Donovan sought to increase the role
of performance enhancement professionals in the department,
adding sports to adhere to gender equity, and incorporating
advanced technology to cut costs and improve customer service.
Another goal was to bring a college football bowl game back
to the islands, which occurred during his tenure.
Donovan’s leadership was instrumental in the day-to-day
operations of the department, where he directly managed the
department's ticket, business, marketing, computer and media
relations functions. One of his biggest challenges was balancing
the department's operating budget. It's a challenge that Donovan
tackled head on.
"When my tenure ended, we were a little more than 95
percent self-funded," Donovan noted. "That's a real
accomplishment. When I started, that figure was about 75 percent.
It wasn’t easy, but our success was because of a real
team effort."
Donovan's ascent up the administrative ladder began in 1985
when he assumed the position of Rainbow Stadium manager. After
three years he took on the position of sports marketing director.
Under his jurisdiction, the marketing revenues more than doubled
by 1993.
On the community service side, when Hurricane Iniki hit the
islands in 1992, Donovan organized a fundraising effort for
the American Red Cross at the UH vs. BYU football game which
raised nearly $150,000 in relief funds.
After his six-year tenure as marketing director, Donovan was
promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Administrative
Services. It was in this position where Donovan earned his
reputation as an innovative and visionary leader. In his first
two years, he implemented a $2.6 million scoreboard package
for the Stan Sheriff Center, put together a similar package
of $1.5 million for Aloha Stadium and produced the original
specifications for a $1.6 million contract with KCCN Radio.
In 1996, he spearheaded the signing of a $6.2 million contract
with KFVE-TV, considered one of the most lucrative television
packages in the country.
After leaving the University of Hawaii Athletic Department
in 2002, Donovan became the Executive Director of the Sheraton
Hawaii Bowl – and event owned by ESPN Regional Television.
To provide the event management necessary for a first-class
Bowl game, Donovan started m2c, Inc. – an event management
and business consulting company. Within a one-year period,
his firm was providing services for the following international,
national and local firms: ESPN; Panda Travel; Sodexho; and
the AIO Group.
As event managers, m2c provides the following services:
- Event Management and Logistics
- Sponsorship Development, Sales and Fulfillment
- Budget Management
- Licensing Management
- Creating Unique Promotional Opportunities
- Managing and Creating Fundraising Events
As business consultants, m2c provides the following services:
- Management Training
- Sales Development
- Marketing Support Services
- Promotions Creation and Implementation
- Public Relations and Media Representation
- Strategic Planning and Implementation
Donovan was raised in Anaheim, Calif., where he graduated
from Servite High School in 1978. He lettered in football,
receiving many accolades including Prep All-American and honorable
mention Offensive Lineman-of-the-Decade (1970s) in Orange
County. From there, he attended Santa Ana College where he
was an All-Conference player and lettered twice before earning
a scholarship to play for Hawai'i from 1981 to '82.
Donovan and his wife, the former Tracy Orillo, have two children,
Jacqueline, 12 and Joshua, 10.
DONOVAN'S RESUME
Education
University of Hawai'i, Executive Master's in Business Administration
University of Hawai'i, Bachelor's Degree in Geography
Current Positions
Executive Director, Sheraton Hawaii Bowl
President, m2c, Inc.
Previous Jobs
Associate Athletics Director, University of Hawai'i
Assistant Athletics Director for Administrative Services,
University of Hawai'i
Sports Marketing Director, University of Hawai'i
Rainbow Stadium Manager, University of Hawai'i
Graduate Assistant Football Coach, University of Hawai'i
Current & Past Community & Professional Positions
- University of Hawaii College of Business Alumni & Friends,
Board of Director (1998 – Present)
- University of Hawaii Letterwinner’s Club, Board of
Director and Founder (Present)
- American Diabetes Association Hawaii Chapter, Rainbow Rhapsody
Silent Auction Chair (2003)
- University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Board of Directors
(1999 – 2002)
- National Collegiate Marketers Association, Charter Member
(1991 – 2002)
- American Marketing Association, Member (1995 – 2002)
- Beta Gamma Sigma, Member (Honor Society for Collegiate Schools
of Business)
- Hawaii Business Travel Association, Board of Director (1992
– 1995)
- Volunteer Career Counselor for Iolani School (1995 –
2002)
- Aloha and Hawaii State Games marketing volunteer (1991—1992)
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