XBIZ World is pleased to present “Execs of 2016: The Year in Review” — a special showcase of the thoughts and strategies of 2016’s most influential and motivational leaders as they offer their take on the year’s top trends.
Each of the executives we spoke to is among the finalist nominees for the Online Industry edition of the 2017 XBIZ Exec Awards.
I have always considered it important to represent our industry with professionalism to outsiders and a sense of belonging to those new and established in our community. Having a peer group of industry professionals is a powerful resource and I believe that making an extra effort to be inclusive is important. -Brad Mitchell, MojoHost
The following question about the year in review was asked to those running for the Community Figure of the Year Award:
XBIZ: How does building a sense of community benefit the industry?
Alex Lecomte
Sales and Marketing, JuicyAds
“I’ve met many great professionals and genius minds in our industry. That’s one of the reasons why I am so proud of being part of our little kinky family. It’s true that we are in a certain way the online marketeer’s reject of our digital world as a consequence of a hypocritical society — and in my opinion, it’s why having a high and genuine sense of community within our industry is an incontestable benefit.
We are here for each other, we care about our fellow professionals, and I think it creates a safe place to share knowledge and to make good business. Being a community makes everything better, safer and nicer. Thank you all so much for adding my name together with people that I admire so much to represent our professional community.”
Brad Mitchell
President, MojoHost
“This is my 17th year in the adult industry and I am honored to be nominated for XBIZ Community Figure of the Year. I have always considered it important to represent our industry with professionalism to outsiders and a sense of belonging to those new and established in our community. Having a peer group of industry professionals is a powerful resource and I believe that making an extra effort to be inclusive is important. I have always taken it upon myself to be giving of my knowledge, experience and contacts. I frequently make the effort to parlay introductions that I feel would be useful and believe this extra kindness pays business dividends. When someone is selling a product or service, it is building relationships that results in the greatest number of referrals. I find that when we treat each other with kindness, respect and extra effort it betters outcomes for our industry as a whole and keeps my brand top of mind. When we meet people and stop asking ourselves “what can they do for me?” and instead pay it forward with “how can I help them?” it creates a lasting bond that will yield benefits for years to come.”
Colin Rowntree
CEO, Wasteland
“Aside from the obvious B2B relationship-building benefits for forming strategic partnerships, having a strong community is always very helpful and powerful when addressing threats to the industry. The most recent case in point was the amazing group effort in fighting and defeating Proposition 60 in California, in which the FSC, performers and studios banded together and protected the interest of all adult entertainment sectors.”
Douglas Richter
Consultant, SuperMen/IMLive
“Being nominated for the XBIZ Executive Awards is such an honor; especially considering all the wonderful and talented persons I am named alongside. I realize how blessed I am; having the respect of my peers and being part of an industry I love is an accomplishment I never imagined when I began this journey so long ago. For 20 years, I have been a part of this business and there has not been a dull moment. This industry and my career have provided me an amazing adventure and a beautiful life. I have made some amazing lifelong friends and seen things that I will carry with me forever. I am looking forward to what the next 20 years will bring!”
Jeff Dillon
Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, GameLink
“I like many others in the adult business have worked in this industry and with one another for more than 10 years. Many of us are like family. When you have a sense of community our work becomes more than just a job and a means to earn a living — it is working with friends, supporting them, giving advice freely and helping others when you can. The adult industry is a relatively small industry compared to other industries, so it is easier to build a supportive community. When you have a community people work harder because they care and they are passionate about what we do.”
Kathi Stout
Executive Liaison, CWIE Holding Company
“The meaning of the word ‘community’ is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals. I am happy to say that I feel this sense of fellowship, especially when I am gathered with my peers, whether in person, by phone or online. We all seem to look out for each other in business, but also in life. There are so many people in the world that do not understand what we do, or why we do it. I have been in our industry since 1998. I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother and yikes… even a grandmother. I love our community and what I have learned from the people I surround myself with, as well as the people I do business with. This is why I do what I do. As things change in so many of the countries where our industry friends and associates live around this world, we should be reassured that we have strength together, and we need to stand by each other now, maybe more than ever. This is the true meaning of the word community to me.”
Morgan Sommer
Co-Founder, CyberSocket
“Building a sense of community benefits our industry in so many obvious ways. Whenever we get together to celebrate each other and our accomplishments we are fostering that sense of community. This builds trust and rapport, so that when we have opportunities for collaboration we are already halfway there. It also means that we are able to resolve concerns and conflicts in a way that is mutually beneficial. When the health of our community is a primary value, then our corporate and individual decision-making tends to be modified. Rather than a having a ruthless ‘me first’ attitude, we find ways to engage in friendly competition. So far, in my 20 years in the industry, I have seen that those who play well with other tend to stick around. The ruthless and vindictive folks have by and large come and gone. I have learned through trial and error that this works best for me and my company.”
Rhonda Kratz
Digital Business Manager, Penthouse
“In many ways we try to tell everyone how the adult industry is not different than any other industry. We want to position ourselves like any other retailer, but we’re not the same. Other industries don’t exist under this cloud of negative perception. We need a sense of community to welcome new businesses, new ideas, but more than anything, new customers. Everyone I work with understands how a happy customer benefits everyone in our industry. They buy more, they spend more time on sites, and they come back. If we don’t have a sense of community that allows us to grow, both newcomers and those of us who’ve been here for years, we’re going to slowly choke ourselves out. Look at Prop 60 if you need more proof — without the strength we have as a community, we would be one foot closer to the grave.”
