Donald's adventure goes beyond Gillies. Founder and first President of the Roasters Guild along with being co-founder and first President of the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA), he shapes the industry with vision and innovation. He was instrumental in the development of the Specialty Coffee Traders' Green Coffee Contract, participated in the SCAA's first strategic planning committees, and was among the founding members of the SCAA Green Coffee Arbitration Panel. In response to the $465,000 theft from the SCAA, Donald spearheaded the "SCAA First Responders" initiative, raising a quarter of a million dollars to ensure the organization's very survival. 

He has also contributed to governments, the United Nations, the World Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, private companies, NGOs, museums, educational institutions and the media.

Donald's list of honors is a majestic succession, reflecting his exceptional influence in the coffee industry. Among these honors is the Drachman Award for Coffee Excellence, a well-deserved recognition of his outstanding contributions. In 2004, Gourmet Retailer Magazine also named him one of the 25 most influential people in the coffee industry, underlining his major role in setting standards and trends. His knowledge and professional integrity have been recognized in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Tokyo Shimbun, The Times of London and other prestigious press reviews. His title of Tea and Coffee Personality of the Year in 1998 attests to his impact beyond coffee, highlighting his distinctive presence. Donald was also recognized with the Specialty Coffee Lifetime Achievement Award, the industry’s highest honor. These distinctions reflect not only his mastery of coffee as a roaster emeritus, but also his global influence in coffee culture. These awards illustrate his ongoing commitment to excellence in coffee.