GPWA AFFILIATE INTERVIEW SERIES Speaking of relationships, you have attended a number of iGaming events and conferences over the years. What do you like best about these events and what advice would you give to a fellow affiliate about making the most of their time at an industry event? I love going to conferences and events, I went to SIGMA in Malta in November and came home energized and motivated. I had the opportunity to meet affiliates in person that I had formerly known “online” previously – and met some new contacts that I imagine I’ll be friends with for years to come. I love the energy at affiliate conferences. I find it validating to meet affiliates from around the world that are running highly organized companies with multiple departments. When I first started as an affiliate, most of us were unorganized small teams – it’s very clear to me now that the affiliate space is attracting sharp minds from around the world. I would advise any affiliate going to conferences for the first time to invest in networking a bit prior to the show, it can be tough going alone if you don’t know anyone. If you are a social person, just hanging out at the official hotel bar can lead to a lot of interesting conversations and new connections. My last piece of advice, listen closely. People at conferences will tell you very interesting things, and some of it can be very valuable. Do you still gamble? I rarely gamble anymore. I still consider myself a proficient poker player, but rarely get the chance to play these days. When on vacation I enjoy hitting the blackjack tables or playing craps. I am the typical stereotype recreational sports bettor – meaning I just bet on my favorite teams to win without any real strategy involved. I don’t currently live in a regulated state, so my options to gamble online are limited to DFS and horse racing betting, both things I don’t particularly enjoy doing myself. What are your hobbies? What do you do when you are not working? I play golf a few times a week, and also am active on the local lakes. We have a wakeboard boat, and a couple of Jet Skis – so we are always out wakeboarding, wake surfing, and enjoying the water. I’m also an avid downhill skier, and regularly take trips to western U.S. states to pursue that passion. Living in a part of the United States that has several months a year of below freezing temperatures and severe weather conditions, I also think traveling is one of my favorite hobbies. The business we are in affords us the luxury of working from anywhere, so I travel as often as possible – especially to warmer climates during our winter months. If you could invite any five people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be? Good question. Rather than give five specific examples, I’ll just say that I’d invite relatives and friends that are no longer living in this world. You never know when people will be gone and often times you don’t appreciate the time you have with people until it’s too late. Name three things that people reading this magazine don’t know about you. Tough one, I’m an open book and freely express myself to people. Before becoming an affiliate, I was a contractor, specializing in sanding and finishing hardwood floors. I spent three years as a “ski bum” in Colorado, and then California (Lake Tahoe). I have two dogs. One is a Golden Retriever. We waited on a list for over a year to get from an award-winning breeder, the other is a rescue since we wanted to help. In the gambling affiliate business, you have to be willing to change and adapt. Likemany affiliates, I was set inmyways – assuming what worked 10 years ago would still work today ... SEO is changing fast, and you have to constantly adapt and improve. G P W A t i m e s . o r g 48
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