Dawna Callahan
4-time Boston Marathon Finisher, Dawna Callahan CEO/Founder, All In Sport Consulting

4-time Boston Marathon Finisher, Dawna Callahan CEO/Founder, All In Sport Consulting

WHO WE ARE

About Dawna Callahan, CEO/Founder

Throughout her life and professional career, Dawna Callahan has consistently been a trailblazer for people and athletes with disabilities. After incomplete paralysis at the age of three from transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that causes inflammation of the spinal cord, Dawna was the first student with a physical disability in her hometown to be mainstreamed into public school at the age of five.

Dawna has dedicated much of her professional career to advancing the adapted sport movement to create more access and opportunities for people with disabilities to experience sport. She is driven by the belief that sport has the power to change all aspects of a person’s life from physical and emotional health to employment opportunities and social integration. Her own life has been a testament of its positive impact.

She has been involved with adapted sport professionally for more than 20 years. In 2017, she founded ALL IN SPORT CONSULTING – one of only 77 organizations globally to be recognized as a Business Disability Expert and partner with The Valuable 500. She has worked with numerous nationally and internationally known clients including the U.S. Center for SafeSport, Augusta Sports Council, Endeavor Games Series, Lakeshore Foundation and The World Games Inclusion Initiative, USA Boxing, USA Para Powerlifting, and USRowing. Her career also includes positions with the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), the United States Olympic Committee & Paralympic Committee, Disabled Sports USA, and Adaptive Sports USA.

A competitive wheelchair racer, Dawna has completed numerous road races and marathons including four Boston Marathons. Dawna obtained her master’s degree in Recreation Management at San Jose State University while completing graduate studies in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at San Francisco State. She also received an Executive Certificate in Sport Philanthropy at George Washington University.

Most recently, Dawna was a recipient of the Sports Business Journal’s 2023 Game Changer Award – recognizing 50 outstanding women in sport business across North America. During the award ceremony, the emcee shared a bit of Dawna’s sport philosophy, “Disability doesn’t discriminate. Dawna believes including disability in sport conversations is a MUST. Including and welcoming the disability community isn’t just a feel-good effort, it will have a positive impact on your bottom line.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Dawna Callahan, All In Sport Consulting (left) with Nicole Clapp, American Legion Auxiliary 2019-2021 (right)
  • Over 25 years of professional adapted sport experience
  • Founder of Adapted Sport Leadership & Business Symposium (LABS) Annual Conference
  • Established first-ever economic impact study for the adapted sport industry
  • Recognized Business Disability Expert and partner with The Valuable 500
  • Named to Sport Business Journal’s Game Changers Class of 2023
  • Southern Connecticut State University – Recreation, Tourism, and Sport Management Department, Adjunct Professor
  • Sports & Entertainment Impact Collective, Faculty Member
  • Delegate for U.S. Department of State’s ENVEST diplomacy program, sharing adapted sport best practices in Turkmenistan
A dark teal circle, with a bright teal logo of the Valuable 500 inside it is shown. Around the circle black text reads ‘Working with the Valuable 500’.

Business Disability Expert & Partner

DEI Speaking Team

Adaptive Sport Partner

“I was searching  for a company that would assist United States Para Powerlifting (USAPP) with developing new on line education for coaches—ALL IN SPORT CONSULTING was the perfect choice. Dawna is competent , driven and well-versed in sport for people with disabilities. We are so happy with the final product and know many coaches around the country will benefit from the amazing tool Dawna created.”
Mary Hodge
High Performance Manager, US Para Powerlifting