Yes Chef! Campaign Co-Chairs

Donna Dooher

A chef, cookbook author and restaurateur, Donna Dooher is one of North America’s leading culinary advocates. Passionate about food and its creation, Donna has spent over 25 years pursuing its perfection. She has been creating memorable experiences at the Mildred Pierce Restaurant, Avant Gout Catering, and the Cookworks for more than 10 years. The Cookworks Cooking

School, has been leading the culinary instruction scene in Toronto since 1997. These experiences led to The Cookworks with Donna Dooher, which can be seen on the Food Network Canada and The Food Network. Armed with impeccable standards, she is a highly respected chef and advocate within the culinary world, with a network of chefs and suppliers that stretches across the country.

	Donna Dooher, Campaign Co-chair

A successful entrepreneur, Donna is also a frequent representative at food industry events, requested by such icons as Julia Child and Williams-Sonoma and has been featured on CBC’s Venture, Air Canada’s on-board Toronto profile, and in numerous national magazine and newspaper articles. Donna has appeared on Breakfast TV, City Cooks, Vicki Gabereau, Fanny Kiefer, Rogers Daytime.

Her cookbook, "Out to Brunch", co-authored with Claire Stubbs, was awarded Cookbook of the Year in 2003 by Cuisine Canada. Recognized by her peers, Donna was recipient of the Ontario Hostelery Institute 2003 Media and Publishing Award. Donna is a member of Slow Food, Cuisine Canada, Women Chef’s and Entrepreneurs, the Canadian Food and Restaurant Association, International Association of Culinary Professionals,  and the James Beard Institute.

Donna has strong instincts about the future of the culinary arts and the energy to realize her vision. George Brown Chef School is proud to have Donna’s support for this campaign.

Michael Beckley FHCIMA
Senior Vice President Lodging Development Marriott International

Mr. Beckley has been Senior Vice President, Lodging Development for Canada since July 2001, and is located in Toronto, In this position, Beckley is responsible for the development of Marriott International’s full service, select service and extended stay lodging brands, which include:  Ritz-Carlton; J.W.Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Resorts & Suites; Renaissance Hotels, Resorts & Suites; Courtyard by Marriott; Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott; Residence Inn by Marriott; SpringHill Suites by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.

	Michael Beckley, Campaign Co-chair

Beckley brings to his new role over 40 years of distinguished service in the hotel industry.  Beginning his career in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, then in 1966 Beckley went on to manage properties in Bermuda and Barbados and served as the Regional Director of St. James Beach Hotels (Barbados) Ltd., before returning to the UK to work for Commonwealth Hospitality Ltd.  Beckley’s tenure at Commonwealth spanned over 20 years.  In 1981, he moved to Toronto as Vice-President, Operations Canada with responsibility for the company’s 44 hotels.  In 1987, he became President and Chief Operating Officer, a position he held until the company was sold to Unihost Corporation in 1997 and to Westmont Hospitality in 1999.  As Executive Vice-President of Unihost, Beckley headed up Tradewinds Investment Holdings Corporation, a Unihost subsidiary focussed on resort management and development, responsible for establishing a new resort division in the Caribbean.

In 1994, Beckley was named Hotelier of the Year by Hotelier Magazine for his contributions to Canada’s hotel industry.  In that same year, he also received the Chairman’s Award for Achievement from the Ontario Hostelry Institute for helping to reposition Canada on a revitalised hospitality tourism map internationally.  He was founding Chairman of Experience Canada, a partnership marketing consortium of 27 major corporations promoting Canada’s tourism industry, which has evolved into the Canadian Tourism Commission. He was also Chairman of the Tourism Sectoral Strategy for the Province of Ontario appointed by the Premier, and founding Chairman of the Ontario Tourism Council, appointed by the Minister for Trade and Tourism.  Beckley also served on the Policy Advisory Board of the Advanced Management Programme for the Hospitality Industry at the University of Guelph and currently is Co Chair of the “Yes Chef”  campaign for George Brown College in the City of Toronto.

Educated in London, England, Beckley graduated from the prestigious Westminster Hotel School and completed a further five years management training in the UK, France and Germany.

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