By:Donna Mullen Good Issue: Biennial of the Americas 2010 Section: Inspirations
Over the years, my career has afforded me the opportunity to lead seven international events. From Pope John Paul II’s visit for the 1993 World Youth Day to The Summit of the Eight, I have been given the chance to change the fabric of national and international communities. In November of 2009, I was once again in a position to promote positive change – this time for the Western Hemisphere.
As the President of Operations and Finance for the Biennial of the Americas, I led the effort to organize the month-long celebration of the Western Hemisphere. The scope, reach and potential for this event was unlike any other I have ever managed. For the first time ever, there was a citizen-driven effort to celebrate the culture of the Americas and to find ways to collaborate on some of the most pressing issues of our time.
The excitement of being the leader of another historic event for Denver was unprecedented. So was the timeline I was given to pull it all together. With only seven months to plan and execute the Biennial, the pressure was on.
Working with a dynamic team of amazing individuals, for most of whom this was their first large-scale international event, we were able to pull off nothing short of a miracle. The resounding enthusiasm with which the Western Hemisphere, and particularly our fair city of Denver, embraced the event is proof that there is a need to build a stronger global community, one based on collaboration and connection.
With over 300 events across the state of Colorado, the Biennial raised awareness of the diversity of cultures and innovative ways to address some of the issues shared by the 35 counties in this hemisphere. Taken together, this event was one of the largest international events to take place in the U.S. this year.
I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to establish the foundation for this monumental occasion with far-reaching impacts that will continue to build each time it is produced. Two years from now, I suspect this event will be billed as the international event that no one will want to miss.
Yours Truly, Donna Mullen Good President, Operations and Finance