09 Dec December 9, 2020 – Board Game Industry Erik Arneson and Minority Contracting Eli Smith
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Erik Arneson – Board Game Connoisseur and Author of How to Host a Game Night
I cannot emphasize enough how much KickStarter has changed
the board game industry. Last year, there were 2700 successful
table top game projects on KickStarter.
Erik Arneson is a published boardgame enthusiast and bestselling crime fiction author. He is a former newspaper reporter who has written hundreds of articles about board games for such publications as: The Spruce, Knucklebones, Counter, and The Opinionated Gamers. He has been a featured speaker on the topic of board game publicity at the American International Toy Fair, and is regularly cited as a board game expert. As a crime fiction author, Erik won the Mary Higgins Clark Mystery Magazine fiction contest in 1998, and was nominated for a 1998 Derringer Award for Short Mystery Fiction. Together with Scott Detrow, Erik also hosted the Title 18: Word Crimes crime fiction podcast. In his latest book, How to Host a Game Night: What to Serve, Who to Invite, How to Play—Strategies for the Perfect Game Night, Erik walks through everything from selecting the right venue and snacks, to managing a game library and bad attitude. By day, Erik is Executive Director of the Office of Open Records in Pennsylvania.
Eli Smith – Founder and Managing Director at E. Smith Contractors
Lots of times, entrepreneurs give up on their dreams too soon.
Your best source of encouragement is another entrepreneur,
not your significant other!
Eli Smith is an award-winning contractor who founded and runs successful businesses in construction and real estate development. A committed and energetic entrepreneur, he is following in the footsteps of his parents who were successful business owners for over 40 years. Eli is the Managing Director of E. Smith Contractors and SGTR LLC., both of which are full-service construction companies that specialize in construction management and federal contracting. In 2016, Eli was awarded the Carey Gabey Excellence and Innovation Award from Governor Cuomo that recognized him for entrepreneurial spirit and achievement in contracting. His community involvement includes sitting on the board of the Girls & Boys Clubs of Syracuse, The Empire State Association of Builders and Contractors, and The Urban Business Association of Syracuse. He also puts on a yearly event to recognize, honor, and empower established and rising Minority and Women-Owned Businesses.