I am a husband, a father, and an entrepreneur. These are my three roles in life and they make me extremely happy.

I'm a pretty happy guy most days. Probably because I have always lived with excitement in my life. If you are not bored, chances are you are going to be a happy person is my theory.

• I left home at 18 to go to University on the other side of the country not knowing if I would have enough money to last the year.
• I started my first company when I was 21 in lieu of a summer job. From start-up to wind down, it lasted 3 months and made close to $30k. More than I needed for my final year of University.
• After graduating with an Arts degree, I felt I was perfectly suited for a job as an options dealer. I took an entry level job paying $18,000 a year just so I could get my feet in the door.
• After 7 months into my new career, I priced a $250 million cross currency debt-for-equity deal, because my supervisor/mentor was on holidays and the next in command was not willing to price it herself. For me, opportunity knocked and I answered.
• I was eventually promoted to currency option dealer and had a great 10 year career as a banker living in Toronto, Calgary, New York, London, Munich, and Singapore.
• In 1999 I left banking to start a new life as an entrepreneur in new media here in Vancouver. It was new back then, now it's called social media. Whatever it's called, I enjoy being a part of it.
• I put off buying a new home. Again and Again.That actually wasn't the smartest thing I had ever done.
• My first new media company built some crazy stuff right out of the gate. Interactive videos and web casting, a weekly video show (pre Vodcasting) - called VFS Live, and BMW FILMs: The Hire series. We had clients like Apple, Disney (version 1.0: do you remember go.com?), Fox Interactive (version 1.0: pre-MySpace).
• I sold that company in August of 2001. That actually wasn't the smartest thing I had ever done, either.
• I've got the entrepreneurial bug, and I am presently growing two new companies:
  Donat Group, an interactive agency providing software and business solutions for media companies and producers.
  Project Opus, a company developing technologies for new business models in social media.

• Oh, and I'm looking to acquire a sports franchise to begin operation in 2010.

My wife is a big part of the success of my companies. She works with me. Yep, a husband and wife team. I know that spells disaster for some couples, but for us, it has been great for both our business and our relationship.

I have a passion for cooking. I've even made cheese from scratch for a certain recipe. When I left banking, I almost went to cooking school instead, but figured I was too old to tolerate the apprenticeship. I love entertaining at home and serving great meals for my family and friends. My wife and I love BC wines, because this is where we live, and they're good. Though we do have some choice bottles from around the globe as well.

I have two sons, Nathan and Jacob. We are hoping to have another child. Yep, three. Three is the new two! Well three if we ever catch up on our sleep that is.

Feel free to contact me at:
ddonat ( at ) mac. com