Don Hardman

WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

by Burke Campbell 

Published in the Financial Post

 June 23, 2008

Don Hardman is vice president, venue and sport, of the 2009 British Columbia World Police & Fire Games (www.2009wpfg.ca), to be hosted in Burnaby . He’s one of several entrepreneurs assembled to stage these international games. Don Hardman tells the Financial Post what motivated him to become an entrepreneur.

Kid in motion: “Because my dad served in the U.S. Air Force, we lived in different places such as Texas , California , and Alabama .”  

Diverse assignments: “After university, I worked for a sports and entertainment company that moved to Vancouver . I coordinated events at GM Place , organizing basketball games, rock concerts, and family shows. Later, I traveled to Memphis , Tennessee , working to open the FedEx Forum. Returning to Vancouver , I was general manager of Burnaby site for the FIFA Under 20 World Cup soccer championship, 2005-2006. ”  

In the zone: “Sporting administration requires a broad range of business expertise involving ticket promotion, operations management, marketing, finance, and budgeting. The variety is exhilarating.”

Major event: “In 2007, I signed on with the forthcoming World Police & Fire Games. After the Olympics and the World Masters Games, these games rank third in attracting the most athletes. Police, firemen; Customs and Correction officers gather from all over the globe, with corporations such as Microsoft and Telus lending support.”  

Shifting role: “I used to host and operate one event. Now, I’m transitioning into developing and designing many events. It’s a future full of challenge.”  

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