Donald McKay

About Donald McKay

After university I spent the first 15 years of my professional life in the food & beverage industry ranging from the development to operation of a continental restaurant near Montreal to large scale entertainment complexes in New York, Chicago, London and Atlanta focusing on high profile events as well as day to day marketing and operations.Serendipity lead me on an Asian pleasure trip where I met a FIlipino designer and eventually partnered with a U.S. investment banker to open The Budji Collections, Inc. We eventually separated the hospitality division, which specialized in custom sourcing and manufacturing for the hospitality and leisure industry through a separate entity Pacific Contract Sources. PCS provided 100% custom produced case goods, seating and lighting to hospitality specifiers and purchasing firms through multiple factories in Asia and a domestic factory in CA. The website is no longer active but a handful of projects are shown here on LinkedIn and I have archives that go back several decades.I always derived pleasure from going to work each day, encountering stimulating designers, purchasing agents, fellow manufacturers and our supportive national showrooms & representatives. I thrived on the challenges, deadlines and how to achieve the more for less goals of our industry.I consider myself lucky to have lead a full and enriching life. I might still write a book.Specialties: Custom furniture design and manufacturing, sourcing furniture, lighting, fabrics and accessories from Asia, hospitality FF & E, resources for the interior design trade.The recent change in economics helped us decide that after almost 30 years the timing was right to close Pacific Contract Sources after we shipped our final orders. It\'s been a wonderful experience and we will miss our many loyal clients and factories. I am now acting as a private Consultant to the Hospitality Industry. I am working with both small and large clients, providing insight into the adjustments facing the furniture & lighting industry in this changing world. I am available to do research regarding sources, specifications, project development for Purchasing Agents, Hospitality designers, Developers, etc.

Experience

1. Board Member

   Xu Collective

   Mar 2023 — Present · Miami, FL, US

Education

• Queen's University

  B.A., English/Drama

Skills

• Move Management
• Ff&E Specifications
• Window Treatments
• Ff&E
• Design Research
• Space Planning
• Floor Plans
• Submittals
• Residential Homes
• Commercial Interiors
• Sketchup
• Product Development
• Construction Drawings
• Elevations
• Design Consulting
• Event Management
• Retail Design
• Furnishings
• Lighting Design
• Finish Selections
• Sketching
• Lighting
• Flooring
• Commercial Design
• Upholstery
• Rendering
• Kitchen & Bath Design
• International Sales
• Interior Architecture
• Hotel Design
• Wood
• Architectural Drawings
• Green Building
• Design Management
• Renovation
• Cabinetry
• Furniture
• Concept Design
• Interior Design
• Textiles