Special Events Planning – Destination Tourism
Graduated 2004
Sometimes it takes a couple of tries to figure out what you really want to do and for Danielle Caputi, the third time was the charm.
After one year in a creative advertising program at another college, and then one stint as an administrative assistant, Caputi decided to find her true vocation.
"I quickly tired of the monotonous 9-to-5 office job and realized that I had to get back into school and find something I’d truly enjoy," says the 23-year-old from North York. While perusing through post-secondary program calendars, she came across George Brown College’s Special Events Planning for Destination Tourism program. It caught her attention immediately because it was unique and presented a career path that she had never thought to consider.
"It piqued my interest because I often organized parties and weekends away with friends, which I really enjoyed doing," Caputi recalls.
After completing the two-year program in 2004, what she discovered was her real interest and true passion was supporting charitable causes in the non-profit sector, where she currently works as an event co-ordinator for the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF).
Losing her father to heart disease when she was 15 not only forced her to grow up quickly and realize the importance of living life to the fullest but it also seemed to push her towards a career in fundraising in support of health care and medical research.
Her job with CCFF involves assisting with the planning and execution of such events as the 65 Roses Gala, the Drive for the Cure golf tournament and the Great Strides™ walk at the Toronto Zoo.
The Special Events Planning program effectively prepared her for the work and her teachers motivated her to succeed in this dynamic field.
"The best thing about George Brown were the teachers. I have never come across such dedicated and helpful individuals. For the entire duration of the program, I always felt like they really wanted us to succeed," Caputi says. “In particular, the program co-ordinator at the time, Gary Hallam, was an incredible mentor and although he may not realize, he had a lot to do with my accomplishments thus far."
In the two short years since she graduated, Caputi has accomplished a lot.
She started her career with an independent planning company then decided to get into the non-profit sector. She started volunteering with the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF), which led to a four-month contract. After that, she worked for Ronald McDonald House and was then offered another position with CCFF as the event co-ordinator.
"I think George Brown was an excellent foundation for me and my career goals," Caputi says. “Since this is all still very new to me, the sky is the limit. All I know is that I found my calling, and I want to continue developing my career in special events in the non-profit sector."
